Warwickshire News Mine

More than 1,300 entries were received across Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire in the `Switch it off’ Savers Schools Art Competition.

Schools were challenged by Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council and Worcestershire County Council to submit A4 or A5 sized shapes of electrical appliances or lights decorated with a collage of recycled materials or displaying colourful and interesting `switch it off’ messages.

Throughout October the three local authorities are running a `Switch it off’ campaign to encourage people to turn off appliances when not in use, and particularly not to leave electrical items on stand by.

For example, a television watched for just four hours a day, yet left on stand by for the remaining 20 hours will cost £61 a year, similarly an inkjet printer left on stand by for 20 hours a day will cost £33 per year, these costs can be slashed dramatically by simply turning them off rather than leaving them on stand by.

This will culminate on Friday, November 3, with a `Big Turn Off’ day when everyone in Warwickshire will be urged to limit their electricity usage between 4.30pm and 6.30pm to demonstrate the energy that can be saved during the peak period.

Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “Wasting electricity has a direct impact on climate change. In Warwickshire we supported the launch of a countywide Climate Change Strategy in July.

“It may sound clichéd but the children of Warwickshire are our future, and it’s vital that they understand the impact they can have every day on preventing climate change by taking very simple actions. And it gives them a chance to tell their teachers off if they see them leaving lights on in classrooms!

“If everyone in Warwickshire, Coventry and Worcestershire stopped leaving appliances on stand by it would prevent 86,322 tonnes of carbon dioxide being emitted into the atmosphere through wasted electricity and save more than £20m (enough to pay the annual electricity bill for 71,953 homes).”

The Schools Arts Competition final will be held on November 2 at the Coventry Motor Museum. This will see High Meadow Infant School from Coleshill and Brooke Special School in Rugby, battle it out with Bishop Ullathorne secondary school in Coventry, plus Worcestershire schools.

Jaguar Cars will announce the winners as sponsors of the competition. Every two years they sponsor an award which encourages environmental education, and in 2006 the manufacturing giant is supporting the `Switch it off’ campaign.

Prizes for schools include merit certificates for outstanding art work, there will be three awards of £250 for secondary, primary and special schools, and the overall winning school will also receive the Jaguar Cars `Leaper’ trophy to hold for two years.

Giant collages have been made from all the entries and these giant shapes will be on show at the Coventry Motor Museum during `Switch it Off’ week from Monday, October 30, until Friday, November 3.

For more information on taking steps to `Switch it off’ visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/switchitoff or call the energy advice hotline on 0800 512012.

Link to WCC