It is official Energy Saving Day (E-Day) on October 6. In honor of this occasion residents on the Isles of Scilly will switch off electrical items which do not need to be on in their homes, schools and workplaces, over a 24-hour period.
The reduction in electricity use will be played out in real-time across the Internet and compared with the rest of the UK.
Families across the islands will also be trying out home energy displays to see what they’re using in real time, and taking part in a wide range of other activities.
The Isles of Scilly form an archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of the British Isles. Traditionally administered as part of the county of Cornwall, the islands have had a unitary authority council since 1889. According to Wikipedia, the isles have a population of 2,153 people.
Prior to E-Day the Isles of Scilly are also hosting a mini Earth Summit, bringing together islanders from across the world, including speakers from Galapagos and Papua New Guinea's Carteret Islands, the first refugees of climate change.
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said:
“The Isles of Scilly are showing the rest of the UK and indeed the world that small changes made by individuals can collectively make a big difference. In the future every day can be an E-Day as we help people to reduce their energy use and cut fuel bills.
We’re rolling out smart meters to every home in the country and energy companies will be distributing more home energy displays. Concerted action, like the people of the Isles of Scilly are taking, sends a message to the world that we are serious about tackling climate change ahead of the crucial climate talks in Copenhagen.”
A video has also been made showing what Scillians think about their home islands and why they think they are worth protecting, as shown below:
To find out more have a look at the Earth Summit website and the E-Day experiment and the Isles of Scilly Earth Summit can be followed online. Also, if you've ever wondered how much energy you would save by switching off lights or appliances, check out E-Day's online "5 things" game here.
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