1.13

The Energy Savings Trust forecasts that, in 2020, consumer electronics, information and communications devices will account for 45% of all electricity used in the home (excluding heating), up from around 30% in 2008. Consumers believe that power consumption over the last two years has grown, driven primarily by a rise in the number of household communications devices; the availability of more energy-efficient ‘best practice’ devices may help address this. However, it appears that many consumers often use unnecessary power.

• More than one in four regularly charge their mobile phone overnight (particularly younger consumers);
• 70% never, or rarely, switch off their broadband wireless router when they are not using it; and
• over half never, or rarely, switch off their television set-top box.