Football fans staying up to watch the World Cup this summer are being encouraged to use the late-night hours to run household appliances and save on energy bills. E.ON Next has teamed up with former England players Jermain Defoe, Ray Parlour and Toni Duggan to promote the 'Watch and Wash' campaign, which highlights the benefits of shifting energy use to off-peak times.
According to research by E.ON Next, eight million fans plan to tune into late-night fixtures, with over a third expecting to stay up all night. Dr Jan Rosenow, Professor of Energy, said switching to a time-of-use tariff could help the nation collectively save over £93 million on electricity bills this summer. He noted that households could save £230 a year by moving activities like washing, drying, ironing and cooking to off-peak hours.
The campaign focuses on washing machines, which account for 14% of household bills. E.ON Next's Next Smart Saver tariff offers cheaper electricity during off-peak (5am-4pm, 7pm-2am) and super off-peak (2am-5am) hours. Julian Lennertz, Chief Commercial Officer at E.ON Next, said: 'Watch and Wash isn't about asking people to change what they do, but showing people how to benefit more from what they're already doing.'
Defoe added: 'If you're staying up for the late kick-offs this summer, make it count. Stick a wash on during the game and you could be saving money at the same time.' The campaign is part of E.ON Next's Greener Game programme, which helps grassroots football clubs decarbonise and reduce bills.
