My Project: Reducing carbon emissions and cutting energy
consumption are vital to the long term maintaining of our way of
life. Unfortunately the changes made by individuals who are
passionate about sustainability are often costly and reliant on the
ability to install emerging technologies such as wind and solar
power on their own properties. My project is a competition that
looks at mobilising communities across the UK. I want to encourage
people across the country to form teams, based on the streets they
live in.
Individuals taking part are encouraged to make reductions in
their energy usage. At the beginning of the competition a measure
of the consumption of the street is taken, then over 3 months
residents are challenged to reduce their energy use. The street in
each area that delivers the largest percentage reduction in
consumption wins money to invest in community improvements - trees
planted in the street, green products or a sustainable idea of
their own.
This is based on individuals making very small changes to their
lifestyles; installing energy efficient lightbulbs, ensuring that
TVs and other devices are correctly turned off, rather than put in
standby, as well as using appliances at off-peak times. This will
save money for those taking part as their electricity bills will
reduce with their lower energy use, but it will also really help to
change the country's energy use as many people working together
will make a difference.
