Energy News

The great energy drain

Thursday 12 July, 2007

Our passion for computers, gadgets and entertainment will account for 45% of domestic electricity use by 2020 according to a new report.

The research by the Energy Saving Trust - imaginatively titled The Ampere Strikes Back - warned that these appliances will need the equivalent of 14 average sized power stations just to power them.

Much of this is wasted electricity too with Standby functions being used more frequently than the “off” button according to the report - a habit that accounts for 8.6 per cent of all TV energy consumption.

It also highlighted the new ways in which our technologies are used. It said: “Digital television (which can in itself be two products: a set-top box and a TV) may be used to listen to digital radio stations. What used to be a low-energy exercise of listening to the radio is now a highly energy-intensive one.”

Chris Eagle, EnergyChoices.co.uk commercial manager, said: “Although people are becoming more aware of the need to save energy and think about the environment, however, people don’t seem to equate this with the increasing numbers of gadgets they’re buying.

“At the same time as switching to energy efficient light bulbs and greener energy sources, we’re stocking up on plasma screens, wireless routers and MP3 players. To compensate for this we all need to make an effort not to leave these gadgets on standby, or leave chargers plugged in all the time - another big energy waster.”

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