Daylight Savings Time Ending Means 'Workplace Slackers' Likely to Emerge

Toronto Hydro survey says about 20 per cent of Torontonians try to fool their co-workers, wasting electricity

TORONTO, Nov. 22, 2013 /CNW/ - On November 1, winter electricity prices took effect.  For a typical Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited (Toronto Hydro) customer, the change means approximately $4 more on the 'electricity' line, or about three per cent on the total monthly bill.  As people begin to hunker down for the winter and spend more time indoors, they'll be looking for ways to conserve on their electricity bills.  Lights and electronics - like TVs and computers - will be on more, and that means a potentially higher bill for business and home owners.  And, according to a Toronto Hydro survey*, some tricksters are leaving lights or computers on to fool people into thinking they're in early or staying late.  Only three per cent admit to leaving a light on, but 17 per cent say that their co-worker has done it.

Workplace Slacker Survey Highlights:

• 34 per cent of people have purposely closed or let the elevator door close even when they saw someone coming or running for it, and 71 per cent have had it done to them.
• 3 per cent of people have left a light in at the office to make people think that they were in early or working late, and 17 per cent say that a co-worker has done it.
• 5 per cent have left a computer on at the office to make people think that they were in early or working late, and 20 per cent say that a co-worker has done it.

Most of a business or organization's electricity usage is determined by its equipment such as data storage, cooling, elevators, lighting and technology.  A lot of equipment remains 'on' or in 'stand-by' mode to improve productivity and efficiency.  While it is generally accepted as the cost of doing business, Toronto Hydro can help find other ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs.  More info can be found at torontohydro.com/business

Our World. Our City. Our Responsibility. See what we are doing to be safe, reliable and sustainable at torontohydro.com/responsibility

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*About the poll:
From July24th to July 26th, 2013, an online survey was conducted among 1000 Canadian adults that live in the city of Toronto, and who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to age and gender to ensure a representative sample. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

Image with caption: "WORKPLACE SLACKERS: according to a Toronto Hydro survey, some tricksters are leaving lights or computers on to fool people into thinking they're in early or staying late. Only three per cent admit to leaving a light on, but 17 per cent say that their co-worker has done it. (CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131122_C9343_PHOTO_EN_33664.jpg

SOURCE: Toronto Hydro Corporation

Tanya Bruckmueller, Toronto Hydro-Electric System
[email protected]
W: 416-542-2621
C: 416-903-0440