University of Central Lancashire - Little reminders to switch off

Black helium balloons, staple-less staplers and wind-up mobile phone chargers met staff at the University of Central Lancashire when they turned up for work earlier this month. The props were left at their desks in a symbolic gesture to encourage workers to switch off PCs and save power. The effort was organised by Ruth Taylor, energy and carbon management officer at Uclan, who said she hoped it would encourage staff to reduce their carbon footprints. The university estimates that more than 28 tonnes of carbon dioxide could be saved every year if all campus computers were switched off when not in use.