Climate Week kicks off with national call to action on practical solutions

Climate Week kicks off today across Britain with more than 3,000 events to inspire “a new wave of action to create a sustainable future”.

The country’s biggest climate change campaign runs until Sunday and it showcases practical solutions from every sector of society from schools to businesses, charities, councils and many others.

We all know that one week a year is just a focal point that raises awareness, shares ideas and practical knowledge – and leads to changes in the way we think and act.

The other 51 weeks are equally important as we strive to cut our carbon footprint by cutting consumption of energy and water, reduce waste and become better custodians of the planet we share.

Practical steps

Climate Week organisers say that the events “will shine a spotlight on the many positive steps already being taken in workplaces and communities across Britain. The power of these real, practical examples – the small improvements and the big innovations – will then inspire millions more people”.

The events include talks, workshops, training sessions, open days, exhibitions, parties and other initiatives at work, in education and at home. People can also take part in Britain’s biggest live environmental competition – the Climate Week Challenge.

Climate Week has widespread support– from the Prime Minister to Paul McCartney, the NHS to the Met Office, Girlguiding UK to the CBI, the Big Lottery Fund to the National Association of Head Teachers.

Climate Week is promoting seven areas where people can make a difference and we can help there, focusing on two of the seven change points – saving energy and saving water both at home and in the workplace.

Energy and water savings

At home, we can help people cut their water use substantially with eco shower heads, eco taps and tap aerators. Each of these should reduce water consumption by more than 50% and cut people’s carbon footprint. At the same time, these products help to reduce bills by cutting the energy used to pump and heat water.

Low-energy lighting is now a move that everyone really should make as energy-guzzling incandescent bulbs and many halogen lights are being phased out by the EU. Everyone can make the commitment during Climate Week to plan and fit LED lighting.

LED lighting reduces energy consumption by up to 90% and the range of products means that there should be a solution for every setting.

People should choose with care, though. There are many cheap LED lamps on the market that, as Which magazine found, are not good enough. You are buying an electronics device when you invest in an LED, so it makes sense to spend on quality.

LED lights should pay for themselves quickly and then go on cutting energy use for many, many years. A quality LED installed, for example, in a new-born baby’s bedroom should not have to be replaced until they go to college.

Business savings

Businesses, too, can make a big difference to their carbon footprint by reducing water consumption, while also cutting their utility bills.

Our work with hospitality groups like Carlson Rezidor and Puma Hotels over the past year has enabled them to reduce carbon emissions while saving hundreds of thousands of pounds on lighting, heating and water costs.

Businesses can extend their carbon reduction strategies beyond LED lighting retrofits and water-saving solutions like eco shower heads, eco taps and tap aerators.

For example, our smart heating controls are helping the Radisson Blu Hotel Cardiff reduce energy consumption by up to 45%.

And fitting our intelligent heat pumps can help businesses cut their energy use even further, by up to 27%.

Climate Week is all about sharing ideas and taking action so call us on 0845 123 5464 to see how we can help you help the planet with energy and water saving solutions that won’t cost the Earth.