Daylight is FREE!

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

Is this really tight of me? The kids are constantly sitting in their rooms with curtains closed and lights on during the day. Have just yelled at one of them (for the millionth time) that daylight is free and to please open their curtains and switch the light off.

AAARRGGGHHH I can't wait til schools and universities are back, it's driving me nuts having the kids at home all day every day!

[BoggledBudgie]

DC are doing the same here, they’ve lovely big windows in their bedrooms that let in a ton of free daylight but that’s not good enough. Need their curtains closed and both lights and lamps on!! It drives me mad, one more week and schools are back here though!

[Chanjer]

Yeah that's bonkers

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

Bonkers that I care, or bonkers that they do it? I think I get it from my dad.

[EveryDayIsADuvetDay]

I have very large windows (about 60% of my wall space, and floor to ceiling c. 4.5m high) and thermal curtains.
When it's very hot, I keep them closed to keep the heat out, in winter I close them when I'm out to keep the heat in.
Heating/cooling costs a lot more than low energy lights.
(and if I open/close them less, saves electricity of the curtain tracks too)

[Chanjer]

Sorry bonkers to sit indoors with the lights on

It's just a waste of electricity

[UncleShady]

I do a marvellous impression of my dad that involves turning the light off throwing opening the curtains and indicating the ginormous and free light in the sky that is the sun. For added effect I can also roll around on the floor screaming 'I'm melting, I'm melting' like the witch in the Wizard of Oz, or 'I'm blinded, the light it blindsssss meeeeee' which is more of a freestyle flop onto the bed with dramatic arm flung across face Gone with the Wind style.

[bonjonbovi]

Look at your fuse box - is there a separate fuse for upstairs lights?

[scoobiedoobiedoo]

Where I am it is really hot outside, I have my blinds closed to keep the heat out, it is much cooler inside my house than outside.

[Pobblebonk]

Tell them every time they do it it's a pound off their pocket money to contribute to the electricity bill.

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

LOL @UncleShady, love that. I need to re-enact!

V good idea re the fuse box also - ooops, the lights are broken!!

[meow1989]

So for me, YANBU on the surface, but, I am one of those people who has lights on even with curtains or blinds open. I am fairly certain that at least 50 percent of my dads communication with m growing up involved the words "it's like Blackpool illuminations in here!"

[vodkaredbullgirl]

I was going to suggest the same as bonjon, i often turned the electric off upstairs.

[Waveysnail]

I brought Venetian blinds. At least they can crack them a bit

[vodkaredbullgirl]

used to turn the wifi off too, doesn't work now lol.

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

Ha yes that was one of my dad's catchphrases as well @meow1989 - you don't realise until your paying your own bills!

Unfortunately if I turn the leccy off upstairs it means I can't work!

[BarbaraofSeville]

No it's not tight. It's a complete waste of resources. I thought all 'young people' were environmentally concious so completely opposed to environmentally damaging wasteful behaviour like this?

[youngestisapsycho]

My DD14 sits in her room with the window closed, blind down and the light and fan on.... she is also wearing a hoodie!! I go in every hour to open the window cos she keeps closing it.... why is she wearing hoodie with a fan on?! We've just bought a house and she says she doesn't want a window in her new room!!

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

I'd be tempted to turn the router off!

[sociallydistained]

Why are teens so stupid though! Same thing here especially hoodies with fans on and curtains closed with lights on. I feel I was the exact same

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

I don't know what's wrong with them - I love fresh air and don't like artificial light at all - even when it's actually dark!

They're getting thrown out of their rooms to the park this afternoon. Have had enough of them slobbing in their rooms!

[Gumbo]

I too fel your pain, I have a teen who likes to sit with his curtains closed given half a chance, which is something I try not to give

I'm genuinely concerned about the lack of vitamin D and the risk of rickets and I force mine to a) go out for a walk with me each day (ie. actually outside, in the daylight), and b) to take a daily vitamin tablet.

It won't last forever

[TroysMammy]

I'd be tempted to take the curtains down or remove the lightbulbs.

[GreyishDays]

I think energy saving bulbs use a tiny amount of electricity though, less than a penny an hour. It’s things that heat or move that use more.

I open blinds and curtains though as it’s good for them to be in daylight.

[BarbaraofSeville]

Is this a privacy issue? Could they be worried about being seen in their bedrooms, especially when they get changed?

Maybe they CBA opening and closing the curtains when they get dressed so they just leave them closed all the time? And then it's easier to turn the light on instead of opening the curtains?

Still infuriating though.

[UncleShady]

Unfortunately if I turn the leccy off upstairs it means I can't work!

Which lights are they using? You can get smart bulbs for bayonets and screw fittings, and smart plugs for bedside/desk lamps - and then turn the lot off remotely. We have halogen spots upstairs which is why I have to do the whole 'look at the big free light in the sky beyond your curtains' routine.

If you can get smart bulbs and you have an Alexa upstairs you could even set up a routine that plays them 'The Sun has got his hat on hip hip hip hip hooray' as it turns all the lights off