Making a small change
It is possible, says the Energy Saving Trust, for households to cut energy consumption by 20 per cent through a range of measures.
Just a couple of facts below tell the tale:
turning your central heating thermostat down by one degree can cut heating bills by 10 per cent and washing clothes at 30 degrees uses 40 per cent less energy than clothes washed on hot-fill washes.
a third of energy used to heat an un-insulated home is wasted because of heat loss through the walls.
Here's a table showing the estimated annual CO2 emissions from devices left on standby in the UK:
| Item | Value of electricity wasted | Amount of CO2 emitted in tonnes |
|---|---|---|
| Stereos | £175m | 1,600,000 |
| Videos | £105m | 960,000 |
| Consoles | £43m | 390,000 |
| TVs | £53m | 480,000 |
| DVD players | £11m | 100,000 |
| Set-top boxes | £7m | 60,000 |
(source: Energy Saving Trust, Carbon Trust and DEFRA conversion figures.)