The Energy Saving Trust is challenging people to save 20% of their energy costs. The Trust suggests 10 Ways to do this: * Only boil as much water as you need * Turn your thermostat down by 1% * Turn appliances off standby * Install cavity wall installation * Top up your loft insulation to 270mm (about 10.5 inches) * Replace 3 light bulbs with Energy Saving recommended ones * Install a condensing boiler * Buy Energy Saving recommended appliances * Wash your laundery at 30%c * Not use the car for short journeys If we carried out these measures, we would easily achieve the target of 20% reduction. There are lots of other things we can do personally, such as having showers instead of baths, to save energy.

This is not only important environmentally but also economically. It is expected that the cost of energy will rise around 20% during 2008.

On a national level, we should be reducing our carbon foorprint and cutting CO2 emissions by: * Producing local decentralised energy generation from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, wave, water & combined heat & power CHP * Ensuring that old and new housing incorporates energy efficiency measures through mandatory regulation and not voluntary codes of practice * Making planning consent easier for households to generate their own electricity * Working to become "Carbon Neutral" in our Communities * Developing a Zero Waste Strategy * Providing Sustainable Public Transport rail & bus to reduce road congestion and pollution * Finding alternatives to oil for transport, such as hydrogen driven vehicles We have got to conserve energy and cut our CO2/Greenhouse Gas emissions drastically if we are to minimise the impact of Climate Change - 80% reduction by 2050 on 1990 levels.

David Penney Colne Columnist Green Guru