BC Hydro is predicting COVID-19 combined with the holiday season will result in unprecedented electronics use.

A new survey conducted on behalf of BC Hydro finds over 90% of British Columbians plan to spend more time at home over the holidays because of COVID-19. Over half said they will use more electronics to help pass the time, which combined with small appliances account for about 20% of the electricity consumed in a home.

In addition to using more, British Columbians are planning to spend more. Spending on new electronics and appliances was already up by 10% earlier this year, and that is expected to continue this December.

After the gaming industry slowed in 2019, hot items like the new PlayStation 5 and Xbox One X gaming consoles will contribute to increased spending and electricity use this year. In fact, about 10% of adults in B.C. are looking to purchase a gaming console this holiday season.

Screen time is also forecast to be at an all-time high. About three-quarters of British Columbians indicated they will be spending more time watching TV and movies over the holiday season than they normally do. And that is why it should come as no surprise that new monitors, tablets and TVs are at the top of many people’s wish lists. About 10% plan to purchase TVs as gifts, and over half will do most of their shopping online.

While electronics will be used to entertain and distract, they will also play a role in connecting British Columbians. Headsets with microphones and LED ring lights are popular gifts as the video conferencing app Zoom continues to be the most downloaded iPhone and iPad app of the year.

About 60% of British Columbians said they are planning a virtual celebration with family and friends this year and about half said they will be making more phone calls to connect with loved ones, which may be why about 10% expect to purchase cellphones for family and friends.

To improve energy efficiency while hanging out at home this holiday season, BC Hydro recommends:

• Streaming efficiently: Stream movies or TV shows on a device like a smart TV instead of a game console as it uses 40% less electricity.
• Looking for the ENERGY STAR symbol: Laptops or desktops with this label use between 30 to 60% less electricity than conventional models. ENERGY STAR rated TVs use at least 30% less.
• Considering the monitor size: A 17-inch monitor uses 30% more energy than a 15-inch monitor.
• Monitoring consumption: See how holiday activities impact a household’s electricity use with the electricity tracking tools available in MyHydro.

BC Hydro

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