49% of parents in London see spike in energy use when grown-up kids come to stay

New research from British Gas has revealed the impact grown-up children have on household energy after big events like Glasto, with 49% of parents in London saying their adult kids increase energy use when they return home. Over half (53%) of those who’ve flown the nest still rely on their parents’ energy, and 64% increase energy use by charging phones and devices for long periods of time.

To lighten the load and save parents’ energy, British Gas is rolling out The Wash Pit, a giant pop-up laundrette designed to clean up the country’s dirtiest festival gear before it arrives home. The Wash Pit will be at Leigh Delamere Eastbound Service Station on Monday 30th June for festival goers stopping by to refuel post-Glastonbury. Slots at The Wash Pit are free, available to book via Eventbrite and show that small, practical support – whether it's a clean pair of socks or a well-timed energy-saving tip – can make a big difference.

British Gas is helping parents cut down on energy bills with initiatives like PeakSave – which offers half price electricity between 11am and 4pm on Sundays when more renewable energy is available. The pop-up laundrette operates from an electric vehicle which will be charged during PeakSave hours ready to go for Monday’s event. And to ensure everything is environment friendly, the wash cycles on the day will be powered by a solar generator. With nearly a quarter (23%) of parents saying they do laundry on Sundays, it’s a great example of how saving your washing – or charging – for a Sunday can benefit both your wallet and the planet.

The research found that parents must contend with their offspring taking a combined 13 showers a week - with each shower lasting an average of 18 minutes - that's a skin-wrinkling total of 3.9 hours of hot water running every week, or 202.8 hours per year. Parents also find themselves running six loads of their children’s washing per week, equating to nearly nine hours with the machine on. Cooking for their returning offspring means the oven is in use for around nine hours weekly, while TVs are left on for up to 20 hours, potentially unwatched.

It’s no surprise then, that 67% of parents have found themselves uttering the classic, “Shut that door – were you born in a barn?” at least once recently. Yet, in true parental fashion, 72% say they wouldn’t have it any other way. Despite the weekly energy spats (four on average), British parents are happy to help when they are needed and say its part of being a family.

Catherine O’Kelly, Managing Director of British Gas Energy said: "Our research shows that young adults continue to lean on the family home, especially after big weekends like Glastonbury with parents happy to help. However, we understand how that impacts households, from energy bills to laundry loads, so The Wash Pit is our way of saving parents’ energy – for the home and themselves. Whether it's through half-price electricity on Sundays with PeakSave, or same-day engineer visits when things go wrong, we are here to take care of things for our customers when it matters most.”

So, as muddy tents are packed away and festival goers head home, there’s one sure sign Glastonbury season is over: the sound of the family washing machine spinning…again.

The Wash Pit will be operating on June 30th between 11am-6pm at Leigh Delamere Eastbound Service Station, between Junction 17 and 18, M4 Eastbound, Chippenham SN14 6LB. Slots for a speedy wash and dry are limited and can be booked on Eventbrite at the link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/british-gas-the-wash-pit-tickets-1401225466089?aff=oddtdtcreator

PARENTS TOP TEN ENERGY USAGE PEEVES…

1. Charging their phones and gadgets for hours – 65%
2. Leaving lights blazing in every room – 63%
3. Taking unnecessarily long showers – 61%
4. Leaving the telly on all day – 49%
5. Overusing kitchen gadgets (air fryer, toaster, kettle…) – 38%
6. Turning up the thermostat without asking – 24%
7. Leaving the windows open with the heating on – 23%
8. Forgetting to turn off the oven – 18%
9. Running the bath to the brim – 17%
10. Leaving the oven on for longer than needed – 16%