Client Announcements

The TechGuys urge Britons to avoid £40 million power bill by switching off standby before holidays

PR95/07
22 July, 2007

THE TECHGUYS ISSUE PRE-HOLIDAY CODE ORANGE TECH ALERT
HOUSEHOLDS URGED TO CHECK THAT THEIR GADGETS ARE FULLY SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED FROM THE WALL BEFORE THEY LEAVE FOR HOLIDAY
• Britons advised to avoid an unnecessary £40 million power bill and wear and tear to devices by switching off stand-by
• Risk of thunderstorm power surge damage as inclement weather set to continue in the UK

A combination of potential power savings in the region of £40 million, unnecessary wear and tear on equipment and the risk of thunderstorm-related power surges have led the TechGuys to issue the following Code Orange Tech Alert ahead of the start of the holiday season this weekend.
Stand-by warning
To avoid an unnecessary aggregate power bill of more than £40 million, Britons are advised to check their homes and switch off and unplug all non-essential equipment before embarking on their holidays. The list of devices includes the following:
• PCs and laptops
• Televisions
• Mobile phone chargers
• DVD players and recorders and VCRs (unless set to record during the holiday)
• Radios, especially digital radios
• Hi-fi equipment
• Battery chargers
• Hair straighteners

TechGuys’ chief communicator Tim Fairs said: “The Energy Saving Trust recently reported that as much as £37 a year could be saved by the average UK home by simply avoiding the use of stand-by facilities on electrical items. That’s getting close to £1 billion per annum in wasted electricity. The amount that is potentially wasted on stand-by is higher during the holiday season, with the double

whammy of higher home occupancy and usage and more time with devices spent idle when people go away.”
He added: “For some devices, the wear and tear associated with stand-by on some devices could reduce their lifespan. If you combine this with the potential savings, the case for flicking the switch pre-holiday is even stronger.”
The TechGuys advise that some items may need to remain on stand-by during any holiday absence. Set-top boxes with built-in recorders set to record programmes during the holiday will need to remain on stand-by, as will devices such as Slingbox that enable people to view their TVs and recorded programming remotely. For further advice and information, please call the TechGuys on 08456 024024.
Risks of thunderstorms
The BBC Weather Centre’s long-term forecast suggests that inclement weather, with frequent spells of rain, will continue until the end of July. With “Summer” upon us, this creates a greater risk of thunderstorms, lightning strikes and power surges. The TechGuys advise households to take the following steps:
1. Ensure that all PCs and laptops are unplugged from the wall and phone lines prior to departure on holiday
2. Invest in a surge protector to avoid potential damage to sensitive IT equipment. A 4-way plug with integral surge protector is available from PC World for as little as £7. – Ends –
More information:
Rob Forbes, PC World, 07872 671829
rob.forbes@dsgiplc.com

Hamish Thompson, Twelve Thirty Eight Ltd, 07702 684290
hamish.thompson@1238kmh.com

Notes to Editors
The TechGuys was launched on 4th September 2006 and is the first and only truly national, fully certified technical support service. The company operates a ‘no fix no fee’ policy for when gadgets go wrong, but also aims to help people get the most from their technology by explaining and demonstrating full functionality. The service is open to everyone, regardless of where the technology was purchased. The TechGuys offer support on a wide range of technology, from the latest televisions to laptops.
There are currently 3,000 fully qualified TechGuys across the country, with a further 2,000 being trained over the next three years. The company estimates that over 80% of computer queries can be solved over the phone. There is also an online service at www. TheTechGuys.com and the capacity to visit 15,000 homes every week. The business is fully owned by DSG international, parent company of PC World, Currys and Dixons.

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