News
The fifth challenge is the last one for Växjö's Climate Idols. The task: to cut the carbon emissions from food by 15 % during May. All receipts from restaurants and supermarkets are collected to be compared with receipts from 2009.
The challenge for April will be to choose new ways of travelling. Leave the car at home and go by bike, electric bike, electric moped, bus or take a walk!
Every year young students get the opportunity to start their own business and run it for one year. After a year an exhibition is held, organised by the young businesses.
The climate group was created as a part of WPA and consists of a group of young people who wants to act on climate change. The participation is entirely voluntary. The first activity to plan for the climate group was Earth Hour. On the 27th of March Växjö municipality organised a campaign called "Make Växjö greener".
Suffolk's new Carbon Charter was launched on Monday 8th March to support local businesses going green. The charter will provide high-profile local recognition for small businesses that monitor and reduce their carbon emissions. Increasingly consumers are aware of their power; the Suffolk Carbon Charter will help keep them informed, and also reward businesses for playing their part.
The Climate Idols have now started the third challenge. The challenge was presented at a public meeting in Växjö library with about 35 visitors in the audience. The speaker of the evening talked about time, consumption and happiness - does it make us happy to work more, earn more, buy more things and work even more or is there another way to happiness?
Businesses representatives from Flanders, Suffolk and Vaxjo joined their Bremen counterparts to advise project partners on how to best deliver reduced energy use in the business sector.
The first challenge was to reduce the electric energy use at home with at least 15 %. The result is: an average change by 33 %! Some of the Climate Idols reduced their electric energy use by more than 60 % compared to same period last year. Impressing!
Every year local organisations, businesses and employers participate in an exhibition at the University.
During November and December 2009 two well-known Växjö businesses challenged each other to reduce their electric energy use as much as possible. And January 27th the result was presented at an award ceremony. Both businesses saved more than 8 %, but the winner was Videum with 8,6 %! The local newspapers reported on the result.