Green town gets an energy library

Jun 25 2009 by Johnathon Menzies, Blairgowrie Advertiser

A INNOVATIVE energy-saving library has been created in Alyth to encourage residents of East Perthshire to reduce their carbon footprint.

Part of the town’s on-going Climate Action Town project (ACAT), it is hoped the scheme will allow environmentally-minded members of the community to borrow energy-saving lightbulbs, current cost meters and ‘standby killers’.

The meters, available on loan from ACAT’s Airlie Street offices along with the other equipment, monitor power consumption to such an extent they can pin-point the amount used by an individual appliance.

ACAT co-ordinator Joe Gribben said the “killers” – a device that ensures all electrical appliances are switched off rather that left on standby – were “great”. He said: “They let you switch-off equipment that you otherwise wouldn’t – because of the sockets are too hard to reach for example – which, on its own, can save you £40 to £50 a year.”

Local resident Pauline Cropper had a current cost meter and some low energy light bulbs fitted to her home and discovered she could reduce her annual electricity bill by £104.

She said: “Nobody told me just how much it was costing to light my kitchen. But by using the equipment I borrowed from ACAT, I was able to see just how much I could save – and just how good the new bulbs are,” she said.

Joe Gribben added: “Energy efficient bulb have really improved over the past year or so and now you can find one suitable for almost any light fitting, including spotlights and ones used for dimmers.

“The library is proving very popular, people can try out new low energy bulbs without the risk of buying something that doesn't work out,” he said.

The ACAT office, on Alyth’s Airlie Street, is open from 10am until noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and 6pm to 8pm on Thursdays.

Contact Joe on: info@alythclimateactiontown.co.uk or on 07545570159.