Tuesday 9 March 2010


Over 80,000 students at 33 universities across England have been gaining top marks for energy-efficiency as part of a national campaign to encourage students to reduce energy consumption.

The Student Switch Off campaign, run in partnership with the National Union of Students, has seen halls of residence within universities competing against each other to save energy. During the first term of the campaign, electricity usage in the halls reduced by an average of 8.0%, cumulatively saving over 1,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere and over £150,000 in electricity expenditure.

The energy saved is enough to make 55 million cups of tea — one for almost everyone in the UK!


The savings have been brought about largely as a result of the actions of the Eco-Power Rangers — not people dressed in spandex but students in halls who have pledged to use their energy carefully.



There are over 11,300 Eco-Power Rangers in halls at the participating universities who have been switching off lights and appliances when not in use, putting lids on pans when cooking and not overfilling their kettles — and encouraging their friends to do the same.

Over the course of the year Eco-Power Rangers are rewarded for their good work with Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, energy saving gadgets and tickets to nights out at their respective student unions.


Neil Jennings, National Coordinator of the campaign said:


“I’ve been really impressed by the enthusiasm that students across the country have shown in getting involved. It provides a heartening example of the responsible attitude the next generation of young adults have towards our environment”.


The campaign continues until the end of the academic year when the best hall at each university is rewarded with a party to celebrate their success.


Wes Streeting, President of the National Union of Students, said:


“Students have a lot on their plates in their first year — and with many moving away from home for the first time, this campaign is the perfect way to embed energy saving behaviours that can be carried forward when they have homes of their own.”

 

Oxford City Council has been nominated in two categories in the Improvement and Efficiency South East Awards.

The council have been shortlisted in the categories “Council of the Year” and “working together.”

The “Council of the Year” award recognises the Council’s commitment to improve and make savings to avoid being knocked off financial course by the banking crisis and the recession, and other external issues.

The “working together” award recognises the commitment to work in partnership to effectively achieve service improvements and savings.

The submission focuses on the Procurement Hub, an initiative between four of the Oxfordshire districts to leverage better deals with suppliers. This has included the introduction of a prompt payment code and an annual “Meet the Buyer” event.

Councillor Bob Price, Leader of Oxford City Council, says: “Officers and councillors have worked hard over the last few years to transform the council's services for customers and improve value for money.

“We are meeting over 90 per cent of our corporate plan targets and we are in a strong position to sustain current improvement levels and to fulfil our aspiration to provide excellent services to all our citizens.

“I am delighted that we have been nominated for this award and I wish everyone luck tonight.”

Improvement and Efficiency South East (IESE) is one of nine Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs) and was established to work with the South East’s 74 local authorities to facilitate and fund projects that will drive efficiencies and service improvements across the region.

The awards will be presented tonight in London.

Last year the Council received three awards – The Carbon Trust Innovation Award 2009 for its innovative use of low carbon technology in the public sector category, The Energy Saving Trust Fleet Hero Awards for ‘Smarter Driving,’ and The Project Manager of the Year at the BCS and Computing UK IT Industry Awards which was awarded to Jeff Ridgley.

The Council’s progress in transforming the way that it works was recognised last year at the APM Awards where it was a finalist for the prestigious ‘Programme of the Year’ award for its Business Transformation Programme - the only local authority to be shortlisted for the APM Awards this year.