Questions 11 and 12 Choose TWO letters A to E. Which TWO problems with some home energy apps does the speaker mention?
A They cost money to download B They are confusing for beginners C They only work on new phones D They collect more data than users expect E There is no help for personal questions
Questions 13 and 14 Choose TWO letters A to E. Which TWO tips does the speaker give for reducing electricity use?
A Use a timer for heating B Keep lights on all night C Wash clothes every day D Start with one small change E Check the seal on the fridge door
Questions 15 to 18 What is each person’s main reason for joining the Low Energy Living group. Choose from the list A to C.
Reasons A to reduce bills B to learn simple routines C to feel safer at home
15 Emily ______ 16 Raj ______ 17 Noor ______ 18 Tomas ______
Questions 19 and 20 Choose the correct letter A B or C.
19 The speaker says her biggest early mistake was A buying the wrong device B changing too many habits at once C trusting an online advert
20 She recommends checking electricity use A every day B once a month C only in winter
Keys
11 B 12 D 13 A 14 E 15 A 16 B 17 C 18 A 19 B 20 B
Transcript
Part 2: You will hear a talk called Low Energy Living.
Hello and welcome to Low Energy Living. I’m Leah, and today I’m talking about an issue many people face. Reducing electricity use without turning life into a strict set of rules. Lots of people try home energy apps because they promise simple answers. Graphs, alerts, and friendly messages. Some apps can be useful, but there are problems too. People often download an app with real hope, then stop using it after a few days. The reason is not laziness. It is that the app does not fit how people actually live.
One common problem is that the apps can be confusing for beginners. They show too many charts and labels, and if you don’t already understand what base load means, you can feel lost within minutes. Another problem is data. Many apps collect more data than users expect. Information about when you’re home, which rooms are used, or patterns that are more personal than people realise. Even if the company says the data is anonymous, it can still feel uncomfortable.
So, what can you do instead. I always recommend starting with two simple actions. First, use a timer for heating, especially in the evening. People often leave heaters running longer than they need because they forget. A timer turns a good intention into a routine. Second, check the seal on your fridge door. If the seal is loose or dirty, cold air escapes, and the fridge has to work harder all day. It’s a small detail, but it has a constant effect.
Our group includes all sorts of people. Emily joined because she wanted to reduce bills. Prices went up in her area and it became stressful. Raj joined because he felt overwhelmed and wanted simple routines, not complicated systems. Noor joined to feel safer at home. She lives alone and didn’t want to sit in the dark, but she also didn’t want a high bill. Tomas joined mainly to reduce bills too, because he’s saving for a course.
I’ll share one personal mistake. When I started, I tried to change too many habits at once. New bulbs, new schedules, new rules about charging devices. It lasted about a week, and then I gave up because it felt like a full time job. Now I recommend something calmer. Check your electricity use once a month. Monthly tracking shows patterns, like seasonal changes, without turning your day into constant monitoring. The goal is steady improvement, not perfection. If you aim to be consistent, you make progress.
