Wasteful Britain

According to the Energy Saving Trust, the UK is the most energy wasteful country in Europe.
71 % leave appliances on standby
67% boil more water than they need in the kettle
65% leave electrical chargers plugged in.

I hadn't realised that last one was such a problem - two phone chargers now unplugged.

Comments

[David Brain]

I hadn't realised that either and am unplugging around the office now. One thing I noticed at the Labour Party Conference last month was that environment and global warming as themes were referenced in nearly all the speeches and most policy that was discussed which was a first I think. Bob Geldof talks poverty . . but now cites global warming as the next big cause of it. Ken Livingstone and the Mayor of LA cite it as major planks of their plans and, with the Governator pledging California to carbon targets, between them they appear to be affecting Kyoto by the back door. The environment has moved from a nice side benefit of public transport to one of, if not the major, plus. And of course, Dave Cameron cycles to work from his solar powered home. As a political issue it seems to have reached a tipping point.

[Richard S]

I agree with that David - and not as a stand alone issue but as a theme that has to run through all other policy - see Margaret Beckett's recent Foreign Policy speech:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1158051196918&a=KArticle&aid=1161588023142

[Duncan Munday]

I am amazed at the number of people in the UK still not using low energy light bulbs, they have become so cheap to buy, and offer a huge saving on energy bills as well as great on the environment.