Standby switch-off could save Scots £150m a year

Leaving devices on standby adds significantly to energy bills. Picture: Creative commons

Research for Big Energy Saving Week, which starts on Monday, found that people are regularly leaving electronics including TVs and games consoles on standby, adding significantly to their energy bills.

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The campaign run by the Energy Saving Trust, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and Citizens Advice is offering householders free advice on how to keep their home energy costs down.

Mike Thornton, director of the Energy Saving Trust Scotland, said: “We are a nation on standby. Whatever your age, gender or the size of your household, our research has found that millions of us are unintentionally wasting electricity when we leave our gadgets on standby.

“It’s an easy mistake to make yet it costs us a fortune. Televisions and games consoles are now among the primary sources of our everyday entertainment, yet when left on permanent standby they are costing us £45-80 a year.

“I’m urging people to take back control of their appliances next week and switch off when we aren’t using them.”

An Ipsos MORI poll of 500 people in Scotland found that 56 per cent of respondents owned at least one games console. Around 20 per cent said they left the devices on standby when not in use rather than turning them off, using up to £30 a year in electricity.

Information on saving energy in the home is available at www.bigenergysavingweek.org.uk or by calling Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282.

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