Leaving televisions and other electrical products on standby or plugged in when not in use has cost consumers £1.3bn in wasted electricity.
The figure from the Energy Savings Trust report shows that consumers are adding between £50 and £86 to their utility bills by failing to switch off appliances. This equates to between 9% and 16% of an average domestic bill.
The Powering the Nation research also revealed that doing the laundry, using both a washing machine and a tumble dryer, adds a further £80 to energy bills on an annual basis.
According to Environment Minister Lord Taylor of Holbeach, turning off appliances could save households £85 on electricity bills each year.The report also showed that dishwashers are one of the biggest energy guzzlers, consuming twice the amount of electricity as washing machines.
Surprisingly, the report also reveals that single-person homes are consuming as much, if not more, electricity than typical families. This is most evident when it comes to doing laundry and cooking.
Consumers can save electricity in some of the following ways:
More efficient appliances and lights
If you replace a traditional light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb of the same brightness you will typically save around £3 per year, or £55 over the life of the bulb.
Choosing energy efficient appliances
Choosing an A+ rated appliance will also create significant savings. For instance, an A rated 180-litre fridge freezer could cost only £36 a year to run, whereas a larger 525-litre fridge freezer with a better A+ rating would cost £49 a year to run.
If you are looking to save money on your energy bills in the long-term, Asda energy compare & save could be the perfect tool for you to find the right deal for you.
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