NEWS FROM NPOWER

FAMILY HARMONY FOUND IN THE TURN OF A THERMOSTAT
COLD SNAP MAKES BRIT FAMILIES SNAPPIER


One in four family tiffs over the recent cold snap were sparked by disputes over the temperature of the home, it emerged yesterday, with kids acting as the mediators.

Research conducted by npower Climate Cops among 2,000 homeowners found ‘it’s too hot, it’s too cold’ squabbles took place in millions of homes as Britain was struck by the lowest temperatures for nearly 30 years, with more bad weather on the way.

Surprisingly the survey showed that it’s being left to the kids to restore the peace and encourage parents to turn down the thermostat. The research also revealed that the ideal temperature for family harmony is 21 degrees Celsius.

Yesterday a spokesman for npower’s Climate Cops, the energy company’s education programme that encourages kids to think green, said:

‘’What’s really heartening is that the results reveal that it’s kids who are championing greener practices around the home.

“An encouraging 17 per cent of parents have been pressurised into turning down the thermostat by their kids in order to help protect the environment and a quarter are nagged about being more environmentally conscious.

“As many as four in 10 youngsters are taking it even further, entering into dad’s domain by sorting out the recycling at home and encouraging their families to stop wasting water or electricity.”

Parenting expert and author Lorraine Thomas commented:

“According to these results more than half (53 per cent) think that families have been grumpier because of the cold snap, with families having one squabble a week over the correct temperature for the home. Family disagreements are perfectly healthy but it’s great to see that kids are acting as mediators and working to restore family harmony.”

The survey found the typical family has at least four ‘niggles’ a day and at least one disagreement lasting 10 minutes.

A third have complained of feeling cold around the home. One in five are fed up of being told to ‘put another layer on’ and the same number have disagreed about the time the heating should come on in the morning.

But seven in 10 believe family disagreements are healthy and 87 per cent reckon it’s best to have everything out in the open so everyone knows how everyone truly feels.


WHAT FAMILIES ARGUE ABOUT
1. Household chores
2. What to watch on TV
3. Money
4. The temperature of the house
5. Who has the remote control
6. Replacing the toilet roll
7. What time the children go to bed
8. Being unable to find something in the house
9. Whose go it is on the computer or games console
10. Treating the house like a hotel
11. Taking each other for granted
12. Whose turn it is to wash up
13. Homework
14. What to have for tea
15. Feeling too hot or too cold
16. Taking someone else’s toy / book / game without asking
17. Constantly being asked for money
18. Getting kids to stop eating sweets
19. Putting an empty juice carton back in the fridge
20. Getting kids to eat vegetables
21. Whether someone is really ill or not
22. People spending too long in the bathroom
23. Leaving the loo seat up
24. Loud music
25. Who drank the last of the milk
26. Who should empty the dishwasher
27. Wanting a new toy / clothes / trainers
28. Who ate the last of the bread
29. Never ending sport on television
30. What time teenagers should be back home

- ENDS –

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About npower
• npower is one of the UK's largest electricity suppliers and has 6.6 million customer accounts across the UK.
• npower sponsors the Test Match Series in England, Women's Test Series and the Village Cup.
• npower has been awarded platinum status in Business in the Community’s CR Index and is one of twenty-nine companies to have achieved the CommunityMark since its launch. All CommunityMark achievers have been recognised for demonstrating excellence in their holistic and strategic approach to community investment.