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26/06/2012
Idle Appliances Eat Up Household Energy
UK homes are consuming much more electricity than previously estimated and up to 16% of energy bill totals are spent on devices left on standby, a detailed report has claimed.
The report, commissioned by the government and the Energy Saving Trust, surveyed more than 250 households.
Paula Owen, its lead author, said researchers had thought standby use would only account for 8% of bills totals, and the 16% figure was "quite a shock".
She explained that 'standby' meant appliances left "idle, rather than doing what they are primarily designed to do".
The average modern home now contains 41 devices, as compared to about 12 in the 1970s.
TVs, smartphones and personal computers have all eaten their way into the average household's electricity bill.
And it is estimated that domestic energy use accounts for more than a quarter of the nation's CO2 emissions.
One finding of the study was that single-occupancy households used as much energy as family homes, or in some cases even more, and that there were some households where washing machines were used three times a day.
Rosalyn Foreman, energy adviser for the EST, said the report's high level of detail would allow the Trust to target its campaigns.
She said fridges and freezers were "real energy eaters" and consumers should think of buying more energy-efficient appliances.
The UK year-long study was commissioned by EST, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Energy and Climate Change.
(NE)
The report, commissioned by the government and the Energy Saving Trust, surveyed more than 250 households.
Paula Owen, its lead author, said researchers had thought standby use would only account for 8% of bills totals, and the 16% figure was "quite a shock".
She explained that 'standby' meant appliances left "idle, rather than doing what they are primarily designed to do".
The average modern home now contains 41 devices, as compared to about 12 in the 1970s.
TVs, smartphones and personal computers have all eaten their way into the average household's electricity bill.
And it is estimated that domestic energy use accounts for more than a quarter of the nation's CO2 emissions.
One finding of the study was that single-occupancy households used as much energy as family homes, or in some cases even more, and that there were some households where washing machines were used three times a day.
Rosalyn Foreman, energy adviser for the EST, said the report's high level of detail would allow the Trust to target its campaigns.
She said fridges and freezers were "real energy eaters" and consumers should think of buying more energy-efficient appliances.
The UK year-long study was commissioned by EST, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Energy and Climate Change.
(NE)
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