UK likely to miss green targets as home gadgets more than triple

Homes are responsible for 29 per cent of the UK’s CO2 emissions, and the UK has a 2020 target to reduce carbon emissions from domestic appliance electricity by 34 per cent compared to 1990 levels. But the report – 'The Elephant in the Living Room: How our Appliances and Gadgets are Trampling the Green Dream' – shows that in 2009 the average British household contained a massive three-and-a-half times as many gadgets and appliances as it did in 1990. The report's author, Dr Paula Owen, said meeting our green targets was not just about updating our electrical equipment, but changing our behaviour in our homes.

"Our love affair with domestic gadgets and gizmos has to change, just because you have bought an efficient appliance, doesn’t mean you can use it carelessly and never switch it off," said Owen. " While many of us feel industry is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, it is behaviour on the home front that could make a difference in the UK hitting its overall national carbon emissions reduction target."

Energy guzzlers

Many household appliances are now more energy efficient than in 1990, but the report finds that our preferences for larger US-style products is compounding the problem. Three of the biggest energy guzzlers, according to the research, are the large plasma TV, the large fridge freezer with ice-maker, and the tumble dryer.

"We need to ask ourselves is that ice-maker in the fridge a necessity? Do I need to leave those chargers on the whole time? Do I need a 50+ inch TV screen? There’s more to this issue than using energy efficient light bulbs. Not only can people cut their carbon footprint, but they can also bring down their electricity bills considerably," said Dr Owen.

The Energy Saving Trust runs a green label for electrical appliances and the report reveals that if every household in the UK replaced just their old fridge freezer, washing machine and dishwasher with the most efficient Energy Saving Trust Recommended models, they could collectively save £585 million on their fuel bills, and prevent two million tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.