Chill out on Wacky Woolly Wednesday

School pupils, Council staff and Councillors are being invited to look out their most outrageous woolly jumper and take part in Wacky Woolly Wednesday.

The jumpers are needed on Wednesday 6 March in schools and offices where the  temperature is turned down by 1 degree to reduce the Council’s carbon footprint. Schools and offices are also being urged to turn off electrical equipment not in use.

The initiative is being promoted by The Highland Council’s Energy and Sustainability Team to mark Climate Week 4-10 March.

Jacky MacBeath, Senior Sustainability Officer with the Council, said: “To mark Climate Week, we are inviting schools and selected office buildings to reduce the temperature by 1 degree on Wednesday 6 March.  As a fun thing we want people to wear their most outrageous jumpers so they don’t notice the change in temperature. We will award a prize to the school that produces the most fun photo. We will also be able to calculate the savings we make on the day and provide feed back.”

Council Leader Councillor Drew Hendry said: “This is a fun way to get across an important message.  Any savings great or small will make a difference.”

He said the Council has reduced carbon emissions by 13% since 2007/08, ahead of the 12% reduction target set in the Carbon Management Plan.  This had been achieved through reduced energy use in the Council’s estate, fewer business miles travelled, fleet fuel savings and a reduction in waste disposal.

New actions were being developed to continue to reduce carbon emissions that will meet the Scottish Governments target of 42% overall saving by 2020 as set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. More information is available at: http://www.highland.gov.uk/climatechange.htm