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24 Oct 07Help Reduce Our Carbon Footprint
Borough of Poole is supporting the 11th national Energy Saving Week - and urging residents to join the fight against climate change and help make our community one of the greenest in the UK!
The Energy Saving Trust's national Energy Saving Week 
, which runs until October 28, is challenging people to adopt energy saving measures to reduce their carbon foot print by up to 20 per cent and at the same time save money on bills.
Almost half of the UK's carbon emissions come from our homes and the personal transport we use, which means that at community level we can make big changes happen.
Borough of Poole has underlined its commitment to improving the environment by signing the Nottingham Declaration - a voluntary code of practice committing the council to cut carbon emissions and improve overall environmental performance.
It has already introduced a number of innovative measures aimed at cutting its impact on the environment. These include an Home Energy Conservation Strategy which has delivered domestic energy savings of 35 per cent over a nine year period.
The strategy has helped produce the second highest reduction in carbon emissions from homes of all local authorities in England.
Borough of Poole, with the support of the Energy Saving Trust, has committed to develop plans over the next two years to introduce further measures across its services aimed at cutting carbon emissions.
The Council will also work with local businesses and the community to address the causes and impact of climate change. It is also encouraging Poole residents to change their habits and save energy at home and at work.
There is a host of top energy saving tips - all of which can be introduced at little or no cost. These include:
- Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to ten per cent. You could save around £40 per year.
- Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows.
- Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
- Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave appliances on charge unnecessarily.
- If you're not filling up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher, use the half-load or economy programme.
- Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you're using an electric kettle).
- A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they're fully turned off!
- Use energy saving light bulbs. Just one can save you £60 over the lifetime of the bulb - and they last around ten times longer than ordinary light bulbs
Cllr Don Collier, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for the Environment, Borough of Poole, said: "We can all do our bit to address the impact of climate change and ensure Poole remains a beautiful place for people to live for generations to come. Changing your habits at home and at work can have a dramatic impact on your energy use. The Council is fully committed to playing a leading role locally on this important issue and will be introducing further measures across its services aimed at cutting carbon emissions. "
If you would like further free expert advice on saving energy, visit the Energy Saving Trust website, where you can personally commit to saving your 20 per cent.
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