It’s simple message of turning off appliances not in use, and particularly not leaving items on standby is already saving some householders hundreds of pounds a year.
Cllr Alan Cockburn, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment
A packed week of activities are planned once again this year as Switch it Off 2009 gets underway.
Switch it Off week started yesterday and continues through until Friday, November 13, when from 4.30pm until 6.30pm all householders and businesses are being called on to use as little electricity as possible.
This is the fourth year of the Switch it Off campaign, which in the previous three years has recorded huge successes in reducing the amount of energy used in the county.
And once again this year there will be the Switch it Off giveaways, including reusable bags and free energy efficient lightbulbs, in towns around Warwickshire:
Tuesday, November 10, in Atherstone town centre with North Warwickshire Borough Council.
Wednesday, November 11, in Nuneaton town centre with Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council.
Thursday, November 12, in Stratford at the Tesco store in Birmingham Road, with Stratford District Council.
Friday, November 13, in Rugby’s Clock Tower Shopping Centre with Rugby Borough Council.
Cllr Alan Cockburn, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “Switch it Off is capturing the imagination of more and more people each year. It’s simple message of turning off appliances not in use, and particularly not leaving items on standby is already saving some householders hundreds of pounds a year.
“We are once again working with our partner authorities in Coventry and Worcestershire this year, plus Act on Energy and Central Networks, but I’m also delighted that organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce have come on board so early in support of the campaign.
“And of course this year we have the new fun element where restaurants and bars around Warwickshire are holding candlelit meal deals to encourage householders to head out for a ‘low energy’ meal, and turn off at home.”
If businesses are interested in joining the Switch it Off candlelit meal event, they should visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/switchitoff for more information, and click on Dine by Candlelight.
The aim of Switch it Off is to get people to think about doing the little things in their home to save energy, little things which can then have a huge impact on bills.
Videos, set-top boxes, televisions and even the clocks on microwaves are using surprisingly high amounts of power everyday in our homes. The average family spend on electricity can be slashed by 25 per cent by switching off.
According to the Energy Saving Trust nationally 71 per cent of people regularly leave items on stand by in their homes, and 65 per cent of people leave lights on in rooms they are not using.
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.