Warwickshire News Mine

Attempts to urge as many people as possible in Warwickshire to `Switch it off – don’t just stand by and waste energy’, has won national support from the Energy Saving Trust.

The national body is this week running an `Energy Saving Week’ ahead of Warwickshire’s own `Switch it off’ week, which gets underway on Monday, October 30 and runs until Friday, November 3.

The threat of climate change is a real concern in today’s world. Rising temperatures, increased risk of flooding and extreme weather patterns, are just some of the likely effects of climate change. 

Carbon dioxide is the main climate change causing gas. In the UK, the energy we use to heat and power our homes accounts for 27 per cent of our total carbon dioxide emissions with road transport contributing over a quarter – and this continues to rise.

Philip Sellwood, CEO Energy Saving Trust, says: “Local authorities have a key role to play in helping the UK reduce its growing emissions.  We are therefore delighted that Warwickshire County Council has taken the initiative to run its own `Switch it Off’ week and constituents should feel proud that they will live in a cleaner, greener area because of it.”

Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “It really doesn’t take a lot to think about saving energy. You are not only saving the planet from the comfort of your own home, but also cutting your own electricity bill by up to 25 per cent.

“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).”

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.

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For more information and interview opportunities contact Jacky Lawrence on 01926 736324.

Note to editors:
The Energy Saving Trust is one of the UK’s leading organisations set up to address the damaging effects of climate change. They aim to cut carbon dioxide emissions – the main greenhouse gas causing climate change – by promoting the sustainable and efficient use of energy. 

The Energy Saving Trust is an independent, non-profit making organisation and acts as a bridge from government to consumers, trade, businesses, local authorities and the energy market. They provide impartial information and advice and have a network of advice centres in the UK specifically designed to help consumers take action to save energy.

The Energy Saving Trust provides a number of resources to help local authorities reduce carbon emissions. Their practical help advisory service team directs local authorities to a range of services and resources, giving up to two hours free research for any enquiry.

In July the Energy Saving Trust, alongside partner organisations the Carbon Trust, the Environment Agency, Improvement and Development agency, International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, the LGA, Nottingham City Council and the UK Climate and Impacts programme launched the Nottingham Declaration Action Pack.

Designed to offer step by step guidance, the Nottingham Declaration Action Pack marks significant progress in supporting local authorities to help develop a coherent response to the challenge of climate change. 

It is a free resource, available from http://www.nottinghamdeclaration.org.uk.

Visit http://www.est.org.uk

About Energy Saving Week

This year’s Energy Saving Week focuses on how individual consumers can make a difference by adopting small measures to reduce the amount of energy they consume on a daily basis. The overall campaign theme is “Commit to save your 20%”, and Energy Saving Week will contribute to this by promoting the idea that ordinary actions make extraordinary things happen. We are aiming to highlight that through everyday, ‘normal’ actions, consumers are able to make an enormous difference – both to help the environment and save themselves money.

Link to WCC