Free light bulbs are being given away to St Edmundsbury residents to mark World Environment Day on 5 June 2008. The aim is to encourage people to reduce their individual carbon emissions and using the 2000 light bulbs available will save 52 tonnes of carbon dioxide over a year.
The light bulbs can be collected from St Edmundsbury Borough Council offices between Thursday 5 and Thursday 12 June. Visitors will be asked to sign a personal carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction pledge in return for the light bulbs and a voucher for 5% discount on their first order of light bulbs. All the pledges will go into a free prize draw to win a portable wind-up, solar powered radio.
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The initiative has been organised by CRed Suffolk. CRed stands for Carbon Reduction and this county wide partnership provides information and advice to help identify easy, everyday energy savings, as well as how to adapt to a changing climate via the CRed Suffolk Climate and Energy helpline 0800 0288938 or the CRed Suffolk website www.cred-uk.org/suffolk
Their mission is to equip residents to meet the 60% Challenge - a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2025. As each individual is responsible for around 9,000 kilos of carbon emissions a year, this means saving 5,400 kilos.
World Environment Day is a United Nations' campaign to generate worldwide awareness of the environment. The slogan for 2008 is 'Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy.' Recognising that climate change is becoming the defining issue of our era, countries, companies and communities are being asked to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them. This year's event will highlight initiatives that promote low carbon economies and lifestyles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources and eco-friendly consumption.
The CRed Suffolk Partnership was set up in Suffolk in December 2005, involving a partnership of local authorities, businesses, schools, the Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre Anglia, Suffolk Energy Action Link and other organisations, working together to help communities and businesses tackle climate change. CRed - Established at the University of East Anglia in 2004 the Carbon Reduction (CRed) Programme is identifying the pathways society can follow to meet the 60% Challenge - a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions by the middle of this century. Contact CRed Suffolk helpline 0800 0288938 www.cred-uk.org/suffolk
A one metre diameter balloon holds the equivalent of 1 kilo of carbon dioxide. Each one of us is responsible for 9000 kilos of the gas every year through the way we live. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas linked to climate change. Accepting the 60% Challenge means saving 5,500 kilos.
- Switching from a conventional light bulb to a low energy light bulb will save around 29 kilos of carbon dioxide each year.
- A TV left on standby will be responsible for 30 kilos of CO2 a year
- Every time you use a dishwasher you use enough electricity to release nearly one kilo of CO2
- Every time you use a tumble dryer use enough electricity to emit 1.5 kg of CO2
