British businesses are being urged to implement basic energy-saving initiatives over the Easter break after research found that 21% have no plans to reduce the amount of wasted energy while the office is closed.

A study by MWB Business Exchange found that 83% of office workers thought their company would fail to turn off all electrical devices, 65% thought the heating would be left on despite the building being empty and 38% of office workers did not think their company would turn off all lights.

"It's shocking that so many businesses are not planning to do very simple things that could save a huge amount of electricity," said John Spencer, chief executive of MWB Business Exchange.

"It is completely unnecessary to heat buildings or leave printers on stand by when you know no one is going to be in the office for at least four days.

"British businesses are constantly claiming they are going ‘green' but it appears that along the way they've forgotten the most simple ways to save energy and reduce their carbon footprint."