Hogmanay is a significant date in most Scots’ diaries, with people across the nation gearing up for a night filled with bonfires, singing and dancing at an all-important ceilidh.
And new research from Scottish Gas has revealed just how much energy Scots in Edinburgh will burn dancing the traditional Gay Gordons or Dashing White Sergeant at a ceilidh this New Year’s Eve.
The research found that the average person will burn 678 calories by joining in with the festivities for two hours.
If just half of the population of Edinburgh took part, it would burn a total of 173 million calories, the energy equivalent of powering an Edinburgh tram for four days. The energy used would be enough to travel more than 1,600km by tram – the same distance as Edinburgh Airport to York Place and back 60 times!
A ceilidh of 75 people would burn enough energy to charge a smart phone for 12 hours or light up a room with an LED bulb for six hours.
Stephen Cosgrove, a Scottish Gas Smart Energy Coach who installs smart meters across Edinburgh, said, “You can’t get much more traditional than a ceilidh on Hogmanay, and it’s brilliant fun to dance the night away.
“As we’re celebrating we don’t think about how much energy we’re burning, but it’s a different story when it comes to energy use around the home.
“Smart meters are a great way of keeping an eye your energy consumption. They come with a smart energy monitor that shows how much energy is being used in pounds and pence, in near real time, helping to put you in control of your energy use and spend.
“They also mean an end to estimated bills and manual meter readings as they automatically send readings to your supplier, so you don’t have to.”
British Gas has installed more than 560,000 smart meters in homes across Scotland. British Gas dual fuel customers with smart meters save on average £33 by using less energy.
To find out more visit: www.britishgas.co.uk/smart
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