This Greener Living Fund project will enable us to reach thousands more households, with EcoTeams being set up across England and a new website that will enable people to access more information, share ideas and even set up virtual EcoTeams. We will engage 20,000 households and within two years, the programme will save 10,351 tonnes of CO2, divert 1,950 tonnes of waste from landfill, create 2,500 new social groups and save households £3 million.
An EcoTeam is a group of 6-8 households who meet once a month for five months to share ideas and work together to learn simple yet effective changes to their lifestyles to become more environmentally friendly and save money. An EcoTeam is not simply a discussion group; it is a practical workshop where thoughts and ideas are translated into action. At the end of each meeting, EcoTeam members decide for themselves what changes they want to make – from something as small as remembering to switch off lights, to installing cavity or loft insulation.
We recognise that no-one can do everything, but we can all do something and working as a team to support, encourage and share experiences with one another helps people to make changes to their lifestyle. Throughout the programme team members monitor how much rubbish and recycling they are producing and how much energy they are using. These measurements enable the team to see the direct impact of their actions.
Previous EcoTeam members have on average achieved the following significant reductions:
- 20% reduction in waste to landfill
- 7% reduction in electricity consumption
- 20.8% reduction in heating energy consumption
- 16.6% reduction in CO2 emissions
- Average annual savings of £148 per household on energy and water bills (based on 2007 prices)
