The decision by a Bulgarian family of 4 in London not to use central lighting, but to wear head torches to reduce electricity bills, has become a media sensation in the island. Moda and Chavdar Todorov’s story was published in a large number of English newspapers and websites and garnered hundreds of comments.
It appeared the day the British government announced it
it will stop subsidizing household electricity and gas bills
to households after April, meaning the average annual bill will rise from £2,500 to £3,000, having already risen by around 80% this year. Even now, millions of families are saving, which explains why Todorov’s story has received such a serious response in the British media.
The initiator of the sudden change in their lifestyle is the father. The 53-year-old has decided to do so after the family’s monthly electricity bill jumped from £140 to £320 in June due to a record rise in UK energy bills. Chavdar then buys headlamps for £8.48 for each family member and suggests they use them after dark to try and cut lighting costs. Also, to turn on the heat only once a week.
The family has two children: 14 and 20 years old.
“My husband had the fun idea of using flashlights, but I don’t feel completely safe because there have been burglaries in our area,” says Moda, who is a yoga teacher in north London. She says they’ve been in the British capital since 2004 and try to think positive, but it’s difficult. They try to wear thicker clothes at home and light candles to make it more romantic. When she is alone she doesn’t turn on the heat, but she walks in a jacket.
“It’s like we’re back in the 18th century. We don’t know what the bill will be at the end of the month. That’s why we do our best to save,” says Todorov, who works in a bank and earns extra money as a painter. He hopes they can reduce the annual bill, which is currently £3,800.
However, some of those commenting on Todorovi’s experience on social media believe that this is not the way to save electricity. According to them, the family will spend more on lantern batteries than if they used energy-saving light bulbs. It was much more efficient to simply turn off the lights when they left the room and completely switch off any electrical appliances they weren’t using, rather than keeping them on standby.
“I can’t applaud their decision. It’s sad and shocking evidence of
the alarming state of our country,
so I blame the greed and self-interest of energy companies, banks and the government,” wrote a woman under one of the posts about the Todorov family.
