30 October 2008
While most Brits understand the environmental benefits of going green and cutting their gas and electricity usage, money is a major motivator for many to actually take action, it has emerged. According to new research from Legal & General, 41% of consumers admit to telling their friends they are being environmentally friendly when secretly they are just trying to save cash. Turning off the heating is one of the most common measures consumers are adopting to protect their wallets under the guise of saving the planet. Indeed, 26 per cent of consumers questioned said they were taking such action. Garry Skelton, marketing director at Legal & General's general insurance business, said: "The research shows that economic climate and environment issues are having an impact on the way we live. With the colder weather approaching, people are likely to resist turning on their heating to save money." The Energy Savings Trust claims that by turning down thermostats by just one degree Celsius, households could cut their annual heating bills by around £60.