Green energy time
Use energy at the greenest times of the day
Your Challenge
Did you know there are greener times of the day to use energy in your home?
Late at night until early morning is often considered ‘off-peak’ and a greener time to use energy. But there are days of the week that are greener than others too. This is because there is lower demand during off-peak hours or days, at which time a greater proportion of the total energy mix can come from renewable sources such as wind turbines. Some energy providers may offer tariffs that charge less for off-peak use, so if you can do this regularly, it may be an option that could work for your wallet and the environment.
If you have an Alexa device, you can access our green energy forecast via the Alexa skills function! Simply say “Alexa, open WWF’s green energy forecast”. Visit our webpage to find out more and see when’s best to use large appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers, or charge your devices or your electric vehicle.
If you don’t have an Alexa, there’s a handy app you can download from the National Grid which tells you when it’s the lowest-carbon time to plug in and use energy where you live. Try this out a few times a week for the next month.
Why you're doing this
As fossil fuels such as coal are phased out in the UK, we will rely more on renewable energy sources such as wind and solar to fill the gap. By using energy at different times of the day we can spread demand more evenly, helping to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, which are often used to meet demand when the supply of renewables is low.
How you'll make a difference
The National Grid estimates that if a million people in Britain used their washing machine at the greenest time of day, we could collectively save 76,650 tonnes of CO2 each year – that’s the equivalent of taking 36,500 cars off the road!
Track your progress
in the My Footprint App
Track your progress and discover many more challenges in the My Footprint app. Available for iOS and Android devices.
