Christmas gadgets to raise UK energy bill by £392m

Gadgets and other electronic gifts being given over the Christmas period are set to increase the UK’s energy bill by £392 million, the equivalent of lighting 4.4 million homes for a year, analysis suggests.

The research, from B&Q and the Energy Saving Trust, indicates that almost half of Brits will receive a tech gadget this year, with the average gadget costing £31 in electricity to run for the next twelve months. Consumer electronics already account for 28% of the UK’s energy usage.

The biggest reason for increasing bills is that many goods are left on overnight. Of the 60% that fail to turn off their electronic goods, 30% state they forget, whilst 13% say they don’t see the point and 12% can’t be bothered.

Joe Payne, home energy expert at the Energy Saving Trust, said, “It’s amazing how many of us are in the dark about how much all the consumer tech goods we have around our house are impact our energy bills.

“As we’re about to add even more tech to our homes on Christmas Day in the form of gadgets and gizmos as gifts, it’s never been more important for Brits to become switched on about switching off.”

In addition to new gadgets, the average person is expected to watch an extra 11 hours of more over the festive season, adding £320,000 to the country’s energy bill.

Despite new gadgets in many households, separate research suggests that energy efficiency measures can have a significant impact. Despite coming out of a recession and the economy growing, figures show that the UK’s energy consumption has decreased.

Photo: Leonid Mamchemkov via Flickr 

Further reading:

Energy bills consumers’ top winter budget worry

Rising energy bills prompt David Cameron to announce green tax review

73% of UK businesses failing to keep tabs on energy costs

200,000 more pensioners to receive winter energy bill discount

Energy bill decarbonisation vote: the reaction