THE new report from the Energy Saving Trust (EST), The Ampere Strikes Back, reveals that the dawn of a new ‘ICE (Information, Communication, Entertainment) Age’ leading to a proliferation of home entertainment equipment, such as DAB radios, flat screen TVs and laptops across the UK, undermines efforts to manage domestic energy demand and to curb the effects of climate change.
The report identifies the energy burden of these products that, combined with the hoarding of old products and unwitting wastage, means that, by 2020, ‘ICE age’ technology will account for 45% of electricity used in UK households. That’s equivalent to 14 power stations – just to power our TVs, home IT and other electronics by 2020.
Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the EST, commented: “Products are being used in ways that were undreamt of just a few years ago. With trends such as listening to the radio through TV and PC on the increase, it’s highly unlikely that consumers realise that this uses far more energy than conventional means, for example a new flat panel TV can use up to three times more electricity than a ‘traditional’ TV.” To improve clarity of labelling on electrical goods, the EST is developing new Energy Saving Recommended categories in the following areas: DAB digital radios, desktops, imaging equipment, laptops, monitors and microwaves.
