‘Gadgets undermining CO2 cuts’ warns EST

Consumers’ hi-tech gadget habits are set to undermine attempts to curb the UK's carbon emissions, the Energy Saving Trust (EST) has claimed.

It estimates that home entertainment equipment, such as flat screens, digital radios and laptops, will account for 45 per cent of technology in the home by 2020.

This amount of equipment would require the equivalent power of 14 power stations, the EST has said in its report the Ampere Strikes Back. This equates to more than £4 billion a year in running costs - £607 million of which will be spent on leaving items on standby.

It is the way gadgets are used that increases power consumption, as chief exec Philip Sellwood explains: ‘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, or that some digital radios use almost as much energy when considered switched off at the unit as they do while switched on, while a new flat panel TV can use up to three times more electricity than a 'traditional' TV.’

Also households are hanging on to old equipment and using it simultaneously in other rooms, rather than disposing of them. The EST urges consumers not to do that, and with the new WEEE regulations it should be easier to have your goods recycled.

If you’re a student with a green gadget idea, you’ve got until 1 Aug to enter Design Lab 2007.