A COOL WAY TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT
Published Tuesday, 23 October, 2007 at 01:42 PM
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
Set your fridge to 4°C and help save the planet – that’s the message behind Cool it by Degrees, launched today at Sea World’s Polar Bear Shores by Premier Anna Bligh and Sustainability Minister Andrew McNamara.
Ms Bligh said setting household fridges at 4°C was another simple, practical way everyone could play their part in helping to reduce the effects of global warming.
Cooler by Degrees is the second “call to arms” in the Bligh Government’s Climate Smart Living campaign, following on from Change A Lightbulb Day.
“The fridge is one of the largest users of energy in the home and a change of just 1°C can reduce energy consumption by up to 5%, saving you money and greatly reducing your footprint on the environment,” Ms Bligh said.
“4°C is all you need to keep your food cool and safe – setting any lower is a waste of energy and produces unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions. So when it comes to the fridge, it’s no more than four
“If every household in Queensland turned up their fridge temperature by 1°C, it would be like taking 11,000 cars off the road – with the turn of a dial.”
Ms Bligh said Friday, November 16 is Cool it by Degrees Day and she urged all households to set their fridges to 4°C by then. In the lead-up, advertisements will target households across the state and 50,000 thermometers will be given out as part of the campaign.
“Another way to save energy in the kitchen is to ensure there’s a gap of at least 5cm between your fridge and the wall on all sides. Poor ventilation can add 15% to your energy bill,” she said.
Mr McNamara is hoping Cool it by Degrees will be as successful as Change a Light Bulb Day, where more than 36,000 Queenslanders made the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs through the Environmental Protection Agency and its commercial partners.
“Change a Light Bulb Day resulted in over 3870 tonnes of greenhouse gasses saved from entering the atmosphere, which is equivalent to planting 19,700 trees and will save households over $600,000 each year on their energy bills,” Mr McNamara said.
“Polar Bear Shores is a fitting location for the launch of Cooler by Degrees. It highlights the plight of the world’s aquatic animals – polar bears being one of most visible victims of climate change. Climate change is causing unprecedented ice melt, making it the number one threat to the 22,000 polar bears that remain in the wild.
“Polar bears need ice to launch hunting expeditions and are already suffering from a loss of summer sea ice in the Arctic, a loss that is set to get worse.
“There are things we can do to help. Simple actions like setting our fridges to 4°C will greatly reduce energy consumption, which means less demand on our power stations and less reliance on greenhouse gas-producing fossil fuels,” he said.
You can take the pledge to make a difference for Cool it by Degrees Day at climatesmart.qld.gov.au.
October 23, 2007
More information: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Minister McNamara’s office 3336 8032
Ms Bligh said setting household fridges at 4°C was another simple, practical way everyone could play their part in helping to reduce the effects of global warming.
Cooler by Degrees is the second “call to arms” in the Bligh Government’s Climate Smart Living campaign, following on from Change A Lightbulb Day.
“The fridge is one of the largest users of energy in the home and a change of just 1°C can reduce energy consumption by up to 5%, saving you money and greatly reducing your footprint on the environment,” Ms Bligh said.
“4°C is all you need to keep your food cool and safe – setting any lower is a waste of energy and produces unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions. So when it comes to the fridge, it’s no more than four
“If every household in Queensland turned up their fridge temperature by 1°C, it would be like taking 11,000 cars off the road – with the turn of a dial.”
Ms Bligh said Friday, November 16 is Cool it by Degrees Day and she urged all households to set their fridges to 4°C by then. In the lead-up, advertisements will target households across the state and 50,000 thermometers will be given out as part of the campaign.
“Another way to save energy in the kitchen is to ensure there’s a gap of at least 5cm between your fridge and the wall on all sides. Poor ventilation can add 15% to your energy bill,” she said.
Mr McNamara is hoping Cool it by Degrees will be as successful as Change a Light Bulb Day, where more than 36,000 Queenslanders made the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs through the Environmental Protection Agency and its commercial partners.
“Change a Light Bulb Day resulted in over 3870 tonnes of greenhouse gasses saved from entering the atmosphere, which is equivalent to planting 19,700 trees and will save households over $600,000 each year on their energy bills,” Mr McNamara said.
“Polar Bear Shores is a fitting location for the launch of Cooler by Degrees. It highlights the plight of the world’s aquatic animals – polar bears being one of most visible victims of climate change. Climate change is causing unprecedented ice melt, making it the number one threat to the 22,000 polar bears that remain in the wild.
“Polar bears need ice to launch hunting expeditions and are already suffering from a loss of summer sea ice in the Arctic, a loss that is set to get worse.
“There are things we can do to help. Simple actions like setting our fridges to 4°C will greatly reduce energy consumption, which means less demand on our power stations and less reliance on greenhouse gas-producing fossil fuels,” he said.
You can take the pledge to make a difference for Cool it by Degrees Day at climatesmart.qld.gov.au.
October 23, 2007
More information: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Minister McNamara’s office 3336 8032