Britons waste the most energy

In the energy efficiency stakes, a UK research group, The Energy Saving Trust, has placed Britain last in a study of the five biggest EU countries. Germany was ranked as best performer.

The most wasteful habits include leaving appliances on standby and not turning off lights. Then there is boiling more water than needed for tea or coffee.

Five thousand Europeans anwered questions which included whether they felt guilty about leaving electrical chargers plugged in. Or for that matter, using the car for short journeys.

Britons counted an average 32 energy-wasting actions per week.

Germans admitted to 14. The potential to cut electricity-use and save money by buying devices with efficient motors is becoming better-known Europe-wide.

But the researchers said if habits do not change, at present rates, Britons would waste 16 billion euros-worth of energy by 2010.

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