Gadgets drive up household energy use

Householders in the UK will double the amount of energy they use on consumer electronics by the year 2010, a new report warns. Despite a move to make many electronic appliances more energy-efficient, the number of electronic devices owned by an average household has increased greatly over recent decades, according to The Rise of the Machines, a study commissioned by the Energy Saving Trust.

Researchers who interviewed 1,010 UK householders found they were willing to pay more for energy-saving products, but Britons’ love of gadgets means energy consumption from household domestic appliances doubled between 1972 and 2002. The report predicts that it will double again by 2010, by which time digital set-top boxes alone could cost UK households
Paula Owen, the EST’s head of information, said the predicted jump in energy consumption was “largely due to the sheer volume of products available and the phenomenal growth of the market”.

Guardian