OXFORD residents could save £3.4m every year just by switching electronics off standby, according to a campaign.

Big Energy Saving Week, which started yesterday, is trying to help people reduce their electricity and heating bills with free advice.

According to organisers Energy Saving Trust, 75 per cent of people nationwide leave television sets on standby when not in use and 40 per cent do the same with gaming consoles. It has calculated leaving devices on standby costs Oxford residents £3.4m annually.

Chief executive Philip Sellwood said: “We are a nation on standby. Millions of us are unintentionally wasting electricity when we leave our gadgets on standby.

“It’s an easy mistake to make yet it costs us a fortune.’’ Big Energy Saving Week is being run with Citizens Advice Oxfordshire.

For more information, visit energysavingtrust.org.uk or call the energy saving advice service on 0300 123 1234.

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