Energy inefficiency costs €35m a year

Sustainable Energy Ireland is warning that our laziness is costing the economy up to €35m each year.

Spokesman Tom Halpin says leaving appliances on standby, rather than switching them off or unplugging them, wastes up to thirty watts of electricity each hour in an average home.

He says many people are just too lazy to switch off the appliances so "the energy lost through standby mode is considerable".

The average microwave is used for about 15 minutes a day and is on standby for the rest of the day.

Likewise, the average television is on for about 4-6 hours a day but left on standby around the clock.