Information on Loughborough

Big Switch Off online pledge and challenges launched

Posted on 15/07/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Community Services

14 July 2009

Big Switch Off online pledge and challenges launched

A mammoth drive to get as many people as possible to save energy has kicked off with the launch of an online pledge.

People across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are being urged to log on to www.leics.gov.uk/bigswitchoff and sign up to take part in this year’s Big Switch Off.

This year’s BSO is the biggest ever and will take place between October 12 and 18.

The aim is to encourage people to save energy – and money – by turning off gadgets left on standby and switching off unnecessary lights.

As well as the online pledge, a Family Challenge competition has also been organised which people have until Wednesday, July 22 to register to take part in.

A total of 14 families from Leicestershire – two from each district – and two from Rutland will be selected to work with the BSO partnership and spend a year focussing on being more energy efficient.

They will be loaned a special wireless energy monitor to log how much energy they save throughout the 12 months. Over the year they will receive energy saving tips and guidance from the partnership.

One family who took part in last year’s Family Challenge was husband and wife duo Julian and Kathy Bird from Tilton on the Hill.

Mr Bird (59) said: "It has really been well worthwhile – we have found we have saved something like 32 per cent of our electrical energy.

"Some people may want to take this up because they want to help save the planet while others will be thinking of their wallet, but by doing this you reach both objectives.

"We have found the initiative easy to get into. It’s all basic stuff."

Measures the Bird family took to reduce energy consumption included stopping using the tumble drier to dry clothes, replacing lightbulbs with energy saving ones, turning down the room thermostat and flicking radiator valves to ‘0’ in spare rooms.

The winners of this year’s 12 month challenge will receive a hamper packed with green goodies while families who win a mini competition to see who can save the most energy during August and September will receive a family pass to Snibston Discovery Park.

An Energy Saving competition has also been launched which can be entered by community buildings and faith groups.

Selected applicants – 10 from the county, five from the city and three from Rutland – will be invited to work with the BSO partnership for a year starting in August.

They too will be issued with a wireless energy monitor and the winners will be rewarded with a free thermography survey, which will identify areas of heat-loss to their building. The winner of the mini competition in August-September will be presented with professional energy display certificate.

 Co-chairman of the subregional Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership, which is funding the Big Switch Off, David Parsons said: "It just takes a couple of clicks of a mouse to visit the Big Switch Off website and pledge to do your bit for the environment.

"By taking part you will not only be helping save energy, but you will be also be saving some money too.

"Hopefully the Big Switch Off won’t just encourage people to think about energy saving for a week, but for a lifetime."

To sign up to the pledge visit: www.leics.gov.uk/bsopledge

To find out more about the Family and Community / Faith Group challenges visit:www.leics.gov.uk/bsocompetitions

Background:

The Energy Saving Trust suggests that over £1 billion worth of energy is wasted by leaving appliances on standby and the Carbon Trust estimates that around 60 per cent of energy - amounting to a staggering £180 million is wasted by office equipment left on standby.

The Big Switch Off aims to address this and encourage local organisations and households to reduce their energy use and costs. Residents could potentially save over £13million in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.