http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/press/2009/january/eco-lights-camera-action.en;jsessionid=43BA1FF2FE3ED2C8AACE582876CB459E.node1Camden's celebrities turn green! Famous faces and names in the news are among the residents to make eco-resolutions to help the environment. Through Camden Council's special Green promise scheme residents have been choosing from a range of Green promises – everything from buying loose vegetables to turning electrics off standby - or making up their own.
All these small steps together can really make a big difference. If all Camden households turned their thermostats down by 1°C they could save around £5,799,300 per year and almost 29,700 tonnes of CO2 per year. This is enough to pay the yearly fuel and power bills for more than 5,000 households.
The scheme has enjoyed a fantastic response from a host of Camden celebrities keen to do their bit to make Camden a greener place. Everyone who responded told us they were already thinking green and making changes but have all now promised to go the extra mile with ideas like creating a wildflower garden and walking more.
Among the new promises are:
· Emma Thompson who has pledged to keep growing food for her family in the garden.
· Emma’s mum Phyllida Law has promised to walk journeys under two miles, create a wildflower patch on her windowsill and to buy loose vegetables wherever possible.
· Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips will continue to give washing at 30 degrees a "whirl" and take her own shopping bags.
· Ben Elton, author, will cycle or walk wherever possible, take his own bags to the shops, not overheat the house, swap light bulbs, unplug his charger and avoid standby.
· Actor Diana Quick will take things a little more slowly by avoiding flying and using her car as little as possible.
· Actor Sean Bean will go wild by planting a wildflower patch in his windowsill or garden.
· Journalist and presenter Ester Rantzen has promised to keep the heating low, bring her own shopping bags and turn the tap off when brushing her teeth.
· Actor Greg Wise's Green promise is to “turn electrical stuff off standby”.
· Singer song writer Tanita Tikaram will change her tune by turning off the tap when brushing her teeth.· Broadcaster and writer Dame Joan Bakewell’s promises were to never leave electrics on standby and not to buy fruit and vegetables that have been flown to the UK.
· Actor Janet Suzman will continue to unplug her charger when not in use, buy loose vegetables not flown to the UK and keep the heating low
Everyone who makes a Green promise is also in with a chance to win one of a hundred real time energy monitors. These easy to use monitors are worth £40 and tell you exactly where energy and money are being wasted at home.
Cllr Chris Knight, Camden Council's Executive Member for Environment, said:
“I’m delighted the huge range of support from residents and celebrities alike. It’s great to see so many well known faces showing their green credentials and putting their names to promises to help the environment. Taking small steps in the way we all work, live and travel can make a huge difference and let’s hope even more residents come together to help fight climate change.”
The Green promise scheme will also have a new theme each month, which will link in with local activities.
To kick-off the scheme January’s Green promise theme was reusing and recycling over the holidays. February's theme is saving energy in the home, and the special promise for the month is :" I will call the Camden energy advice helpline on 0800 801 738 (to find out the best and cheapest ways to insulate my home)"
To take part or for more information log onto
www.camden.gov.uk/greenpromise.
Notes to editors:
Reusing and recycling in Camden is easy:
Every single resident in Camden has either a doorstep recycling service, or access to a nearby recycling site.
As a result of a new scheme residents can now get old furniture collected from their homes for free. As long as it is reusable it will be collected for nothing, and then reused by the company Restore, which provides low cost furniture to low income people.
Ref Code: PR 658
Contact: 020 7974 5717
pressoffice@camden.gov.uk
