Free Light Bulbs For Parish Councils

THE Chilterns Conservation Board has launched a new scheme to give away low energy light bulbs to parish councils in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The Conservation Board has set itself the target of being carbon neutral by 2011. One part of its programme to achieve this is to give away low energy light bulbs to parish councils for use in public buildings. By this means the Board aims to save several tonnes of carbon dioxide each year which would otherwise be generated by the use of ordinary lighting.
The Conservation Board has recently taken many steps to reduce its own carbon footprint. This has included installing solar panels to generate electricity at its office, reducing car mileage and removing excess office lighting. This has significantly reduced its carbon footprint but it is not enough to reduce it to zero. In addition the Board now proposes to invest in energy efficiency measures to help offset its own emissions which is why the free light bulb scheme has been launched.

The low energy light bulbs are being provided to parish councils for use in their own premises and a condition of receiving them is that they will only be used to replace normal tungsten light bulbs. There is a limit of 10 bulbs per parish and they are being issued on a first come, first served basis.

Anyone interested in obtaining free bulbs should contact Donna Hunter at the Chilterns Conservation Board on 01844 355504.

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The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) was designated in 1965, covers 833 sq kms (326 sq miles) stretching from Goring, in Oxfordshire, to near Hitchin, in Hertfordshire, and has a resident population of 80,000.

The Conservation Board was set up following the passing of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, 2000, to conserve and enhance the natural beauty and increase awareness and understanding of the Chilterns AONB. The Board, which also aims to foster the social and economic well being of local communities, is supported by all local authorities in the area and by Natural England, The National Trust and The Chiltern Society.

For more information about the AONB or the Conservation Board, phone 01844 355500, email: office@chilternsaonb.org, website www.chilternsaonb.org