Warwickshire News Mine

Switch it Off has been shortlisted in the Commuications Award category, and is up against Tesco Stores Ltd and Nexen Petroleum UK Limited.

The Energy Institute Awards are being held on November 15 at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel in London, hosted by Will Carling OBE.

The Energy Institute, acts as an industry watchdog, publishing codes and technical guidance, praises good practice by energy companies and recognises professionalism and expertise.

The Communications Award is to recognise the year’s best communication within the energy industry, covering both internal and external communications, including work with stakeholders, employees and shareholders.

Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Warwickshire County Council to be down to a shortlist of just three in a major international awards. We are up against massive organisations who operate on incredible budgets for their campaigns and communications – to have reached this stage is a testament to the hard work of the county council staff.”

The award is for the communications connected with last year’s campaign, but the announcement comes as Warwickshire County Council prepares itself for this year’s campaign during the next week.

Switch it Off week is again this year building up to an event on Friday, November 2, from 4.30pm until 6.30pm where everyone is being urged to try and use as little electricity as possible as part of a Big Switch Off.

Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council, Worcestershire County Council, and the Warwickshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, are leading the way with many other partners this year to drive home ‘Switch it Off’.

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).

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 and this continues to rise.

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