Electricity use surges as gadgets proliferate

As the recession continues and more and more of us become aware of the importance of reducing our carbon footprint, energy conservation in the home is something that we all think about.

However, no matter how careful we are about switching off lights and changing to energy efficient light bulbs, the truth is that these cost-cutting measures fail to compensate for the growing popularity of power-hungry gadgets such as mobile phones, PCs, plasma TVs and the like.

While you may be able to make significant savings on your bills by changing your electricity provider, new gadgets will continue to push electricity usage (and your bills) ever higher.

A recent report by the non-profit advice group The Energy Saving Trust has revealed the true cost of our love for gadgets. According to the report, 25% of our annual electricity usage goes towards powering our gadgets, and the trust estimates that this figure will rise by another 20% over the next ten years.

If this is correct, it will mean that the average monthly electricity bill will rise to £237 from its current level of £140. This, of course, is assuming that electricity companies retain their current tariffs, which, given recent price increases, is unlikely.

Unfortunately, other than switching off all our gadgets, there's little we can do about this situation. The responsibility lies with the companies who manufacture our electrical equipment, who need to produce devices which are far more energy efficient.