UK households waste around £227 million a year by leaving household appliances on standby, according to research published by uSwitch.com.
A sample of over 1,900 GB adults has revealed that the vast majority of respondents (76%) leave electrical appliances on standby, with nearly 40% admitting that they never turn them off at the mains.
The comparison site estimates that the average UK home leaves electrical items on standby for an average 51 hours a day – totalling around £11.36 in annual cost per household.
Televisions, phone chargers and set top boxes are the most common items to be left on standby, with uSwitch estimating that these three products alone account for over £145 million of wasted energy every year.
The research also revealed that 14% of Brits were unaware that appliances left on standby still use energy, with 7% under the mistaken impression that they only consume energy when they are in use.
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One in ten of those surveyed admitted that they ‘couldn’t be bothered’ to turn off their appliances at the mains, while four in ten said that they didn’t see the value in turning them off when they would use them again – despite 81% recognising that leaving items on standby would increase their energy bill.
Jules Greenidge, energy expert at uSwitch, commented: “Although the average cost of leaving appliances on standby might not seem like a lot, these costs can quickly add up to a more substantial sum.
“With families struggling with the rising cost of living, simply remembering to turn off appliances at the mains when you’ve finished using them will avoid unnecessary standby expenses. Consumers can also reduce spending by switching to the cheapest tariff for their needs. So, by switching off and switching tariff, consumers will see instant savings.”
