NH Nieuws panel members are doing everything they can to bring down the energy bill, and nothing is shunned. This is apparent from research among members of the NH Nieuws panel in which 1,815 members took part. “When it gets colder, we will live in the bedroom and only heat that room,” said panel member Michel from Hoorn.
And he’s not the only one to go this far. The respondents try to keep costs down in various ways. Not surprising, because more and more people are noticing the consequences of higher energy prices.
200 euros more expensive per month
When we met the panelists in February of this year When asked about their energy bill, most people indicated that they had a favorable ongoing contract. But that group has now shrunk to 28 percent. On the other hand, a fifth of respondents (20 percent) pay more than 200 euros more per month than before and that cuts down considerably. A lot of people indicate there serious financial worries to have about.
Graphic how much more expensive the energy bill is per month, compared to 2021. Text continues below.
Moosje from Bloemendaal is one of the NH Nieuws panel members who makes rigorous savings. In cold periods, the heating is only on for three hours a day, and it doesn’t stop there. “I spend a few hours in the library during the day to keep warm with my thermos of tea.” Danny from Zandvoort also intervened strongly. “The central heating boiler is permanently set to 10 degrees, and the gas stove is turned off. I shower for a maximum of two minutes, wash at 30 degrees and threw the dryer away.”
“I sit in the library during the day to keep warm”
When asked what the panel members do to reduce gas consumption, lowering the heating is at the top, followed by turning on the heating less often. Other solutions (named in the graphic as something else) less and shorter showers and the installation of solar panels are also often mentioned.
Graphic how people try to reduce gas consumption. Percentages exceed 100 because people were allowed to indicate multiple choices. Under the heading ‘something else’, people could indicate an option themselves. Text continues below.
Going completely off the gas is also not feasible for most panel members. So the above measures are not sufficient for everyone. Afra from Hoorn also has its own solutions. “We cook one-pot meals or use the airfryer. We shower together and less often. I wait until I have two full washes with the laundry. And I’m going to wait extra long before heating, then put on thicker clothes.”
Linda from the municipality of Zaanstad does things differently: “I shower twice a week and very briefly. I wash the dishes with cold water.” And Yvonne from Purmerend says: “I only cook once, at most twice a week. And in the evening only one small energy-saving light is on.”
accountability
We conducted a survey among the members of the NH Nieuws panel about how they view the energy crisis, what they notice about it and what they are doing to reduce costs. A total of 1,815 people participated in the study.
Would you also like to participate in the discussion about all kinds of topics in North Holland? Then sign up here for the NH Nieuws panel. You will then be invited to our surveys about once a month.
NH 360° New Vennep
Inflation is rising to great heights and energy is almost unaffordable. In the run-up to Prinsjesdag, NH Nieuws wonders how North Hollanders keep their heads above water. That is why we will be in the De Symfonie shopping center in Nieuw-Vennep in the coming days to investigate the diminished purchasing power that affects you. From all sides: 360 degrees.