Campaign to cut energy bills that cost the earth

SWITCH it off, turn it down, reduce, recycle and walk.

That’s the message of a major Europe-wide campaign to encourage everyone to play their part in reducing energy bills, reducing CO2 omissions and doing their bit to save the planet.

Households produce about 16% of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions, most of it from producing and using energy. The worst culprits are middle class men aged between 25 and 40, who live in towns and cities, a survey found.

These are the main group being targeted by the campaign. Changing everyday habits can cut the amount of CO2 drastically and save money.

The European Commission’s director in Ireland, Martin Territt, said the campaign is all about challenging people to take control.

“People may think their own behaviour does not count. But in fact this is not the case at all. Households are responsible for a large part of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions, so each of us can play our part bringing down emissions,” he said.

For instance, if you turn down the heating by one degree Celsius, you cut your energy use by 10%.

Switch off the stand-by mode of the TV, stereo and computer and save another 10% in CO2 emissions and cut your electricity bill too.

The campaign will also target secondary school pupils providing them with lots of information and asking them to sign a pledge to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions, and to track their success.

A damning environmental report published last week by the Central Statistics

Office found Ireland was pumping nearly twice the additional amount of global warming pollution into the atmosphere permitted under the clean energy treaty.

The Government pledged in 1998 that greenhouse gas emissions would be limited to 13% above 1990 levels, between 2008 and 2012, but the report found the current level was 23% above 1990 levels.

A public campaign will be launched on June 6 to raise awareness and remind people about what they can do, said Mr Territt.

The campaign, with a budget of €4.7 million, is specially tailored to get the attention of younger men after a study found women tend to be aware of the need to turn down and switch off.

“We hope they will become more aware that the stand-by button on their computers and TVs is costing them money, and costing the earth and they will get into the habit of turning it off. We also want them to leave the car and walk a little more,” said Mr Territt.

For further information log on to www.climatechange.eu.com

Save money on power bills

Switching off five lights around your house can save about 60 a year and avoid about 400kg of CO2 emissions per year.

A TV left in standby mode uses 40% more energy than a set that is turned off.

95% of energy is wasted when people charge their mobile phone because the charger is left on.

Make sure dishwashers and washing machines are full before use.

If all Europeans boiled just the water they needed every day, the energy saved could power one third of Europe’s streetlights.

Covering a pot while cooking food can save around 70% of energy.

A dripping tap can waste enough water to fill a bath in one month.

Reducing the temperature by just 1°C can cut 5-10% off your family’s energy bill and avoid up to 300kg of CO2 emissions per household and year.

Installing double glazing windows can save more than 70% of the energy lost.

Insulating hot water tanks, central heating pipes and wall cavities can save 50% of energy wasted.

70% of the energy used by households in the EU is spent on heating homes and another 14% on heating water.

For each litre of fuel burnt in a car engine, more than 2.5kg of CO2 is released.

Having a roof rack on your car when it’s empty can increase fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 10% due to wind resistance and the extra weight.

Driving faster than 120km per hour ups fuel consumption by 30%.

Fuel consumption in a car increases 5% when air conditioning is on.