Episode 1: Why we need to stop being wasters
The first show introduces the two families. They show us why they’re such high energy users. Our families are the Quinlans from Dublin and the Moriartys from Listowel, Co. Kerry. The Quinlans are a 7-strong family with massive energy bills which regularly top €13,000 a year. This is largely because they have a swimming pool and hot-tub which they keep heated 24/7.
The 4-strong Moriartys are less extravagant but American mum Sharon is addicted to her massive top-loader washing machine which is incredibly wasteful – especially when she offers to do her neighbours washing too. Son Eoghan is a video-game addict who’ll frequently have his computer, playstation and TV on all the time.
We meet our experts. Dr Kirk Shanks and Aodhan Macphaidin from the government’s Power of One campaign. They audit the families so they can set achievable targets for their reductions.
We also see why it’s important to save energy and save the planet. A mock RTE weather forecast set in 2060 shows what summer and winter might look like and it doesn’t bode well.
To get our families to think about how much energy they use and waste, we show them and then we cut their power for 24 hours to see how they adapt. The Moriartys thrive under the pressure but the Quinlans simply freeze, almost literally!
