How can flexibility help us all with greener living?

By George Clarke

When we talk about greener living, I think we often make it sound harder than it needs to be. People imagine big changes, big costs, and big lifestyle overhauls. And honestly, that’s exactly what puts people off.

What I’ve learned from years spent in real homes, with real people, is this: progress rarely comes from perfection. It comes from finding small, practical changes that fit around everyday life, and sticking with them. This is why I am so excited to be kicking off The Great Green Challenge with ScottishPower.

What I mean by “flexibility” (and what I don’t)

When I say flexibility, I’m not talking about taking up gymnastics in your spare time. I’m talking about being a bit more flexible with when you use electricity.

You’ll sometimes hear this called ’demand flexibility’ in the energy world - or if you’re a ScottishPower customer signed up to Power Saver¹, you might already be familiar with the idea of ’energy shifting’.

Energy shifting is when you ’shift’ some of your electricity use to different times of the day. You don’t have to use less electricity overall, or overhaul your routine. Instead, it’s about seeing how small changes can add up.

A simple way to understand the grid and how it impacts energy shifting

Here’s the helpful bit to know. The electricity system is a balancing act. Power has to be generated and used at the same time. Many people think it can be easily stored up, but when it comes to renewables, this isn’t as easy as it sounds.

Some times of the day are naturally busier than others. Think weekdays from 4pm to 8pm, when lots of us are cooking, putting the washing on, charging devices, heating water and settling in after work. When lots of households do these things at the same time, the system comes under the most pressure.

Other times of day are quieter and “greener” because demand is lower, and the system has a bit more breathing space.

So what are “greener times”?

As more renewable electricity is generated, the mix of power on the grid changes throughout the day.

When it’s windy, there’s often more renewable electricity available. When conditions change, that supply can dip. Because of that, there are times when the grid is both quieter and greener.

That’s what people mean when they talk about using electricity at “greener times”, times when there’s less strain on the system and more renewable generation available.

Energy shifting doesn’t have to be complicated. I always tell people you don’t need a PhD in energy saving. You just need to try to adopt a few habits that make it easier to do certain high-use tasks at different times of the day.

What energy shifting looks like in real homes

You don’t need to start from scratch and redesign your whole life to save on your energy bills.  I know households across the country have a lot to think about at the moment – that’s why I always suggest starting small by trying to spot a couple of easy wins.

Energy shifting works best when it becomes routine.

Here are a few everyday examples I’ve heard over the years:

As you can see, we’re not suggesting you use less electricity – just that you use it at slightly different times.

Why it matters (even if it feels small)

On its own, shifting one appliance might not feel like a big deal, and at first it’s hard to imagine how these changes could add up.

When ScottishPower ran some research²before we got started with The Great Green Challenge, I wasn’t surprised to see that nearly 50% think energy efficiency measures won’t meaningfully reduce their bills, and that 67% of people believe greener living is too difficult (or expensive).

But across lots of homes, small shifts add up.

They help spread demand more evenly across the day, which reduces pressure during the busiest periods. And the more we can spread demand, the easier it is to make the most of the renewable electricity we’re generating, without asking people to make major changes.

That’s why energy shifting is such a practical part of greener living. It works with real routines, not against them.

A realistic way to start

Start with 3 easy steps.

Greener living works best when it fits into your real life. You’re not trying to be perfect, you’re trying to be consistent.

As I often say, people aren’t against going green. They just want straight answers. And if something feels expensive or confusing, it’s only human to put it off. Energy shifting works because it fits into your day-to-day life, one small decision at a time.

Power Saver can help ScottishPower customers make the most of flexibility

If you want to start shifting your energy, ScottishPower customers can sign up to Power Saver¹ and save money by shifting electricity use away from peak periods³. It’s one of the many greener living options I’ll be talking about in homes across the country during The Great Green Challenge.

One of my goals for the Challenge is spreading the word that greener living can be as simple as doing the same things you already do, just at a slightly different time.  That’s energy shifting – and for a lot of households, it’s one of the most realistic ways to get started.