Switch off campaign off to a great start in South Dublin County Council

The initial roll-out of the Switch Off campaign has had a really positive effect on South Dublin County Council employee behaviour, according to a recent survey conducted as part of the campaign. The survey indicated that 99 per cent of employees were aware of the campaign and felt that it encouraged them to switch off lights and office appliances when not in use.

The same percentage of staff members agreed that the Switch Off campaign has had an overall positive effect in raising energy-awareness throughout their department.

The survey was conducted by Dublin energy agency Codema, who act as energy adviser to South Dublin County Council and are co-ordinating the campaign in partnership with the local authority. The Switch Off campaign encourages local authority staff members to switch off lights and appliances such as computers, photocopiers and printers when not in use. Codema calculates that 65,000 euro is wasted every year through lights and office appliances being left on in the evening in all Dublin local authorities.This is the equivalent of over 400 tonnes of greenhouse gas. This is a conservative estimate and only accounts for local authority head offices.

Commenting on the survey results, Codema?s Director Gerry Wardell said: ?We would like to thank all staff in South Dublin County Council for their great interest in the campaign so far and we are hopeful that it will have a significant impact in reducing the council?s energy consumption in the coming months.?

Codema recently ran an energy-awareness competition as part of the campaign in South Dublin County Council, where employees could win a low-energy LCD TV, with thanks to DID Electrical. There was a huge amount of entries but the lucky winner was Patricia Keogh from the Housing Department, who correctly answered the energy-saving question.

Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Cllr Mick Duff and Codema Director Gerry Wardell presented Patricia with the low-energy LCD TV from the Philips 5000 series. The Philips 5000 series has been awarded the Eco-Flower label for its energy-saving features. Commending the work of the Switch Off campaign, Cllr Duff said: ?I am delighted that the Switch Off campaign has received such a positive reaction in South Dublin County Council and I am sure that it will continue to increase energy-awareness among all staff!?

A spot prize of a 50 euro DID voucher for the best energy-saving suggestion from a staff member went to David Grant, who suggested linking the clock system to all staff PCs, whereby when a person clocks out of work, their PC shuts down.

Codema will continue to work with South Dublin County Council in helping to monitor the local authority?s energy consumption and to implement the energy-saving suggestions wherever feasible. For more information on the campaign, visit www.codema.ie/switchoff.html

ENDS

Notes to the Editor:

Codema is the leading energy agency for Dublin. For over 10 years, it has been committed to improving the energy efficiency of Dublin homes and workplaces, while also creating sustainable solutions for the city?s infrastructure. It acts as energy adviser to the four Dublin local authorities and also works with the private sector in developing an energy-smart city. For more information, visit www.codema.ie.

Suzanne Morgan?? Communications Officer.????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????

Codema,

Tel: +353 (0) 1 410 0571

Fax: +353 (0) 1 410 0576

Mobile: +353 (0) 86 865 2803

www.codema.ie