How much is your office spending while everyone's asleep?

Survey out yesterday: 80% of UK small business owners say they're "haunted" by energy use they can't see. Fair enough, it's October, the Halloween marketing has started early.

The numbers behind it are a bit embarrassing for all of us though:

• 43% leave printers, photocopiers or computers on overnight.
• 37% leave laptop chargers plugged in.
• 20% keep fridges and freezers colder than they need to be.

And 54% say gas and electricity are the cost they have the least control over. True for the price per unit. Not true for the printer humming away at 2am with nobody printing anything.

Worth knowing the research was commissioned by Smart Energy GB (1,000 SMEs, run by OnePoll), so yes, the conclusion is "get a smart meter". Write-up is on Talking Points if you want the rest.

I can't change what the energy companies charge. I can walk round at 6pm and switch things off. Boring, free, and nobody needs to approve it.