The government could miss out on its energy saving targets because of the rise in the UK’s gadget love affair.
Despite more energy efficient measures implemented over the country, homes are consuming more energy than they were five years ago.
The Energy Saving Trust research suggests that the government could miss carbon reduction targets by as much as 7,000 million tonnes.
With homes being responsible for 29% of Britain’s carbon emissions, the government is focusing on this area to reduce emissions. By 2020 they hope to have reduced carbon by 34% from 1990.
But a recent documentary shows that the average UK household now has three-and-a-half times as many gadgets than in 1990.
The author of the report, Dr Paula Owen, has said that it isn’t about updating electrical equipment, but instead changing our behaviour in homes.
Dr Owen said: “Our love affair with domestic gadgets and gizmos has to change, just because you have bought an efficient appliance, doesn’t mean you can use it carelessly and never switch it off.
“While many of us feel industry is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, it is behaviour on the home front that could make a difference in the UK hitting its overall national carbon emissions reduction target.”
Many of the products in our homes nowadays are more efficient, but the report finds US products are draining energy.
Plasma TVs, large fridges and freezers and tumble dryers are some of the culprits using a lot of energy in the home. This puts a lot more on your household bills and increases the carbon emissions your home creates.
Dr Owen said: “We need to ask ourselves is that ice-maker in the fridge a necessity? Do I need to leave those chargers on the whole time? Do I need a 50+ inch TV screen? There’s more to this issue than using energy efficient light bulbs. Not only can people cut their carbon footprint, but they can also bring down their electricity bills considerably.”
The report says that homes in the country should replace their old fridge, washing machine and dishwasher with energy efficient models.
If this happens, £585 million would be collectively saved and carbon emissions would be reduced by two million tonnes in the UK.