14/09/04 - Energy Efficiency In Abbey Meads

The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has recently launched a project that gives you the chance to protect the environment, save money and win cash for yourself and your community.  Switch On Swindon is a year long competition to find Swindon’s most energy efficient community.   By making your home more energy efficient you can make serious savings on your bills and help prevent climate change.

Climate change?  Surely that means more chances to get out the barbecue and head to the beach.  Well, not exactly.  As we burn more coal, oil and gas to power our homes, industry and transport we are creating more greenhouse gases which are warming our planet and upsetting our weather.  This means hotter summers but also more floods, droughts, storms and rising sea levels.  A recent report suggests that up to a quarter of the world’s plants and land animals may be extinct by 2050 unless we begin to use energy more wisely.

But it’s not too late and there is plenty we can all do to help.  More fuel is burnt to heat and light the average home than is needed to run a car, and up to a third of this energy can be saved.  So by using energy more efficiently you will help the environment but could also save up to £200 a year.  See below for some top tips.

For the competition, council ward areas like Abbey Meads will be awarded points for households taking action to save energy.  The community with the most points by November 15^th will receive £4000 to spend on a local community project.  By filling in a Home Energy Survey you will win points for your council ward area and will receive a free personalised report on how to save energy in your home.  You will also be sent a an entry form so that if you take action to make your home more efficient you can enter a prize draw with £1000 worth of cash prizes.

Home Energy Surveys take 5 minutes to fill in and can be picked up from Cllr Justin Tomlinson, can be filled in online at www.wiltshirewildlife.org by following the “Green Living” link.  Alternatively contact the project organiser Ruth Baker on 535476 or email ruthb@wiltshirewildlife.org. 

5 top tips for saving energy:

• Don’t leave your TV, video or hi-fi on standby – it uses a quarter of the electricity.
• Turn down your thermostat by 1°C and save up to 10% on your heating bills.
• If you’re buying a new washing machine, kettle or fridge look for one that is A-rated. 
• Buy energy efficient lightbulbs, there are lots of new designs and each one could save you up to £7 a year.
• Get your loft or cavity walls insulated and save up to £100 a year.