News

UK public set to ditch red and go green this Christmas (21/8/2008)

Over a third of Brits who say they will buy electronic gadgets as Christmas presents will buy energy efficient versions

'Make the family Christmas greener' will be at the top of UK homeowners' Christmas wish-lists, reports the Energy Saving Trust, the UK's leading organisation set up to help people fight climate change.

New research unveiled today [1] reveals that nearly half (45 per cent) of Brits who plan to buy electronic products this Christmas will spend £250 or more on them.

And more than a third of Brits who plan to buy electronic goods (36 per cent) this yule say they will buy the most energy-efficient models, while a quarter will choose only energy-efficient gifts for friends and family.

More than half of Brits who plan to buy electrical goods (53 per cent) as Christmas presents would also be prepared to make sure all electrical goods are unplugged or not on standby during the Christmas period, to make their festive celebrations even more environmentally friendly.

And eighteen per cent would be happy to ditch the Christmas lights on the outside of their home in a bid to save energy, while 90 per cent say they will still consider buying green electrical products this yule despite the credit crunch.

The results also show that the UK public will go to great lengths to be more green over Christmas - more than half (52 per cent) of those planning to buy electrical goods are planning to minimise food waste by only buying and cooking in the right quantities; nearly half (40 per cent) of these people are more likely to think about the environment when gift-shopping in comparison to other times of the year; and a quarter (23 per cent) are prepared to drive less or use public transport over the yuletide period.

The announcement of the research findings coincides with the launch of the Energy Saving Trust's 3,000th Energy Saving Recommended product, which will be on the shelves in time for the Christmas rush.

Chief executive Philip Sellwood said: "It really is possible for a normal UK family to be truly 'green' at Christmas. By taking a number of simple measures such as turning electrical products off at the switch and only buying Energy Saving Recommended electrical devices, Christmas needn't be an energy-sapping season.

"Consumers now have more choice than ever when selecting the most energy efficient product for their home. Crowning our 3,000th Energy Saving Recommended product proves that the 'green' economy is winning and is forcing manufacturers to think again about the energy efficiency of their devices.

"And the fact that 90 per cent of householders who are purchasing electronic goods this Christmas say they will still be buying environmentally sound products despite the credit crunch is a comforting and ringing endorsement of the UK's dedication in the current economic climate."

He added: "Ultimately, where consumers see an Energy Saving Recommended logo, they know that they are selecting a smarter, more sustainable and efficient product. We are committed to accrediting even more products in the future and widening the choice for consumers even further to help make their home as green as possible."

Examples of the savings which a home furnished with Energy Saving Recommend products could achieve:

Product Lifetime saving
Loft insulation (from 0mm to 270mm) £3,330
Central heating controls £760
Light bulbs £600
Windows £200
Integrated digital TV £175
Fridge freezer £160

The Energy Saving Trust's accreditation team is currently investigating the potential to create further categories for the Energy Saving Recommended list. These include: microwaves; electric ovens; cordless phones; and vacuum cleaners.

To find out what steps you can take to cut your home's carbon emissions at Christmas, contact the Energy Saving Trust's network of advice centres, which offer consumers advice and information on energy efficiency.

Note

1 Methodology: The research was conducted by ICM Research on behalf of the Energy Saving Trust. The survey was conducted between 11 and 13 July 2008 among 1079 adults across the UK.

www.energysavingtrust.org.uk