Britons could save hundreds at the flick of a switch

Monday, 23 October 2006 12:00

UK residents could save themselves hundreds of pounds by turning off appliances when they are not in use.

New reports out today to mark the start of energy saving week show insulating your home could save £610 a year, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Data from Moneysupermarket.com shows some 9.4 million Britons admit to not being energy efficient, while research from the Energy Savings Trust shows UK residents are the worst in Europe at saving energy and cash.

And top of the list of way Britons can save energy, cash, and possibly even the planet is to simply turn things off when they are not in use.

Moneysupermarket points out appliances in standby mode can still use 60 per cent of the energy they use when switched on.

But even though they know this, more than two people in five (42 per cent) admit to always leaving electrical products on standby rather than turning them off.

Additionally the report from the Energy Savings Trust shows 63 per cent of Britons leave lights on when they leave the room - four times as many as in Germany.

Leaving mobile phone and other chargers plugged in when not in use also wastes energy - but 65 per cent of Britons admit to doing this at least once a week, three times as many as in Germany.

One thing Britons were found to be good at was reaching for a jumper rather than the thermostat when things get chilly, with 71 per cent of Britons taking this cheaper - and more environmentally friendly - option.

But despite the huge savings in energy bills available, Britons are largely apathetic about saving money on electricity bills.

"Global warming is a problem that isn't going to go away, and as a nation we all need to take responsibility for saving energy to help the environment," said Paul Schofield, head of utilities at Moneysupermarket.

"Being energy efficient doesn't mean taking drastic action such as installing a wind turbine in the garden; it can be as simple as switching appliances off fully instead of leaving them on standby or swapping to a green electricity supplier.

"Not only could you be saving the environment, but saving money on energy bills as well."

Top energy saving tips

• Standby to save cash - any appliance that is plugged in should be switched off at the plug when not in use - this includes broadband modems and chargers.
  
• Invest in a lagging jacket for your hot water tank and insulate pipes - this will pay for itself in a few months with the money saved.
  
• Turning your thermostat down by one degree could cut your heating bills by up to ten per cent. And if you are going away for winter, leave the thermostat on a low setting to provide protection from freezing at minimum cost. This can save about £30 per year.
  
• Invest in a condensing boiler - this can save hundreds of pounds and pay for itself in a few years.
  
• Replace light bulbs with energy saving versions: just one can reduce your lighting costs by up to £78 over the lifetime of the bulb.
  
• Is your hot water too hot? For most, setting the thermostat at 60°C/140°F is fine for bathing.
  
• Do not leave the fridge door open longer than necessary and defrost freezers regularly.
  
• When cooking leave saucepan lids on as this will allow you to turn down the heat.
  
• Do not use more water than you need when boiling a kettle as it takes much more electricity to boil a full kettle each time than just enough water for a cup or two.
  
• For those willing to spend money to save money, loft insulation is a great investment. Up to 25 per cent of heat loss occurs through lofts that are not insulated.
  
• Cavity wall insulation can also prove to be a big money saver. Insulation can save up to 35 per cent of heat loss through walls.
  
• Consider the 'Economy 7' energy tariff. This has different pricing structures based on the night and day with energy used at night costing less than the energy used during the day. This allows you to heat your water and storage heater during the night - but be wary you need to use 20 per cent of your heat consumption at night to make a saving

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