Energy Saving Week
From this week’s “The Wharf” –
In these times of heightened economic tension (surely Robert Peston is going to be off most people’s Christmas card lists this year?), energy is never far from the front pages. Whether it’s the continued depletion of traditional sources of fuel like coal, oil and gas, or controversy about the effects of renewable energy like wind and solar, energy is a key issue.
This applies whether you’re discussing economics or climate change. Everyone seems to be paying more for their bills, the utility companies still seem to be turning over tidy profits, but the worry is always there that the lights could go out at any moment.
Renewable energy can be a controversial area. Not everyone wants a wind farm in the middle of their view of the Highlands, but no-one seems to keen to have a new set of nuclear power stations either. One thing that most sides of the debate agree on is that energy conservation is definitely a good thing.
The Energy Saving Trust is a non profit organisation that offers free, impartial advice on energy conservation. They even hand out grants to make your home more energy efficient. This helps you save cash, reduces the amount of energy you’re wasting, and therefore helps to reduce your carbon emissions.
This Monday (20th October) is the start of Energy Saving Week, an annual event hosted by the Trust. This is the twelfth Energy Saving Week, though you’d imagine this year more than ever people will be sitting up and paying attention.
Initiatives as part of the week range from practical steps such as free home energy checks, through to “no brainer” actions such as asking your service providers to send you email bills instead of paper ones.
You don’t often get something for nothing these days, but the Energy Saving Trust is a valuable resource for free advice and practical help. Their website www.energysavingtrust.org.uk has more details on the services they provide.
In years to come we could all be producing our own electricity and selling it back to the National Grid. Right now the idea of being a mini energy entrepreneur sounds like a pretty good option.
Do you or your company have an environmentally friendly product or service you’d like to be featured in this column? From a new range of organic cotton socks to Europe’s highest green roof, we want to know about it. Let us know by contacting Seventeen, a sustainable alternative for your event management needs, at andrew@seventeenevents.co.uk.
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