BRITISH households make 94m energy-wasting mistakes every month and risk facing higher bills as a result, according to a new report today. Research by the Home Heat Helpline found millions of families were losing money by being careless around the home. A survey found that nine in 10 respondents viewed energy efficiency as important and two-thirds have taken steps to improve their habits in the past 12 months. But many were still making basic energy errors that added to the cost of their bill, the Home Heat Helpline found. Almost a third of consumers leave appliances on standby, while 30% leave heating on all night. Just under a third are guilty of filling a kettle for just a single cup of tea and a quarter use washing machines with only a half load. Other common mistakes include forgetting to turn off lights, leaving hot taps running and covering radiators with furniture or curtains. Duncan Sedgwick, chief executive of the Energy Retail Association, said: "It is alarming that, despite the warnings, millions of households are wasting money every month by paying higher than necessary home energy bills. "Households need to examine the energy they use and take steps where they think they can save money." The National Barometer on Energy Efficiency also gave an insight into what motivates people to save energy. Three-quarters of respondents put the cost of energy bills ahead of environmental concerns when it came to being energy efficient. But the green message is having more of an impact with the young. Of the 18-24-year-olds interviewed, nearly a third cited the environment as the main reason for making their homes energy efficient, compared to just 16% of those aged 65 and over. The survey found two thirds of households had taken steps to cut energy use around the house over the past 12 months. The research showed that 82% had used energy-efficient light bulbs, while more than half turned appliances off at the wall. But only a quarter had used draft excluders on letter boxes and doors and even fewer had insulated the loft. Mr Sedgwick said: "Whilst households should be applauded for taking steps to reduce their electricity consumption, it is worrying that so many households are ignoring ways to save heat energy through insulation. "Insulation for your loft, pipes and walls can be installed free or at discounted prices through your energy supplier and can save you more than £300 ayear through lower bills." | 
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