Energy News

Brits prefer saving money to being green

Tuesday, 2 March 2010

By Daniel Barnes- daniel@consumerchoices.co.uk

Saving money on energy bills is helping Brits to be energy-efficient, rather than fears for the environment.

High energy bills and the recession are forcing British households to become more energy-efficient in a bid to save cash.

Some 65 %of people admit the recession has made them become more aware of turning off appliances at the mains to save money, according to a poll for energy saving device manufacturer Energenie.

However, 43% of people still leave appliances such as TVs, DVD players or set-top boxes on standby and fail to switch them off at the mains.

The most common measure people take is fitting energy-efficient light bulbs. But uptake of measures such as double glazing, cavity insulation or energy- saving dishwashers and washing machines was low.

Alan Tadd, managing director of Energenie, said: “Using energy-saving light bulbs is a great start, but it is a very passive way of reducing household energy consumption.

“What this is proves is that for people to do something, it has to be simple and easy. There are so many ways of lowering household carbon emissions, everything from loft insulation to ensuring electrical appliances aren’t left on standby.”

Chris Eagle, commercial manager at Energychoices.co.uk, said: “When it comes to saving money on your energy bills, simply making sure all appliances are not left on standby can make a major difference to your bills. There are also grants available to help with bigger energy-saving measures in the home.

“If you want to make an even difference, then there are many green energy tariffs on offer, but you should always compare energy deals to find the best deal for you..”