Residents of Bristol are turning up the heat on rising energy prices, but they're not sweating it—they're getting creative. A bi-annual survey conducted in August 2022 and again in March 2023 by Project Solar UK, a retailer and installer of solar panels uncovered several key findings that highlight the creative strategies employed by residents to mitigate the unprecedented costs.
The survey, which asked identical questions on both occasions, found that 35 per cent of respondents in and around Bristol claimed they would take fewer showers to save energy, up from 31 per cent last August. However, the percentage of residents willing to endure cold showers decreased from 25 per cent last summer to 15 per cent this year when temperatures were relatively lower.
The survey also found that 9 per cent of respondents expressed a willingness to pursue higher-paying job opportunities, mirroring the figures from the previous year. Additionally, 4 per cent stated they would request a pay raise from their current employer to cope with the increased heating, lighting, and other energy expenses—reflecting the same proportion as last summer. However, the number of respondents considering ending remote work dropped to 4 per cent this year from 6 per cent in 2022.
