allaboutwomen

While it is Mums who use the most energy, it's the kids who are blamed for wasting the most. And three in ten of us say that while we are aware of wasting energy the rest of our family is not.

We cite the biggest energy wasting activities in our homes as leaving lights on, leaving TVs, computers and gadgets on when not in use, leaving electrical items on standby and having everything on at the same time.

63% of us claim our whole household is aware of wasting energy, but just 11% say the whole household makes enough effort not to do it. Despite that, 56% of households don't have any energy efficiency devices.

Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com, says: "In the face of rising energy bills and our ever-growing love affair with electronic gadgets within the home, consumers can no longer afford to waste energy. 2011 is going to be a very difficult year for family finances so it's time to plug the holes and fill the gaps where money is trickling away".

How to waste less energy
Make sure you turn off anything that isn't being used, and that includes things on standby - they still use energy unless they are turned off at the wall.

Consider investing in an efficiency monitor. When you can see how much energy you use and how much that's costing you in black and white, you're much more likely to be more frugal with your usage.

Insulating your home, or getting a more energy efficient boiler are more costly, but will make an even bigger difference to your bills. You can find out about whether you are eligible for a grant to help with the cost by talking to your supplier or visiting the Energy Saving Trust website.

Make more savings
Ensure you are paying the lowest price for your energy. Uswitch.com estimates that moving to a dual fuel tariff, opting to pay by direct debit and signing up to an online plan will save you around £220 a year on your bills.