Nationwide Bank: Businesses and communities save energy in the UK

26/12/2014

The recently revamped government Green Deal has been an encouraging step forward which will offer free cash for homeowners in need of double glazing or wall and loft insulation.

The recently revamped government Green Deal has been an encouraging step forward which will offer free cash for homeowners in need of double glazing or wall and loft insulation. With the fund reopened, more homes across the country can now make the necessary changes to make their homes more energy efficient, with each household eligible for up to £5,600 towards installation costs.

The scheme has been designed to help Britons not only save money, but to also help reach the UK carbon emissions target. But it’s not just the Green Deal that people are grabbing by the horns here in the UK. Businesses and communities are also coming together to do their bit in reducing their carbon footprint – and the recent energy saving campaign by Nationwide Bank proves that when everyone pitches in, it’s possible to make a huge difference.

Nationwide Cut Back Energy by a Quarter

The workers of Nationwide Bank saved enough energy to boil the kettle for almost 500,000 people as part of their recent eco-campaign. Cutting back almost a quarter of their energy usage, the company are thrilled to reveal that small day to day contributions from each individual could make such a substantial difference in a short amount of time.

Their 22.31% energy reduction creates more than enough energy to boil the kettle for the entire population of Wiltshire, which currently stands at 470,981 people. Simply by switching off computer monitors and turning off devices which were not in use, the staff of Nationwide were able to make such a massive energy cutback. The eco scheme by Nationwide is truly inspiring and the firm are already setting their goals higher for next year’s campaign.

Community Events and Big Community Switch

It’s not just banks and big companies who can make a difference in the UK. Communities appear to be coming together to encourage responsible energy usage, including the community events which are to be held across York.

These drop in centres provide information to homeowners in the local area about the Big Community Switch, a scheme which is being offered in various other locations across the country. The scheme has already accrued 750 sign-ups and local MPs are urging residents to come forward and visit one of the community drop-in centres to see if they could benefit by signing up too.

In October 2014, the UK also marked the fourth year of its Big Energy Saving Week (read more on My Four Walls), a national event which encouraged homeowners to turn down their heating, take shorter showers and to switch things off at the socket when not in use.

Despite talks of missing our 2050 carbon emissions target earlier this year, Great Britain’s businesses and communities have shown positive results from brining everyone together. It just goes to show that when everyone does their bit, targets can be achieved.

Clickgreen.org.uk

Nationwide Bank: Businesses and communities save energy in the UK

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