Brits waste 85,000 tonnes of CO2 overcharging mobile phones

Mobiles are going green, yet despite the advent of eco mobile chargers, handsets made from recycled materials and the ability to easily recycle old handsets, Brits are still wasting energy and money by needlessly overcharging their mobiles according to research from the leading price comparison website moneysupermarket.com.

Worryingly, it is the younger generation that are the least environmentally conscious with two fifths (49 per cent) of those under twenty admitting to overcharging their mobiles by an average of 7.3 hours every time the plug in. The national picture isn't much better with one in eight (13%) Brits overcharging by an average of eight hours; adding up to a total of 85,000 tonnes of CO2 every year and £40 million on electric bills.

Women seem to be the more environmentally conscious when it comes to charging mobiles, with just 11 per cent admitting to overcharging for an average of 6.8 hours compared to 15 per cent of men who overcharge for an average of 8.5 hours every time the charge up their phones.

James Parker, manager of mobiles at moneysupermarket.com, says: "There have been some great advances in green technology from mobile manufacturers recently but all that goes out the window when people are overcharging mobiles - wasting energy and driving up their utility bills.

"Many people can't imagine going a day without their mobile meaning they have them almost permanently plugged in. The average phone only takes about 2-3 hours to charge up and overcharging can actually be damaging to the battery life. People should remember to unplug the phone charger when they are done; it will not only be good for the phone's battery life, but good for their wallet too."

Ways to reduce energy waste and save a few pounds

Only charge your mobile phone for up to four hours

Only charge your mobile phone when the battery is dead as it helps to prolong battery life

Invest in an eco-charger that stops charging once the battery is full (available for most handset makes from most high street retailers)

If you like to charge your phone overnight invest in an electronic timer plug that allows you to select the time you wish to charge