Energy Wasted on "Stand-by" costs £40 million each year

8.51.39pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 15th Sep 2006

The Liberal Democrats have released research which reveals that householders and businesses will waste over £40 million this year by leaving electrical equipment on 'stand-by', producing at least one million tonnes of carbon dioxide in the process.

John Leech, Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington, said:

"The electricity wasted whilst appliances are left on stand-by is costing consumers thousands, and is hugely damaging to the environment."

"We can all make a difference for the environment by making changes in our home and work life. For example I have pledged to reduce my personal carbon emissions by 25% through simple measures such as replacing light bulbs with energy saving ones, turning down the thermostat in my house by a degree and always switching the TV and computer off instead of leaving them on standby."

"I have also had an energy saving thermostat installed in my office and pay for waste paper to be recycled."

"However, voluntary measures are not enough. Tough new regulatory standards on products to reduce their power usage when on stand-by are urgently needed."

ENDS