BIG switch off saves energy
Last October BT launched its UK-wide campaign known as the "BIG Switch Off" to encourage everybody in the company to focus on conserving energy.
The programme encourages each BT building to switch off its non-essential electrical equipment.
BT Environment Champion Bruce Stanford said: "BT is one of the largest users of electricity in the UK. We use about the same amount as the entire city of Birmingham, but much of it is wasted - monitors on standby, printers and lights left on overnight and mobile and personal digital assistant chargers left plugged in."
"That results, not only in a large energy bill, but in significant CO2 emissions - a major cause of climate change." BTs challenge over the next four years is to save enough energy to power around 40,000 homes and save an estimated £110 million, said Glyn Charlesworth, BT head of energy management. It is being achieved through a series of projects around energy consumption management, contracts and renewable energy sources. A trial of the new BT energy champions initiative in London's Faraday building proved that little things make a big difference when it comes to tackling climate change. The results of the three-month trial showed volunteer energy champions have helped deliver a 22 per cent decrease in appliances left on standby overnight and at weekends. The energy saved would be enough to boil water for 18,000 cups of tea and the CO2 is equivalent to a return flight from London to Paris, or 1,500 miles in a train. The BIG Switch Off reminds everyone in BT that they can do their bit to help tackle climate change by being energy smart at home and at work. The continued success of the programme will rely on all BT people getting involved and switching off monitors, phone chargers and other non-essential appliances when not in use. Bruce said: "BT is serious about helping to tackle climate change and energy efficiency is one of the cornerstones on which that strategy has been built. If we can reduce costs in the process and help show BT people how they too can save energy and money at home, then for me it's a triple win." Doing your bit is easy, just switch off your own equipment and that of others that you see.
