Your addiction to your electronics is probably making for some strong financials for BC Hydro, but they have some lifestyle advice for you

The more you click away on your electronic devices, the more BC Hydro probably likes it (though they're not saying such a thing), with British Columbians increasing their use of electricity in growing numbers as they use computers, and charge up all those personal devices that make up our lifestyle these days.

A new report from BC Hydro indicates that in particular, young adults have some slavish devotion to their smartphones and tables and the instant access that they provide for.

The findings offering up that British Columbians 18 years of age and over spend nearly a third of their time awake on the phone. As well, a significant number of young adults indicate that they would give up coffee or the heat in their homes on a cold day rather that put their smartphone down for 24 hours.

The review also observes that nearly one in five between 25 and 34 said they're rather give up their salary for a day than their phone for a day, and 3 in 10 in middle age (45-54) find it easier to give up their social/family life than their phone.

Nearly half of 18 to 24-year-olds always or often sleep with their smartphones, with social media (65%), texting (54%) and TV, videos, movies (45%) ranking as the top three ways they use their smartphone.

The report titled Constantly Connected charts the march of technology and how it is shifting our use of electricity, with the smartphone and tablets on steady climb since 1990.

The year 2010 was the watershed moment for the province, the period of time where the big shift took place.

BC Hydro data shows a shift in BC Hydro customers adding portable electronics to their homes in 2010 with the mass adoption of laptop computers and the introduction of tablet computing. 

Between 2010 and 2012, the number of B.C. households with laptops increased by more than 43%, overtaking the number of households with desktop computers for the first time.  

The introduction of the Apple iPad in 2010, brought about another shift, which is correlated by BC Hydro data that shows between 2010 and 2017, the number of B.C. households with tablets increased by more than 200%.  

BC Hydro data shows that 77% of BC Hydro customers currently own a smartphone – with the highest concentration being in the Lower Mainland, where 82% of residents own one, compared to 70% in the Southern Interior and Vancouver Island and 69% in the North.

The full report can be reviewed here.

And while they perhaps may be finding some strong financials from our addiction, BC Hydro is also offering up some suggestions to temper some of our enthusiasm for our devices.

As part of their report overview, BC Hydro offered up a top ten list of sorts on how we can curb our smartphone use.

Of note from the  list the option of engaging with real, live human beings, even strangers if need be, along with a reminder for a bit of physical activity to go with it.

The list includes:

Put the phone away
Make your last 30 minutes before bed a scree-free zone
Try to keep it one screen at a time
Turn off all notifications, except from real people
Take the family to the library
Track your usage with an app
Stop scrolling, resist clickbait
Start a conversation with a stranger
Go outside, do yoga or join a group fitness class
Test your brain rather than lean on google or Siri


More background to the list as well as an introduction to the report can be found here.

Further notes of interest related to BC Hydro can be explored here.


To return to our most recent blog posting of the day, click here.