Households look to controls to help cut energy costs

Homeowners see heating controls as a vital way to help tackle their energy costs, according to new research from Resideo, which manufactures Honeywell Home controls.

The survey of 1,000 homeowners and 100 installers, carried out in August, found:
• Almost one-third (32%) of consumers said they remain ‘very concerned’ about energy costs for the coming winter and a similar number (33%) are also ‘less likely’ or ‘much less likely’ to switch on their heating because of energy cost worries.
• Over half (53%) of homeowners feel like they need more information or are not confident about setting their heating controls correctly to get the best out of their system.
• Almost 7 in 10 (68%) homeowners want access to simple or easy-to-programme controls.
• 92% of installers have had more customer questions about how to get the best out of their heating controls.
• Four in ten (41%) of homeowners said they were likely to consider spending money on the latest heating controls such as thermostats and radiator valves if it meant they could save more money on their heating costs over the long run.

Being able to access simple or easy-to-programme controls was a clear preference for homeowners, with more than two-thirds (68%) saying these appealed most. Worryingly, nearly one in ten homeowners (9%) said they have never checked their heating controls are running effectively.

Regional director Martin Wilson says: “It is clear is that energy bills and how to reduce them as much as possible remain front of mind with many UK homeowners, and it’s driving some fundamental behavioural change such as being more environmentally aware. Installers have a key role to play in providing the solutions to the challenges their customers are facing. They are on the heating control front line and can proactively provide guidance, recommending the most suitable heating controls and advising on how to optimise their energy management.”

Resideo’s heating season campaign aims to show how Honeywell Home solutions can help customers control and optimise their heating system, whether it’s a heat pump control, thermostat or smart app-based control.