Member Article

Consumers 'addicted' to household gadgets

Consumers are planning to buy around 30 million electrical items over a six month period, which equates to more than one new item per household in the UK. The research, conducted by the Energy Saving Trust, reveals that items considered to be ‘essential’ now include juicers and bread makers.

The Trust predict that the consumer electronics market, which includes products like TVs and DVDs, will rise by a third to £6 billion between 2001 and 2009. However this forecast does not include the new must have items such as bread and juice makers. The list of new items now thought of as essential by consumers also includes cordless telephones, electric toothbrushes and coffee makers.

Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said: “Some electrical items will be replacements but when you look at the trend it is clear that householders are increasingly adding new electrical gadgets to their homes. And we’re very surprised by what people claim are essential products. “As well as increasing our spending on consumer electronics, our growing passion for gadgets is having a significant impact on our energy bills, and on the environment. “Over the next 5 years electricity consumption from this sector is expected to rise by a staggering 82%. This increase in electricity consumption would result in greater carbon dioxide emissions, one of the main causes of climate change.”

The Energy Saving Trust is advising householders to look for the Energy Saving Recommended label when buying white goods like a washing machine or fridge/freezer. Householders looking to upgrade their television are asked to consider an integrated digital TV, which uses less electricity than buying separate appliances.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .