Energy Saving Week 2011 launches

Consumers are once again being urged to take action to cut their energy use during this year's Energy Saving Week.


The annual event, which launched today (October 24), aims to help people “take back control” of their energy bills by providing advice on how they can reduce their carbon footprint and save money on household bills.

As well, the Energy Saving Trust event is also targeting businesses by encouraging them to look more at their energy use. To support companies, an information pack containing energy saving tips, posters and interactive tools is being provided.

According to the Trust, the average UK household could save around £280 and 1.1 tonnes of CO2 a year by becoming more energy efficient, using simple measures such as insulating their homes better, and updating electrical appliances to eco-friendly models.

In addition, the event, which is now in its fifteenth year, will also lead a renewables drive that will highlight the benefits of renewable energy technologies – particularly in light of recent energy price increases.

And, a key part of the week will focus on showing consumers how renewable energy technologies, such as solar photovoltaic (PV), small-scale wind turbines and air-source heat pumps can significantly cut the typical household energy bill.

Renewable energy firm Eco Environments director David Hunt, said that it “makes sense” for the week to focus on helping customer reduce their energy bills, adding that “the spiralling cost of their bills is one of their biggest financial concerns”.

He added: “With leading analysts such as Deutsche Bank predicting that gas and electricity bills could rise by as much as 50% over the next four years, more and more people are keen to explore new options to help them combat this seemingly irreversible upwards trend.”

The Trust has calculated that renewable initiatives such as PV, which is eligible for the Feed-In-Tariff scheme could generate savings and income of around £1,190 a year and save 1.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

More information on Energy Saving Week can be found here.

Carys Matthews

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