Best foot forward to save the planet

Jun 30 2009 by Amy Hunt, The Journal

FAMILIES in a Northumberland village have joined together to do their bit to save the planet.

Belford Energy Saving Together (Best) was set up by local people to push messages about how we can all do our bit to go green.

Working in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust, the group hopes to work with householders and businesses to cut energy use and bills, reducing the amount of harmful carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change, that they release into the atmosphere.

The philosophy behind the group is that everyone should play their part but that only by working together can we have a big impact on improving the environment.

Best also wants to encourage other communities from taking action, by showing what can be done.

Figures from the Energy Saving Trust show that the average household could cut its bills by up to £300 a year by taking simple energy-saving steps like insulating lofts and cavity walls and buying efficient appliances such as fridges and washing machines.

The whole community has been involved in the green efforts, with pupils from St Mary’s Middle School in the village designing a logo for Best to use in all its publicity efforts.

Four pupils – Hannah Parkin, Erik Bagenal-Lowe, Otello Calvert and Anna Tucker, designed the letters.