Baby boomers bigger energy hogs than millennials: BC Hydro

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – It turns out baby boomers aren’t as power smart as they may think, a new report from BC Hydro suggests they’re using way more power than millennials.

“In fact, they use about double the amount of electricity as millennials do. And their annual electricity costs are actually $500 more,” says Tanya Fish with BC Hydro.

But the reason behind the spike in electricity consumption, Fish says, might have more to do with the size of the home.

“The majority of boomers live in homes that are over 2,000 square feet, while about 42 per cent of millennials live in homes that are about half that size,” she adds.

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And in those bigger homes boomers are more likely to be able to afford some “luxury extras” Fish explains.

“Obviously a bigger home you’ll have more lights and more heating and they’ll also have more room for those standard appliances and ‘luxury extras’ as we’re calling them such as heated flooring, and you know maybe an extra fridge or a wine cooler.”

Baby boomers are twice as likely to have a pool and three times more likely to have a hot tub. They’re also 25 per cent more likely to have a home entertainment system.

She says millennials are three times more likely to live in homes that are smaller than 500 square feet.