Gadgets Driving Up Our Energy Bills

Householders in Fife are blaming their partners and children for wasteful energy habits, sending energy bills soaring by around £3.5m a year.

Across Scotland, almost 30% of us blame our spouse for leaving appliances switched on around the house. Men are more likely to blame their partners than women, with 33% of men blaming partners compared to 25% of women, 41% blame their children.
 
The findings from an Ipsos MORI survey show the average number of gadgets in people’s homes has increased by 29% since 2010. 
 
The number of kitchen gadgets has increased by 55% and more than twice as many households now own smoothie makers and electric juicers compared to five years ago.
 
The number of devices in people’s homes has grown rapidly and leaving these devices on standby has an impact on our energy bills. 

More than three quarters of people in Scotland admit to regularly leaving at least two devices on standby.
 
Mike Thornton, Director of Energy Saving Trust Scotland, said: “Taking control of your energy use is the simplest way to save money in the home. More and more, we are seeing people wasting money on their bills because they prefer to leave things on standby rather than switching off – adding around £30 to their bills every year.
 
“Getting down on your hands and knees and working out what you can and can’t switch off can be a real pain for some of us, but it doesn’t have to be like that. We suggest safely plugging everything that you can switch off into one extension socket and everything that you can’t into another.”
 
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd said: “My number one priority is to keep bills down for hardworking families and businesses across the country. Our reforms are pushing up competition, pushing down tariffs and saving households millions by switching energy supplier.
 
“But knowing how much energy you use – and waste by leaving appliances on standby – also goes a long way in helping put consumers in control of their bills. And with smart meters on their way, making bills more accurate and affordable will only get easier.”
 
Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said: "Smaller energy bills could make a warm home in winter more affordable for everybody.
 
“The Citizens Advice Service helps thousands of people a year who are struggling to afford their energy. Being on the best deal, saving energy where possible and getting support to switch where needed can have a massive impact on people’s ability to manage their energy costs.
 
“If you are struggling with energy bills, worried about fuel debts, or need help switching, you can get advice from us online, over the phone, or by attending one of the hundreds of Big Energy Saving Week activities all across the country.”