The amount of energy we use in our living rooms is growing because of our love for gadgets, according to a new report. Flat screen TVs, games consoles, DVD players and their remote controls are some of the things blamed for a carbon footprint rise in our front rooms. Our carbon footprint is what experts call the amount of energy we use. Having a small one is good, but it gets bigger the more gadgets we use, spelling bad news for the environment. Researchers expect the carbon footprints of our front rooms will rise even further, as more high-tech gadgets and devices appear in our shops.

Larger screens, and particularly plasma screens, use up more electricity than old-fashioned

TVs. But some manufacturers are already tackling the problem, by producing more energy-efficient sets.