‘Switch it off’ as clocks change
This weekend sees the clocks go back an hour on Sunday morning, and as darker evenings loom, a call is going out not to waste energy.
Warwickshire County Council launches `Switch it off – don’t just stand by and waste energy’ on Monday to remind people of their energy usage.
Cutting down on the energy produced in each home will not only save households money, but will also reduce the amount of harmful carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere and contributing to climate change.
Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “Switching off lights while we’re not in the room is an immediate and easy way to prevent extra costs on the electricity bill and help prevent climate change.
“Leaving just two traditional lightbulbs on for six hours a night when they are not being used will cost you £10 a year. This may not sound like much, but when you think there are more than 200,000 households in Warwickshire, the waste in energy costs and environmental implications are far greater.”
Households are also encouraged to fit low energy bulbs where possible as these last up to 15 times longer and have been proven to save households almost £100 for each bulb during its lifetime.
Cllr Heatley added: “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.