Energy efficiency - Climate control starts in the home

THE key to climate control transcends the high-sounding complexities of the Kyoto agreement and effectively involves each one of us making personal decisions about taking control, turning down, switching off, recycling and walking.

In a nutshell, that’s the fundamental message of a European-wide campaign launched today with the aim of encouraging individual citizens to play their own part in saving this troubled planet.

As far as most people are concerned, Kyoto is the stuff of intergovernmental wrangling with the twin objective of slowing down global warming by reducing greenhouse gases.

Yet, according to the incisive EU document, 16% of total greenhouse gas emissions arise from the way the average person is using and producing energy in households right across Europe.

In effect, as Ireland’s EU director Martin Territt points out, each one of us is directly responsible for contributing a measurable part of Europe’s overall emissions of greenhouse gases. The implication is that we can all play a real part in bringing emissions down, by using energy more efficiently at home.

Apparently, when it comes to splurging energy the worst offenders are middle-class men aged between 25 and 40, mainly living in towns and cities. In the hope they might be convinced to change their habits, including the way they drive, they are among the principle targets of the campaign. Not only would moderating their behaviour have a major impact on cutting CO2 emissions, it would also help consumers save money.

In language that the average person can readily understand, the campaign brings home the effect of basic initiatives that can be taken in each household. Going on the doctrine that personal behaviour counts, the campaign challenges people to take control of their own situation.

If a family, for example, were to turn down the heating by 1 degree Celsius, this would cut energy use by 10%. And, if the stand-by mode of the TV, stereo and computer were switched off, it would mean a further cut of 10% in CO2 emissions and a financial saving into the bargain.

Since the young people of today will inherit the planet tomorrow, warts and all, it makes sense that they should figure among the primary targets of this laudable project.

Not alone will secondary school pupils be blitzed with information, during the campaign, they will be urged to sign a pledge to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and asked to keep track of how successful they are at curbing their own energy usage.

Unlike many initiatives from Brussels, this is a worthwhile venture that fully deserves to get public support.