Consumers are being asked to switch off unused gadgets and stop wasting electricity on the 27th February , the UK’s first national ‘E-Day’.

Research from uSwitch.com shows just how big a deal this is really going to be for digitally dependent Brits who just can’t help over-charging their gadgets.

More than nine million households charge up their gadgets overnight, with 22 million mobile phones needlessly charged every day.

Over two-fifths of consumers also admit to leaving their television on standby.

Britain’s digital dependency has led to consumers requiring gadgets to be in a permanent state of readiness with people unwilling to risk letting their mobile phone, iPod or PDA run out of power. As a result, they are indulging in damaging habits such as ‘comfort charging’.

Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com, said: “E-Day is a great opportunity for us all to stop and think before we plug in and power up our gadgets and gizmos. We are increasingly dependent on technology and this is coming at a high cost to ourselves and the planet. If we become more aware of the electricity we use we can work towards reducing our bills and our impact on the environment.

“Our behaviour has yet to catch up with technology. We need to understand how to use our gadgets in a responsible and energy efficient way and learn to avoid wasting energy by needlessly charging-up or leaving things on stand-by. Consumers should also check that their home energy provider meets their household’s needs today. If you signed up to an energy plan years ago it is very unlikely to still be the best one for you now, given how much your energy usage will have changed.”