Consumers failing to make energy savings on appliances when they head off on holiday

May 25th, 2015

Appliance News Environment, Energy & Water Saving

Households are overlooking simple energy saving solutions when they head off on holiday, according to an international power provider.

Research conducted on the UK market by energy giant E.ON showed eight in ten Brits leave appliances on when they take a vacation.

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The results suggest consumers are spending more than they need to on energy bills, and experts claim there are easy measures people can take to help slash costs.

David Bird, E.ON’s Residential and Customer Operations Director, said: “When it comes to holidays, there’s a lot to think about – and in the rush to get away we can overlook some of the simpler things that can help you to keep energy use low while you’re not in your home.

“Being careful about only leaving things on when we need them is a good habit to get into all year round, not just when we go on holiday, and this can really play a part in helping keep your household energy use under control.”

Of the 1,000 people surveyed, almost 80 per cent leave electrical items switched on in their homes when they go on holiday.

More than a quarter said they don’t switch their fridge to a more economical setting, while one in three leave items on standby, including televisions and DVD players.

Only one in five said they always switch off all electrical items before they go away.

mage courtesy of bplanet at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Appliances Online, Australia’s largest online retailer of appliances, said it understands its commitment to looking after the environment. It has issued a series of tips for buying energy efficient appliances to help reduce the carbon footprint of households.

The advice included simple suggestions such as always turning off appliances at the power point.

A statement said: “Around 10 per cent of household power use is drawn from appliances that are thought to be off but are actually on stand-by mode and are continuing to use power.

“Also, by setting your heater or heating system just a few degrees cooler you can save at least 600kg of CO2 pollution and $150 per year.”