Over 25% of BC residents would pick their phones over their partners

A new study released by BC Hydro shows just how addicted British Columbians are to their smartphones.

The study found that over a quarter of BC residents aged 25 to 54 would rather give up seeing their spouse or partner for a day than give up their smartphone or tablet for 24 hours. For those aged 55 to 64, the number jumps one-third.

The report, entitled “Constantly Connected: BC’s obsession with personal electronics and how it’s shifting household electricity use” found more than three-quarters of British Columbians own a smartphone and spend, on average, 4.7 hours a day on their device.

Constantly Connected graph (photo courtesy BC Hydro)

“Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic shift in how people use power in their homes. The popularity of small personal electronics – like smartphones, laptops and tablets – is driving this trend,” said Chris O’Riley, BC Hydro’s President and Chief Operating Officer, in a press release.

In addition, BC Hydro said this “obsession” with technology is changing how British Columbians are using power at home. In fact, it’s resulted in a 150% increase in electricity use from small electronics since 1990.

In response, BC Hydro has offered some tips on how to help people save power, electricity, and money. These include:

Turning on a device’s power management settings: These settings are built into most new personal devices and can significantly improve battery life, limiting the amount of charging required;
Using a smart strip for older electronics: Older devices still draw electricity when left plugged in, even when they are turned off. The best way to combat this – particularly for older home theatre equipment – is to use a ‘smart strip’ or advanced power bar.

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