Energy Facts

Did you know that in the UK:

• electricity consumption by domestic lights and appliances has nearly doubled since 1970 - set to increase by 12% by 2010
• one quarter of the CO2 emissions come from heating and lighting homes and running household appliances
• Every household creates six tonnes of carbon dioxide every year - enough to fill six hot air balloons ten metres in diameter
• the average home emits more harmful carbon dioxide with its energy use than the average car
• In use, one normal 100-watt light bulb creates a party balloon full of CO2 every half hour
• UK households spend £1.2 billion on electricity every year just cooling and heating drinks
• An efficient fridge-freezer uses only half the electricity of an inefficient one
• If everyone in the UK upgraded their 10-year old fridge/freezer to an Energy Efficiency Recommended model, it would save enough CO2 to fill 320,000 hot air balloons
• 4.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide is produced each year by washing and drying dishes and clothes - enough to fill the Millennium Dome 1,200 times.
• UK households spend £800 million worth of electricity using washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers.
• An efficient washing machine or tumble dryer uses a third less electricity than an inefficient one.

How can YOU save money?

• Replace ordinary light bulbs with energy efficient alternatives, they last up to ten years and use a quarter of the electricity
• If every household installed three energy-saving light bulbs, it would save enough energy in a year to power all street lighting
• a 40°C washing machine cycle, rather than 60°C, will reduce electricity consumption by a third
• wring or spin wet clothes before using a Tumble Dryer - it's faster and cheaper
• reducing heating thermostat by 1° can cut 10% off fuel bills
• Boiling a half full kettle, instead of a full one, four times a day could save enough electricity to run a TV set for four hours

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