100 Days of Carbon Clean-up kicks off

As many readers will be aware, the 100 Days of Carbon Clean-Up campaign was officially launched on 5 June at the Oval writes Samantha McDonough, project manager for the campaign. The campaign enjoyed a successful start, with around 100 representatives from organisations that have signed up helping to kick off the 100 days.

Case studies from Bill Wright of the John Lewis Partnership and Dave Farebrother of Land Securities outlined what can be done in practice, while advice from carbon coach Dave Hampton, energy consultant Phil Jones and ESTA's Martin Fry was well received.

The launch gave organisations a chance to ask questions about the initiative, as well as providing an opportunity to meet fellow campaign supporters. More free events are planned to ensure staff remain motivated and involved.

The project is key to the Low Carbon Consultants Register, both being supported by the Carbon trust, and the two projects complement each other in that the 100 Days encourages businesses to change their behaviour in the workplace to save energy, money and ultimately do their bit for the planet. We then ask them to make a longer term commitment and think of other ways that they can save energy - this might involve more sophisticated action and even a bit of investment. When businesses look to CIBSE to provide the design and operation advice and expertise that will be needed, we will have a register of qualified low carbon consultants champing at the bit to help them!

Because CIBSE is leading this campaign, we must be ready when people ask "so what is CIBSE doing?". Well, everyone at HQ is joining in with the campaign and all the activities that entails. It is mostly simple actions like not overfilling kettles or leaving lights on in empty rooms etc - things the staff at CIBSE are rather good at already, so it shouldn't be too hard. The campaign involves offices appointing a ‘Carbon Champion' and we have appointed Samantha Caplan to act in this role.

Sam will be responsible for all the activity over those 100 days and keeping the campaign going in a lively way. That will include putting up the posters and stickers but also talking to people and finding out any ideas you have for saving energy, and then sharing those ideas. We may have some theme days and staff meetings or focus groups to share ideas.