Contents
EEAC Stars on BBC Radio Gloucestershire!
Scottish School Children's Energy Poster Praised by Minister
The Snowball Time Forgot 
Energy Advice in the Playground
'Watt Watchers' Powers Cheshire Children's Energy-Saving Efforts
Network Delivers National Training
Warming Up Partnerships in Wales

Kaye Welfare EEAC Manager and Martin Evans from BBC Radio Glos Action Desk with Ken the wandering washing machine

EEAC STARS ON BBC RADIO GLOUCESTERSHIRE!

Energy efficiency addicts tuning to BBC Radio Gloucestershire won't be disappointed. Whether driving up the M5 or visiting the beautiful Cotswolds - an energy efficiency fix is always close at hand!

Over the past twelve months Gloucestershire EEAC has developed a very special relationship with it's BBC local radio station. The EEAC is a member of the BBC radio Action Desk team with a regular slot on the first Friday of every month. There have also been three separate week long campaigns.

Get Gloucestershire Glowing involved BBC Radio and the EAGA bus touring the county giving advice, grant information and free CFLs. Bulb for a Bulb swapped CFLs for flower bulbs, which were planted in a community garden at the end of the week. During the Warm Homes Week competition, prizewinners were called live on air every day as well as various interviews happening throughout the week.

BBC Radio Gloucestershire Action Desk producer Martin Evans has been delighted with the partnership and estimated that the EEAC has had over 540 minutes of free airtime. Over 70,000 HECs and leaflets featuring the BBC Radio Gloucestershire logo have also been distributed.

Future plans include the Boiling Benefits Roadshow in March where the EEAC will be working in partnership with the Department of Pensions at six post-offices around the county. As well as a CFL and kettle give-away there will be live broadcasts from each location. The BBC is currently booking local celebrities who are over 60 to help promote this campaign.

Gloucester EEAC has found working with BBC Radio Gloucestershire an enjoyable and effective way to reach their target audience. So if you've got a great face for radio - give your local station a call!

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The winning pupils with Brian Wilson, the class teacher, the head teacher, John Reid (North Ayr Vice Chair Education Services) and Liz Marquis from SW Scotland EEAC

SCOTTISH SCHOOL CHILDREN'S ENERGY POSTER PRAISED BY MINISTER

South West Scotland EEAC ran a competition open to North Ayrshire primary school classes in which the class had to design a Renewable Energy Poster.

Westminster Energy Minister Brian Wilson presented the winning school, Lawthorn Primary from Irvine, with a certificate and the class enjoyed a visit to a local Wind Farm. Brian Wilson said: "This is a great response to a competition with a very important theme. These pupils are the energy users of the future and their illustrations show the importance of renewable energy as a clean, non-polluting source of power for their future".

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THE SNOWBALL TIME FORGOT

Ken Ross of Northern and Western Isles EEAC is the proud guardian of a twenty-five year old snowball. The snowball has appeared in thirty seven newspapers and magazines (including Hello! and TV Quick) and debuts on a BBC weather programme in mid February. The programme will result in the snowball being analysed and its pollution levels compared with those of a snowball collected from the same site last year.

But why keep a snowball in your freezer for over twenty-five years? The story goes that when Ken's son was 18 months old he saw his first snowfall. He rushed excitedly to his Grandmother to tell her about the snow and to take her out to see it. Unfortunately his Grandmother was too ill to come out so Ken's son took some snow in for her. Clearly touched by this the Grandmother asked Ken to keep it for as long as possible and it has been in the freezer ever since.

While concerned energy advisors may be calculating the energy consumed by Ken's ice-bound freezer, he assures readers that he regularly defrosts his freezer ('A' rated of course) during which time the snowball is thrown into an alternative freezer compartment!

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Northern Ireland's mobile energy efficiency centre

ENERGY ADVICE IN THE PLAYGROUND

Northern Ireland EEAC's in conjunction with Northern Ireland Electricity offer a unique energy education service. The three EEAC's (Belfast, Western Regional and Foyle Regional) offer Northern Ireland schools a tailored service which includes a free visit from the mobile centre, Home Energy Checks for kids, drama involving an energy message and presentations on energy.

Once inside the centre, the children hear a short presentation that helps them understand the sources of energy, what it is needed for and how it can be saved. Each presentation is tailored to suit the different age groups and the children get an opportunity for some hands-on work with renewable energy models.

All the activities and presentations are directly linked to the curriculum meaning demand for the service is very high. In addition, a number of plays have been developed and some schools have been involved in the launch of energy efficiency week and other EEAC events over recent years.

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Sally Carter from Cheshire EEAC, Les Laws from Ellesmere Port & Neston Borough Council and two pupils from Neston Primary

"WATT WATCHERS" POWERS CHESHIRE CHILDREN'S ENERGY-SAVING EFFORTS

Cheshire EEAC are set to finish delivering their "Watt Watcher" presentations to all 29 primary schools within a borough by the end of April 2003. This marathon energy-saving effort means that all 2500 pupils in the Borough of Ellesmere Port & Neston will have experienced the delights of low energy light bulbs, filled in the cavities of their brains with knowledge of insulation and been stripped of their energy-wasting habits.

All the children had the chance to take home an energy check and a goody bag and for each energy check returned, the school received a £1 book token. One school in Little Sutton received a record £103 in book tokens that will go towards stocking their library. "Watt Watchers" has been so successful that other boroughs within Cheshire are now keen to promote it.

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Training session at EnergyWatch Birmingham run by Don Lack of Leicester EEAC

NETWORK DELIVERS NATIONAL TRAINING

Links with EnergyWatch at a national level are being forged thanks to a programme of energy efficiency training being delivered by EEAC staff. 15 training sessions are being delivered at 6 EnergyWatch offices during January, February and March. The trainers were selected through an application process by FEEAC, who also put together the training resources to be used. "We felt it was really important to deliver the same course to the same standard across all the EnergyWatch offices" said Jean Morrison, FEEAC Chair. "This is a great opportunity for EEACs to show their potential as a national network, and to strengthen our relationship with EnergyWatch".

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Santa calculates how many elves live in his home

WARMING UP PARTNERSHIPS IN WALES

There has been glowing praise from elected members for a series of 22 roadshows organised by Welsh EEACs between October 2002 and February 2003. EEACs were asked by the Welsh Assembly Government to manage venues, local support and local publicity. The events were to encourage people over 65 to take good care of their health during cold weather.

The messages delivered included affordable warmth through energy efficiency, food safety and healthy eating, general safety and health care and encouragement to take up the services available to older people from both statutory and voluntary organisations. Staff were on hand from many organisations, such as NHS Direct, Food Standards Agency, EnergyWatch, EAGA Partnership, Age Concern, Care & Repair Agencies, Fire Safety Officers, Local Authorities and local voluntary organisations as well as the EEACs.

Both local and national VIPs have attended the shows, including the WAG Minister for Health and Social Service Jane Hutt and a number of Assembly Members. The real surprise though was a visit from an international celebrity, when Father Christmas turned up seeking energy efficiency advice from South East Wales EEAC staff.

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