Call for 'smart meters' research

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The meters track the amount of gas and electricity homeowners use, enabling them to see the energy that is required to make a cup of tea or to power the television.

But while it is clear that these and other smart features can reduce energy usage by changing people's behaviour, more robust evidence of their benefits is needed, according to environmental think-tank Green Alliance.

It said there had been little sustained research to quantify the environmental benefits of the wider range of smart features, despite the fact that 27% of the UK's carbon emissions comes from homes.

At the same time research has shown that the majority of people do not know about the technology. The group is calling on the Government to do more to raise the profile of smart features in homes and to clarify their benefits.

It is hoped that smart meters will be commonplace in homes in the next 10 years. But a survey carried out by insurer More Than, which is supporting the report, found that 81% of people had never heard of smart meters.

Once the concept was explained 43% of people said they would be interested in having one installed, although just 26% would be willing to pay for this themselves, with others claiming it was the job of energy companies and the Government to foot the bill.

Nearly half of people also said the Government needed to do more to make people aware of the options available to them to make their homes more energy efficient.

Green Alliance said people were already spending money to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, such as paying for cavity wall insulation, but smart meters could further improve the energy efficiency of older homes.

YouGov questioned 2,335 people during November.