HOUSEHOLDERS, schools, and workplaces have all been praised for the part they played in reducing the amount of energy Worcestershire used during the recent campaign to Switch It Off.

People rose to the challenge of turning off unwanted lights and electrical appliances left on standby.

Figures released by Central Networks, which monitored energy usage throughout the energy-saving campaign, have rev-ealed the county contributed to a 22 mega-watt (MW) drop between 4.30pm and 6.30pm on Friday, October 24, during the Big Switch Off finale.

That is the equivalent of 3,192 standard three-bedroom detached houses switching off their power for a whole year.

Worcestershire, together with Warwickshire and Coventry, West Midlands, was also monitored over a longer period of time on that Friday – 2.30pm until midnight – and during that time the three counties reduced their energy usage by 97MW.

The results cannot be accurately compared to those obtained last year – Worcestershire achieved a five per cent reduction in its energy usage – because of changes in the way they were measured, but a Worcestershire County Council spokeswoman said the initial energy consumption at the start of the monitoring period this year was half of what it was last year, suggesting more people took part.

The county council’s sustainability officer Liz Alston said: “This is a great result for Worcestershire. By making the smallest of changes, people are helping to reduce emissions of climate change-causing greenhouse gases.”

The council’s chairman councillor Alwyn Davies said: “The county council would like to thank everyone that has taken part in this year’s Switch It Off. It is a fantastic result that we have achieved alongside, Worcestershire, Coventry and Warwickshire and is a prime example of what can be achieved when we all work together.”

The campaign, which was backed by your Worcester News, urged people to turn off unwanted lights and electrical appliances left on standby.

A number of people, schools and businesses all took part and we followed the progress of Nicola and Jody Bate, of Albany Terrace, off Upper Tything, Worcester, as they monitored their electrical usage throughout the week.

They estimated that by being more economical with their use of electricity at home they could save about £15 off their bill every month.