Report warns of energy-wasting Brits
Britain wastes more energy than any other country in Europe, a report published to mark the start of energy saving week has warned.
Today’s survey by the Energy Savings Trust (EST) finds 71 per cent of Britons leave an appliance on standby, 67 per cent boil more water in a kettle than they need and 63 per cent leave the lights on in rooms they are not using.
Households are responsible for 28 per cent of all greenhouse gases, more than a quarter of water consumption and nearly ten per cent of waste produced in Britain, and the government welcomed today’s report as a further sign that individuals must do more.
The survey comes as a new report from Friends of the Earth warns carbon dioxide emissions are continuing to rise in the UK, despite the government’s confidence it would meet its target of cutting 20 per cent of emissions on 1990 levels by 2020.
An analysis of official figures by the environmental group finds carbon emissions for the first six months of 2006 were 2.1 per cent higher than the same time last year. If this trend continues, by Christmas levels will be 4.4 per cent higher than in 1997.
More than 400 MPs have now signed an early day motion calling for some kind of climate change bill – something environment secretary David Miliband recently indicated might be in the Queen’s Speech next month.
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are backing a bill that would set annual targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but in the wake of today’s EST report both parties warned individuals must play their part.
“While politicians of all parties are at last beginning to give the environment the prominence it deserves, this report illustrates just how far we still have to go,” said shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth.
“We won’t stop climate change simply by making speeches. There is an urgent need to help people understand that they have a central role to play in cutting carbon emissions.”
He said turning appliances off at home when they were not being used “should be a no-brainer”, adding: “It’s good to save energy and even better to save money.”
Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell added: “Our wasteful energy habits are damaging the environment and costing us a total of £2 billion a year.
“By turning down the thermostat, using energy saving light bulbs and not leaving appliances on standby we can all help to save the environment and cut our energy bills.
“I urge everybody to make at least one commitment to energy saving today.”
