RESIDENTS of Winkleigh are invited to an energy clinic tomorrow (Friday) at the community centre — it is hoped that it will lead to the town making savings from its energy costs.

The clinic, to be held between 7pm and 9pm, is organised by the Winkleigh Society, North Devon Biosphere Reserve and the University of East Anglia.

Andy Bell, manager of the North Devon Biosphere Reserve, said the three bodies were working together to help the community find ways to reduce energy use and carbon emissions and create a better future.

Roger Smith, chairman of the Winkleigh Society, added: 'We need as many residents as possible to come along to make the event most useful for our community.'

Residents are asked to bring along, if possible, costings covering one year of their energy use in either 2008 or 2009, such as electricity, gas, oil, wood and solid fuel bills, vehicle mileage and other transport costs, energy ratings of electrical appliances, the quantity and type of light bulbs in each room of standard, low energy or fluorescents bulbs and whether you have loft insulation.

Alastair Newens from the University of East Anglia assured residents that all data used to calculate the town's carbon footprints would be used in the strictest confidence.

The energy clinic is part of a wider consultancy project being undertaken by three business management students from UEA with the North Devon Biosphere Reserve. They will be calculating the carbon footprint of Winkleigh, then developing a carbon reduction plan for how it could be reduced by 34% by 2020, and 80% by 2050 to meet targets set in the Government's Climate Change Act.

'Energy and fuel prices have increased greatly this decade, and are projected by many experts to keep on increasing in the future,' said Alastair Newens from the UEA.

'Taking steps to reduce energy and carbon emissions now, such as turning the thermostat down, installing roof and wall insulation, replacing standard bulbs with low-energy light bulbs, and installing a high-efficiency boiler or solar thermal hot water will save you money now, and is likely to save you even more in the years ahead if energy prices increase by as much as they are projected to,'

More information is available from Andy Bell on 07967 134 149 or Alastair Newens on 07879 284 344.