Government 20 million advert

The house I visited at Christmas was cos they couldn't be bothered. This, essentially, is the point I am trying to make.

There are none so blind as those who will not see (or cannot be bothered to see).

Tips not tops😆

I don’t think the residents of care homes comes into it really,
As the care home owners and care assistants will be the ones to put any energy saving tops into place.
I think public information tips both online and tv is the way to go, to reach as many as possible.
Only the few who don’t need to save energy because money doesn’t matter much to them, or those who can’t be bothered or some other reason, like mental health issues, wouldn’t take note of any tips.
The house I visited at Christmas was cos they couldn't be bothered.

Oreo I spent 20 or more years visiting older members of my family in care. When I started visiting, blaring tvs were ubiquitous in care homes. By the time I ceased visiting, tvs were rarely on, even in the day room, still less in resident's rooms. Young people are even less likely to watch terrestrial tv.

I do appreciate that most people do watch commercial tv stations, but I am not convinced that putting adverts on tv will get to any more people than having this information online.

The problem is that there are none so blind as those who will not see.

MaizieD

Just a reminder that (much to people's surprise) Rees Mogg's department was all ready to go with a public energy saving advice campaign in September and Liz Truss vetoed it.

I don't know why everyone is being so sniffy about this initiative. Not everyone has been brought up in money saving households; not everyone follows Martin Lewis; not everyone sees the Which money saving advice etc. Why are posters assuming that because they know what to do everyone should know? It doesn't hurt to spread the information net as widely as possible.

I think that this campaign is better late than never and may be more effective now that people have had a couple of shocking fuel bills.

Just a reminder that (much to people's surprise) Rees Mogg's department was all ready to go with a public energy saving advice campaign in September and Liz Truss vetoed it.

... and his campaign came in cheaper at around £15 million, I believe!
At the time, there was talk about possible black-outs, so as Business Secretary, it made sense for JRM to urge people to cut their usage one way and another - and for households to possibly save up to £300 a year in the process.

But Truss was opposed to the campaign on "ideological" grounds - it was too "interventionist". She was in her free-market economy mode with stilts on - let the chips fall where they may. My contempt for her runs deep... did she think we were all going to save ourselves £300 at the expense of the companies' profits? That was exactly the moment when the government's job was to intervene.

This is the second time in a week that I've defended a Tory politician both of whom I dislike! But credit must be given when it's due.

I think what people are forgetting - or not realising - is that these campaigns have to cater for the lowest common denominator, it's not 'nannying', it's just being pragmatic.

That’s unusual then Monica because far more people watch tv than don’t watch it.
We’re not just talking about older people either, all ages need to know energy saving tips.
Putting it on tv reaches a much bigger audience.

Whatever we may need, too many people are not interested.

There was a report in the Observer today of a results of a research project by Cambridge University. It showed that when people add insulation to their houses, they see an initial reduction in fuel consumption, but within 4 years consumption is up to pre insulation levels.

Presumably because they get lazy, put the thermostat up a degree or two, worry less about having windows open etc etc.

The problem is - that even in the current circumstances - people know what to do but cannot be bothered to do it. You can advertise to people like that day and night for a fortnight, but they still will not listen to the message.

By the way Oreo putting things on tv, does not mean everyone sees it. I watch little or no television, mostly BBC, and tend to leave the room and do something else during any advert breaks. Many older people today do not watch tv. In fact I know very few that do.

Am with those who say we need to be told energy tips! Well, certainly some do.
I would have liked to see tv ads style stuff about it so all will see it.
Visited a house over Christmas where most were wearing tshirts and heating turned up high.

For a government that keeps saying it has no money for this that and the other it is a lot. Absolute waste of money

henetha

Twenty million for telling us the bl***ing obvious!

You would think so but you should hear my mum on the subject!
She spent time with young family this year. 2 grandchildren were having a pyjama day and complained they were cold.
They were. Bit upset that my mum told them to go and put some clothes on😂
They both have university degrees bit lack a bit of commen sense?

Hints and tips on reducing energy bills or eating economically abound online. Every time I click on the internet my home page will contain a link to some site that will advise me to put foil behind radiators on an external wall, use the thermostat, turn radiators off in unoccupied rooms.

The only people who will not have got the message are either the wilfully ignorant or those who refuse to use any media anywhere - and all the advertising in the world will not reach those groups.

I think the government's iniative has got more to do with covering their backs than any serious desire to cut fuel bills.

Siope

“I agree Maizie that it's better late than never but how on earth could it have cost 20 million”

The advert hasn’t cost £20m. The entire public information campaign, which is much wider, has cost £18m.

The production costs won't be anything like £20 million, but buying air time and space in the media and on billboards etc is expensive.

I think it's fine. Not all people have reliable guidance off family members or peers

I think it's probably necessary for those who need guidance and there may be more of them than we think when you consider how many people make the wrong choice in referendums or elections. Happy New Year everyone!

Something a bit more radical and in-depth would have helped some of us. I think the advice is insultingly basic - for most people, who've been doing these things anyway.

I just thought it foes defpend on whether the advert would save everyone 29p

I think my DC could save that every day if they turned things off after themselves and stopped staring into the fridge

I just asked Alexa btw

“I agree Maizie that it's better late than never but how on earth could it have cost 20 million”

The advert hasn’t cost £20m. The entire public information campaign, which is much wider, has cost £18m.

VioletSky

It's a lot of money yes, but if it were divided amongst the UK population, its 29p each

So perhaps if it was felt to be an important message everyone needed to hear, it seemed cheap?

That was speedy mental arithmetic!
I'm impressed!!

Put like that, yes, it is.

Does that include DC who leave on lights etc?

I agree Maizie that it's better late than never but how on earth could it have cost 20 million.

Just a reminder that (much to people's surprise) Rees Mogg's department was all ready to go with a public energy saving advice campaign in September and Liz Truss vetoed it.

I don't know why everyone is being so sniffy about this initiative. Not everyone has been brought up in money saving households; not everyone follows Martin Lewis; not everyone sees the Which money saving advice etc. Why are posters assuming that because they know what to do everyone should know? It doesn't hurt to spread the information net as widely as possible.

I think that this campaign is better late than never and may be more effective now that people have had a couple of shocking fuel bills.

They could have put their (patronising) messages across for almost zilch if they styled the ads rather like the wonderful "Charlie Says..." public information films.

Even if the cost is 29p per person, £20 million is a lot to spend on such an advertising campaign. No doubt the govt has used their mates again.

Yes it’s late, and this government has to be repeatedly pushed into doing anything.

But it’s a mistake to assume that the entire country has identical - or even similar - levels of knowledge and experience, or will have seen information in the same places, or at all.

And clearly, the specific demographic and tiny number (relative to the UK population) of Gransnet users isn’t representative, so what people here know proves nothing about wider need.

My point being they are paying a lot of money to give us information we all know already it’s not rocket science to make sure you turn lights off and draw the curtains is it ? Are you really saying you need to be told Joe to do that Violetsky grannygravy is that your idea of an important message 🤷🏼‍♂️and even if it was it was dinned into us 3/4 months ago after the first fuel hike took place wasn’t it ? So at least it s very late to the table isn’t it?
Is anyone on here really not already pulling the curtains, shutting doors, turning lights off, and putting their heating down a couple of notches

I m not knocking paying to give information out I m moaning about the very very late timing and about the simple ideas that most thinking people would have done from day one of the hike?

Smileless2012

Indeed Aveline you can't please all of the people all of the time.

On GN political threads you cannot please any of the people any of the time

I do remember there being several requests on here for a public information film/advert regarding saving energy, now there is one…