Currys boss calls for greener TVs

Retailers must meet the needs of customers, Mr Clare said

The boss of the UK's biggest electrical retailer has called on manufacturers to phase out the stand-by function on goods such as TVs to help save energy.

John Clare, the chief executive of DSG International, which owns Curry's and PC World, said that companies had to react to changes in customer behaviour.

Analysts have claimed that the average British household spends £37 a year by leaving appliances on stand-by.

The UK is stepping up its efforts to make households more energy efficient.

Mr Clare said that the consumers were becoming increasingly concerned about their impact on the environment and looking for greener goods and products.

The boss of DSG, which was formerly known as Dixons, said manufacturers should support the international green agenda and work closely with retailers, adding that he "expected momentum in this area to increase".

"Already we are seeing more and more customers making buying decisions on the basis of energy efficiency," Mr Clare explained.

"We must work together to offer more energy-efficient products, and phase out, where possible, the stand-by function on electrical products," he said.

They also needed to "provide energy efficiency information to users, including energy efficient labelling for brown goods", he concluded.