Win a £15,000-plus eco makeover for your house!

Exeter City Council has signed up to the national 10:10 Climate Campaign, which aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10 per cent by the year 2010, and in doing so, given itself the chance tto win £15,000 plus of eco home makeover. And you can, too!

In fact, if anyone who signs up before Friday, November 13, ‘will be entered into the Home of the Future Competition, with the chance of winning a £15,000 plus home makeover which will cut the winner’s energy bills by at least 50 per cent’.

The pledge to 10:10 Climate Campaign is on top of (is that as well as, or in conjunction with..) Exeter City Councils’ 20 per cent reduction in emissions by 2013, set last year as part of the Council’s Carbon Management Programme.

And here’s what they’ve done to achieve it: “Projects to reduce emissions from council buildings, transport and waste have been undertaken or are still in the pipeline. These include eco-driver training, more efficient desk-top printers to reduce the use of paper and consumables and the installation of energy saving lights and technologies in council buildings. Projects already undertaken include running the council’s refuse vehicles on biodiesel made from recycled vegetable oil, installing wind turbines on the roof of the Civic Centre and achieving a 40 per cent reduction in waste from council offices by improving recycling facilities.”

Phew…

And, to help residents to cut their energy use there are a range of grants available through the Cosy Devon scheme, including free loft and cavity wall insulation for people on benefits, the over 60s and households on incomes of less than £18,000.

Even those who do not qualify for this offer can have insulation installed for £99 for an average size property.

Further information and advice, including details of grants in other areas, is available from the Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012 or from the Cosy Devon website.

(Fingers crossed for Exeter City Council in the 10:10 Climate Campaign!)

• What are you doing to cut your emissions? Comments below, please!