NEWS COPY
More than one in three Brits keep the lights off when having sex, because they’re self-conscious, can’t relax – or want to save money on their BILLS.
A poll of 2,000 adults found just under a tenth keep the lights off during a romp to save electricity.
For a further one in four, darkness is preferred so they can ‘let their imagination run wild’.
During sex, men are more likely to want the lights on than women – but of those who are trying to save money on bills, it’s twice as likely to be a bloke.
A spokesman for Utilita Energy, which commissioned the research, said: “Apparently, people want to keep the bedroom lights off for all sorts of reasons.
“It’s understandable that people may feel self-conscious or awkward getting up close and personal with the lights on.
“But it would have to be an extended period of adult time to have a serious impact on your end-of-month electricity bill.”
It takes two months on average into the start of a relationship before both parties are comfortable with the other one seeing them naked.
Although when the survey results of 2,000 adults are split by gender, it’s revealed men are likely to reach that point a full month faster than women.
One in 10 Brits have refused to have sex with a prospective partner because they wouldn’t turn the lights out.
But having sex isn’t the only thing Brits do in the dark in a bid to save energy – as one in 10 regularly cleans the house with no lights on.
Fifty-one percent will risk a trip to the loo in the night without turning on the lights, and 27 per cent tiptoe round in the dark while getting dressed on a wintry morning.
Despite this, 16 per cent of Brits say they ‘always’ leave lights blazing away in the house when they go out in the evening.
A fifth do it so pets can see where they’re going – despite most cats and dogs being perfectly capable of getting around in the dark.
But for half, it’s a security measure meant to trick would-be burglars into thinking the house is occupied, according to the OnePoll results.
A further six in 10 regularly trail around their home turning lights off in empty rooms recently vacated by their partner.
The study also found more than half would be more likely to consider their light usage, if they knew the effect it would have on the climate.
Utilita's Energy High Five campaign aims to help every home in the UK save £163 a year on their energy costs.
Their spokesman added: “If every household in the UK turned off lights in unoccupied rooms, in one year we would reduce our carbon emissions by 1.25m tonnes of CO2 per year - it would take 5.5 million trees takes to absorb the same amount.
"It’s the same as taking 1.1 million cars off the road for a year, in terms of carbon savings.
“As autumn draws into the UK and the nights get longer, the use of lights will go up to match the darkness outside.
“So, at this time of year, it’s vital to think about how much light we’re using – turning them off when they aren’t needed.
“And if this helps people feel more confident between the sheets with their partner, that’s an added bonus.”
10 THINGS BRITS HAVE DONE IN THE DARK TO SAVE ON ENERGY
1. Nipped to the loo in the night
2. Got dressed for work early in the morning
3. Worked late into the evening on the laptop
4. Played computer games late in the evening
5. Showered
6. Read in bed (used a head torch instead)
7. Cleaned
8. Cooked
9. Played a board game
10. Applied make- up
ENDS
