A group of 18 eco-minded residents in South Brent have all received free energy makeovers and collectively saved £1,300 off their fuel bills while reducing their carbon emissions, thereby helping to reduce the community’s carbon footprint.

Through a combination of energy saving home improvement measures, courtesy of the O2 Energy Saver Fund, a special project in partnership between O2 and the Energy Saving Trust, residents from the village of South Brent will save enough carbon dioxide (CO2) to fill the famous Eddystone Lighthouse nearly 4 times (almost 10.5 tonnes of CO2 a year). Many of the recipients of the fund are part of the environmental group ‘Sustainable South Brent’

The scheme – funded by O2’s customers, who save energy by choosing to recycle or retain their mobile phones rather than upgrade, has provided funding to 18 households in the South Brent area to implement a range of energy efficient measures. These include cavity wall insulation, topping up their loft insulation and draught proofing. Residents also received free low energy light bulbs and expert advice from the Energy Doctor from the local Devon energy efficiency advice centre.

Anthony Steen MP visited the residents to inspect the works. Mr Steen commented: “I am delighted to see that this eco-conscious village in South Brent are doing their bit to help the environment. They are an excellent example of how easy it is to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions, especially with schemes like the 02 Energy Saver Fund available to fund the larger, more expensive measures that really do make a difference. I look forward to supporting this community so they can be a shining example to fellow communities in the area keen to do their bit’.

Jillian Elford, representative of Sustainable South Brent, said: ‘As a village we feel very fortunate to have been chosen to receive this generous award from O2. We in the Sustainable South Brent organisation have been looking at a number of different ways to cut our carbon emissions and the O2 scheme fits really well with our aims. It is providing measures such as loft and cavity wall insulation that were not affordable for many of our residents, and we are very pleased that both young families and the elderly are being helped to reduce their energy bills’.

Graham Horler, Centre Manager for the Devon Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, added: “It has been a pleasure to support the members of this community as they demonstrate a very strong commitment to energy saving. They will soon start to see real financial savings as a direct result of the measures that have been installed, and the good habits that we have taught them, such as not leaving appliances on standby! ”

The O2 Energy Saver fund was launched in April 2007 to encourage residents to adopt a community approach to energy saving measures and to bid for a full energy saving makeover[1]. Successful bidders receive free expert advice from the local Devon energy efficiency advice centre. Each property also benefited from other energy saving solutions. The money raised through the O2 Energy Saver option is being used to help communities ‘go green’ by ensuring they use less energy, pollute less, create less waste and make a positive contribution to preventing climate change.

Helen Wright, O2’s Environment Manager said: “The O2 Energy Saver Fund is a new and unique initiative which has been funded by our customers who save energy by choosing to recycle or retain their mobile phones rather than upgrade. The fund is part of the O2 ‘It’s Your Community’ programme which offers communities, across the UK, the opportunity to make a difference to their lives and the environment by applying for an energy makeover. We are delighted that this community in South Brent has been successful and we are sure they will benefit from the increased insulation and other life-time energy-saving measures.”

ENDS

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