Brits staying up late to soak up this summer’s World Cup could actually save some cash on their energy bills according to new research from E.ON
Football fans staying up for late-night matches this summer could collectively save millions on their energy bills, experts say.
With this year’s tournament taking place in the US, Mexico and Canada, many games will kick off late in the evening or the early hours of the morning.
New research from E.ON Next suggests eight million British fans plan to watch late-night matches over the next few weeks.
Nearly two thirds (64%) expect their sleep and routines to be disrupted – with an average loss of sleep of four hours a night.
But there is an upside. To help fans make the most of extra time, the company has called up former England stars Jermain Defoe, Ray Parlour and Toni Duggan to help with its new Watch and Wash campaign.
The trio got back in their training kit to take part in a series of football-themed laundry challenges, encouraging people to save by doing their washing during late-night fixtures.
Energy expert Dr Jan Rosenow, professor of energy at Oxford University, said football fans could collectively save £93million through off-peak electricity use with Next Smart Saver this summer.
“Most people don’t realise that the time of day they run appliances can be just as important as which appliances they run,” she said.
“Millions of football fans are already awake during off-peak hours this summer without knowing it.”
Professor Rosenow added fans could save cash by doing chores like washing clothes while watching games.
She added: “If even a fraction of households shifted one or two tasks to coincide with late-night kick-offs, the collective saving on UK energy bills would be substantial”.
Watch and Wash is linked to the energy company’s Next Smart Saver tariff, which offers cheaper electricity during off-peak hours between 5am and 4pm, and 7pm to 2am, with super off-peak prices between 2am and 5am
Julian Lennertz, chief commercial officer at E.ON Next said: “Football has a unique ability to get the nation to switch its routines according to matches – and this summer is no exception.
“Millions are set to be awake for nighttime games, unaware that it’s also one of the cheapest times to use electricity.”
“Watch and Wash isn’t about asking people to change what they do, but showing people how to benefit more from what they’re already doing. With our Next Smart Saver tariff, small shifts could add up to big savings, not just over the summer but year-round.”