Council switches on to switching off
The Highland Council will, on Monday (6 February), launch a poster and leaflet campaign aimed at encouraging staff to become more energy efficient. The campaign, which coincides with the start of the Scottish Energy Advice Week, follows a report which went to the Council’s Sustainable Select Committee warning that unless measures to save energy were acted upon, the Council could be facing an annual energy bill of over £6.5 million by 2007.
Convener of The Highland Council, Alison Magee said: "Rising costs of fuel are going to hit our budgets over the next few years and increasing levels of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere have become an important international concern.
"We are committed to reducing our energy usage and costs. In our Energy Management Plan we list the challenging targets we have set and now we are calling for the backing of all staff to help us achieve them.
"As well as raising awareness to the amount of energy that is wasted in our offices and buildings each day, our campaign asks staff to look at simple ways in which they can do their bit to save energy, such as shutting windows, turning off electrical equipment overnight and switching lights off when not needed. By making slight changes to our behaviour to help reduce our fuel usage, we will cut the levels of carbon dioxide in our environment and have more money available to channel into essential services."
The posters and leaflets which will be distributed to all Council buildings promote the message that by turning down and switching off, staff can drastically reduce the amount of energy consumed. Ken Bamborough, The Highland Council’s Energy and Sustainability Manager said: "Leaving just one computer, monitor and printer switched on overnight and at weekends wastes £150 per year of our resources and if all of our photocopiers are switched off overnight and at weekends, the Council can avoid spending £18,000 per year. As well as switching off, the message is to also "turn it down". For example just by turning down all radiator thermostats in a building by one degree, the heating bill will be cut by at least 8%.
"A network of Energy Champions across all Council Services will be established to distribute publicity and keep people aware of progress made. Staff will be encouraged to come up with ideas for making buildings more energy efficient and an innovation fund will be available to implement these schemes.
"Throughout the year our Energy Efficiency Advice Team visits communities across the Highlands to promote ways in which households can save money by making their homes more efficient. We are now adapting the information we give to make it relevant for staff in their working environment. The combined effect of small changes, such as switching off a light when it is not needed, can be significant."
During Scottish Energy Advice Week all consumers of energy are being asked to make a pledge to cut their usage by 20%. Advisors from the Council’s Energy Efficient Advice Centre, which is part funded by the Energy Saving Trust, will be visiting the Co-op in Fort William on Tuesday 7th and the Co-op in Inverness on Wednesday 8th from 10am to 4pm to give advice and practical tips on how to cut fuel bills