Energy Saving Week

15.11.05

Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton, Edward Davey, has signed up for the Energy Saving Trust’s new consumer campaign called ‘Save your 20%’, which marks the ninth annual Energy Saving Week and was launched on 24 October.

Edward Davey added his name to a Parliamentary motion welcoming Energy Saving Week and calling on fellow MPs to show leadership in their constituencies by supporting the Energy Saving Trust’s call to action encouraging individuals to reduce their energy consumption and help tackle climate change.

In support of the UK target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2010, the Energy Saving Trust has devised ‘Save your 20%’ as a way of highlighting both the economic and environmental reasons for not wasting energy.  The campaign outlines everyday steps that we can take to help lessen the damaging effects of modern lifestyles, from turning appliances off standby and installing energy saving lightbulbs to turning down our thermostats by just one degree.

The national campaign has just been in Energy Saving Week and aims to encourage individuals to think about the consequences of their everyday use of energy.  The energy we waste in our homes produces 27% of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions, one of the main contributors to climate change. Edward Davey MP said:

“As well as signing the Early Day Motion, I will be taking parting a Home Energy Check, to assess my carbon footprint and recognise how much energy can be saved.  I will also be encouraging my family, staff and constituents to be energy conscious throughout the week and beyond – by making sure that all lights are switched off when not needed, televisions and computer screens are not left on standby and by turning my thermostat down by one degree.  By being more careful about our energy usage we can all d our bit to help the environment as well save as save money on energy bills.”

Edward Davey MP will be encouraging his office to join ‘Save your 20%’ and is inviting people in Kingston and Surbiton to follow his example.

Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said, “I really hope that as many people as possible in Kingston and Surbiton will take part in reducing their energy consumption by at least a fifth.  If we can better understand the ways we use, and often waste, energy, we can start making real progress towards tackling climate change – and save on fuel bills at the same time.  As individuals we can all make a difference.”