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According to a Europe-wide survey by the Energy Saving Trust, 50% of Britons would like to be more energy efficient and reduce their carbon emissions if they had more time. But work pressures get in the way.

Nearly half of employees believe that employers could help by offering green benefits such as loans for energy-efficient products, free visits from an energy doctor or time off to implement energy saving measures.

“It is more important now than ever that employers take this seriously – in the current economic climate businesses must not ignore their green ethics,” said Energy Saving Trust chief executive Philip Sellwood.

The survey, which was launched to mark Energy Saving Week, canvassed opinion from 6000 adults across Europe, including 2000 in the UK.

In response, UK Energy and Climate Change secretary Ed Miliband is urging businesses to help their employees become greener.

“We all need to think about our energy habits, and employers have a vital role to play in ensuring workplaces are as energy-efficient as possible, as well as helping their employees in their desire to live a greener lifestyle away from the office,” commented Miliband.

“I urge all employers – big and small – to see Energy Saving Week as an opportunity to talk to their workers and support them so we can reduce energy use and develop greener living and working environments,” he added.

The Energy Savings Trust is calling for Britons to take 10 minutes during Energy Saving Week to do something green.

“It doesn’t take long to get things started - there are lots of things you can do in just ten minutes,” says Karen Lawrence of the Energy Saving Trust.

Now in its twelfth year, Energy Saving Week is aimed at drawing attention to the importance of energy efficiency and conservation.

For further information:
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
www.decc.gov.uk

Related stories:
UK Conservative Party plan to promote employee energy efficiency (2-Oct)