Belford's best foot forward to save the planet

Posted by The Journal on Jun 30, 09 01:40 PM in News

Families in Belford have joined together to do their bit to save the planet.

Belford Energy Saving Together (Best) was set up by local people to push messages about how we can all do our bit to go green.

Working in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust, the group hopes to work with householders and businesses to cut energy use and bills, reducing the amount of harmful carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change, that they release into the atmosphere.

The philosophy behind the group is that everyone should play their part but that only by working together can we have a big impact on improving the environment.

Best also wants to encourage other communities from taking action, by showing what can be done.

Figures from the Energy Saving Trust show that the average household could cut its bills by up to £300 a year by taking simple energy-saving steps like insulating lofts and cavity walls and buying efficient appliances such as fridges and washing machines.

The whole community has been involved in the green efforts, with pupils from St Mary's Middle School in the village designing a logo for Best to use in all its publicity efforts.

Four pupils - Hannah Parkin, Erik Bagenal-Lowe, Otello Calvert and Anna Tucker, designed the letters.

Everyone in the village has been sent a letter about the group and offered a free Home Energy Check by the Energy Saving Trust to find out how much energy they are using at the moment.

The Energy Saving Trust's Colin Macdonald has been working with Best as part of the Low Carbon Communities Programme. He said: "I think a lot of groups want to do something but they don't know where to start. We can give them that help to find funding, get information and work with other groups."

Local companies are also getting on board.

Terence Pardoe, of Coastal Grains, said: "It's great to be involved in the Best group. We firmly support the efforts of working together to save energy. Although residents are responsible for nearly half the UK's carbon dioxide emissions, business also plays a significant role and we at Coastal Grains are ready to step up to the challenge."

The Best group is organising a week-long exhibition in St Mary's Middle School hall starting on July 6 to offer information on all aspects of saving energy in the home.

Anyone can take a Home Energy Check. For information call the Energy Saving Trust advice centre free on 0800 512 012.

To join Best in Belford or for more information call Diana Herbert on 01668 219 584.

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