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| UK 'tops energy wasters league' | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| British people are Europe's worst energy wasters, with bad habits such as leaving appliances on stand-by likely to waste £11bn by 2010, a study claims. | British people are Europe's worst energy wasters, with bad habits such as leaving appliances on stand-by likely to waste £11bn by 2010, a study claims. |
| If current levels of wastage continue, an extra 43m tonnes of carbon dioxide will be pumped into the atmosphere in that time, it added. | If current levels of wastage continue, an extra 43m tonnes of carbon dioxide will be pumped into the atmosphere in that time, it added. |
| Leaving mobile phone chargers plugged in and lights on were among the most common energy-wasting habits. | Leaving mobile phone chargers plugged in and lights on were among the most common energy-wasting habits. |
| The Energy Saving Trust surveyed 5,000 people in five countries for the study. | The Energy Saving Trust surveyed 5,000 people in five countries for the study. |
| Figures in the Habits of a Lifetime report, commissioned to mark the start of Energy Saving Week, said 71% of UK consumers admit to leaving stand-by buttons on once a week. | Figures in the Habits of a Lifetime report, commissioned to mark the start of Energy Saving Week, said 71% of UK consumers admit to leaving stand-by buttons on once a week. |
| Meanwhile, 65% of UK consumers leave chargers on once a week and 63% forget to switch the lights off when leaving the room. | Meanwhile, 65% of UK consumers leave chargers on once a week and 63% forget to switch the lights off when leaving the room. |
| ENERGY WASTERS LEAGUE 1. UK2. Italy3. France4. Spain5. Germany Source: Energy Saving Trust Send us your comments How you can save energy | ENERGY WASTERS LEAGUE 1. UK2. Italy3. France4. Spain5. Germany Source: Energy Saving Trust Send us your comments How you can save energy |
| The comparison with German consumers, who top the energy efficiency league, reveals major differences. | The comparison with German consumers, who top the energy efficiency league, reveals major differences. |
| Britons leave chargers on three times as much as Germans, they leave stand-by buttons on twice as much and forget to switch off lights four times as much. | Britons leave chargers on three times as much as Germans, they leave stand-by buttons on twice as much and forget to switch off lights four times as much. |
| Almost half (48%) of Britons admit to using the car for short journeys rather than public transport, walking or cycling. | Almost half (48%) of Britons admit to using the car for short journeys rather than public transport, walking or cycling. |
| The Spanish were said to be the next most efficient users of energy after Germany, followed by France and Italy. | The Spanish were said to be the next most efficient users of energy after Germany, followed by France and Italy. |
| Gender gap | Gender gap |
| Philip Sellwood, EST chief executive, said: "As a result of this research, we are calling on the nation to undertake a series of daily habit-changing actions during energy saving week. | Philip Sellwood, EST chief executive, said: "As a result of this research, we are calling on the nation to undertake a series of daily habit-changing actions during energy saving week. |
| As a result of this research, we are calling on the nation to undertake a series of daily habit-changing actions during Energy Saving Week Philip Sellwood, EST chief executive TV 'sleep' button accused | |
| "It is clear from the study we can't band everyone as 'a consumer'. The aim will be to galvanise the nation into breaking their energy habits one by one." | "It is clear from the study we can't band everyone as 'a consumer'. The aim will be to galvanise the nation into breaking their energy habits one by one." |
| Within the UK, a number of interesting statistics emerged concerning age and gender. | Within the UK, a number of interesting statistics emerged concerning age and gender. |
| Both men and women admitted around 32 energy wasting actions per week although 20% of males felt no guilt compared with 9% of the opposite sex. | Both men and women admitted around 32 energy wasting actions per week although 20% of males felt no guilt compared with 9% of the opposite sex. |
| Mild guilt | Mild guilt |
| The survey found 27% of those aged 65 and over felt no guilt about the energy they use and its impact on the local environment. | The survey found 27% of those aged 65 and over felt no guilt about the energy they use and its impact on the local environment. |
| WASTEFUL HABITS Leaving devices on standbyLeaving chargers plugged inForgetting to turn off lights | WASTEFUL HABITS Leaving devices on standbyLeaving chargers plugged inForgetting to turn off lights |
| According to interviews with their parents, 72% of children aged 16 and under regularly leave the lights on and almost two-thirds always leave computers, TVs and stereos on standby. | According to interviews with their parents, 72% of children aged 16 and under regularly leave the lights on and almost two-thirds always leave computers, TVs and stereos on standby. |
| However, about a quarter of 18 to 24-year-olds do feel moderately guilty about the impact their energy use has on the environment. | However, about a quarter of 18 to 24-year-olds do feel moderately guilty about the impact their energy use has on the environment. |
| More than half of those surveyed (57%) said they would support the government introducing "environmental health" warnings on products which are not energy efficient while 49% believe more advice on energy efficiency should be available. | More than half of those surveyed (57%) said they would support the government introducing "environmental health" warnings on products which are not energy efficient while 49% believe more advice on energy efficiency should be available. |
| 'Rising emissions' | 'Rising emissions' |
| Friends of the Earth, meanwhile, has called on more action from the government on climate change. | Friends of the Earth, meanwhile, has called on more action from the government on climate change. |
| "We're not going to save the world by turning our TVs off standby," said the lobby group's parliamentary campaigner Martyn Williams. | "We're not going to save the world by turning our TVs off standby," said the lobby group's parliamentary campaigner Martyn Williams. |
| According to FoE analysis of official data, UK carbon dioxide emissions rose in the first half of the year and are higher than when Labour came to power in 1997. | According to FoE analysis of official data, UK carbon dioxide emissions rose in the first half of the year and are higher than when Labour came to power in 1997. |
| The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the UK has one of the best records of any country in tackling emissions. | The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the UK has one of the best records of any country in tackling emissions. |
| "We are on target to cut CO2 emissions by 16% by 2010, but accept we need to do more to meet our 20% domestic target by 2010," a spokesman said. | "We are on target to cut CO2 emissions by 16% by 2010, but accept we need to do more to meet our 20% domestic target by 2010," a spokesman said. |
| "That is why we introduced new policies and measures. These will take time to kick in but by 2010 they will be delivering reductions." | "That is why we introduced new policies and measures. These will take time to kick in but by 2010 they will be delivering reductions." |