Big Green Switch Blog

2009-08-05T11:08:00.001+01:00

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Big Green Chickens!

2008-11-10T14:24:00.002+00:00

Here at the Big Green Switch (courtesy of Cumfy Pets) we are setting up our own chicken coop!

Over the coming months will be giving you blog updates, along with pictures, on the Big Green Chicken blog.

Help us to name the chickens by voting on our poll and keep checking back to see all our updates.

To see the blog click here.

WIN! a Bye-Bye Standby Energy Saving Kit!

2008-10-31T09:49:00.001+00:00

The Bye-Bye Standby Energy Saving Kit will make sure you never leave anything on standby again!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

Bye Bye Standby is a brand new energy saving solution designed to reduce the daily energy consumption of electrical devices.

Bye Bye Standby works by completely cutting power to the devices plugged into it when they're not in use, thus saving the power that these devices would otherwise have consumed in Standby Mode.

Bye Bye Standby is the easiest way to save energy, carbon emissions and money.This starter kit includes:1 x Remote Control 3 x Smart SocketsHow to use Bye Bye Standby:Simply plug a Smart Socket into a mains wall socket and plug an electrical appliance into it.

Make sure the remote control and the Smart Socket are set to the same ‘House Code’. You can now switch your appliances on and off wirelessly from up to 30m away and by doing so you will avoid leaving them on standby. This could help save up to £38 a year!

Think of all the gadgets you leave around your house on standby!

The Bye-Bye Standby Energy Saving Kit can be used with TVs, DVD players, Sky boxes, stereo, PC etc.

The competition is open until 8th December and is free to enter to anyone who registers with the Big Green Switch website. Other terms & conditions apply.

So click here now for your chance to win!

WIN! £300 of eco friendly Christmas shopping!

2008-10-27T15:24:00.001+00:00

The new Shopping Spree competition from the Big Green Switch is here to take the sting out of this year's Christmas shopping, both for the environment AND your wallet!

As the weeks between now and Christmas very quickly start to fall away, our thoughts are turning to the annual trials and tribulations of Christmas shopping!

But, the Big Green Switch is here to help by giving you the chance to win £300 worth of eco friendly gifts and gadgets for your friends and family!

Simply take a look through the Big Green Shop and build yourself a Christmas Gift List of all the great things you'd love to give as Christmas presents, up to the total value of £300. We'll then pick one Gift List at random - and pay for everything on the winning list!*

The Big Green Shop is packed with fantastic eco friendly gift ideas to suit everyone - from gadget lovers and keen gardeners to fashion followers and pamper product fans.

So don't miss your chance to bag your Christmas shopping for FREE and enjoy a bright green Christmas by scooping a huge shopping basket full of brilliant eco friendly goodies!

How to take part:

	Firstly, you need to register and log-in to the Big Green Shop. New users can register here while existing users of either the Big Green Switch or Big Green Shop sites can log in here. (Your usual Big Green Switch log in details will work fine on the Shop - there's no need to re-register).

	After you've logged in, click on the "My Shopping Lists" option on your account page and create yourself a new shopping list called "Christmas competition list".**

	Now you're ready to start browsing around the Big Green Shop site to discover a whole range of great eco friendly gifts perfect for friends and family this Christmas.As you find products that you would like to be included in your possible prize pack, simply click the "Add to Shopping List" option for that product.When prompted, tick to add the product to your existing "Christmas competition list" and click done.

	Continue browsing and adding products to your list until you've reached between £280 and £300 worth of items (Take care not to exceed £300 or your entry will not count). You can view the running total value at the top of your list by choosing the "View List" option after adding an item to it or by clicking on "My Account" and then "My Shopping Lists". Then all you have to do is sit back and relax!At the end of the promotion, we'll be picking one list at random and paying for all the items on it for the lucky winner.*
So click here to register/log in and start building your dream Christmas Gift List of great green products! * Terms & Conditions apply

** Note: entrants to our previous "shopping spree" competitions will need to create a new list for thisd competition and add products to that new list. Your previous list(s) cannot be accepted as an entry to this new competition.

Get set for Energy Saving Week 2008

2008-10-17T10:44:00.005+01:00

This year's Energy Saving Week, the Energy Saving Trust's annual flagship week, runs from October 20th to 26th.

Now in its 12th year, Energy Saving Week challenges people todiscover their carbon footprint and adopt energy saving measures to reduce their CO2 emissions.

Saving energy around the home just makes sense. Not only does it help the environment as you cut your carbon emissions and reduce the threat from climate change but saving energy will also save you a decent chunk of money on your energy bills too.

There are various ways you can take action and get involved with Energy Saving Week 2008 here on the Big Green Switch website:

WIN! one of five chic, energy-saving Eco Toasters!

2008-10-10T15:12:00.002+01:00

Green your breakfast with the cool and chic Ecolectric Eco Toaster from EthicalSuperstore.com!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

The new Morphy Richards Ecolectric 2-Slice Toaster covers all bases! The eco toaster not only makes evenly browned, delicious toast, but does so quicker, more energy efficiently and in a more eco-friendly manner than toast has been made before!

It features a sleek, innovative auto-close lid which helps to keep the heat close to the bread, meaning that you spend less time waiting for your toast in the morning, and do your bit to cut energy use. Statistics show that the lid on this green-chic toaster actually uses 34% less energy than standard toasters!

As well as its green credentials, this toaster looks the part too! It is chic, sleek and features Cooltouch illuminated neon function buttons, and a cord storage facility meaning that you can keep your work surfaces clean and clear once your toast has popped up and ready to eat! Check out the video below to see it in action!

The Big Green Switch has teamed up with the fabulous folks at Ethical Supertore to give you the chance to win one of these fantastic Eco Toasters. We've got five of them to give away.

The competition is open until 3rd November and is free to enter to anyone who registers with the Big Green Switch website. Other terms & conditions apply.

So click here now for your chance to one of these cool eco toasters!

WIN! one of three health & beauty product sets!

2008-09-25T13:53:00.002+01:00

Win one of three sets of eco friendly pamper products, worth £50 each, courtesy of BigGreenSmile.com!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

BigGreenSmile.com are celebrating the launch of their new-look website by offering this great chance to win a selection of luxurious, eco friendly health and beauty products.

The products are amongst over 500 new lines added to their website including a substantial new well being range of eco-friendly health and beauty products. The range includes bath oils and soaps, deodorants, toothpastes, mouth wash, feminine hygiene products, lip care, sun care and baby care products.

All of the products do their very best to avoid nasty chemicals and are as natural as possible.

We've got three sets of goodies to give away, each containing a £50 selection of BigGreenSmile.com's new health and beauty products:

Exfoliating Facial Cleanser and Soothing Mud Mask from the Yes to CarrotsTM range.
CoQ10 Wrinkle Defence Crème, Vitamin C Balancing Facial Toner and Glycerin Hand Soap from the Avalon Organics range.
Shampoo, Conditioner and Aromatherapy Body Lotions from the Australian Organics range.

The competition is open until 27th October and is free to enter to anyone who registers with the Big Green Switch website. Other terms & conditions apply.

So click here now for your chance to win this beautiful Sun Jar!

WIN! a beautiful solar-charged Sun Jar!

2008-09-23T11:10:00.002+01:00

Bring the sunshine into your home with the fascinating solar-charged Sun Jar!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

The Sun Jar charges during the day and lights up at night. Made with a traditional Mason jar and high tech energy efficient lighting!

Captured inside the jar are a highly efficient solar cell, rechargeable battery and low energy LED lamps. When the jar is placed in sunlight the solar cell creates an electrical current that charges the battery over a few hours. This energy is then used at night to power the three LED lamps inside the jar.

Mason Jars are not only beautiful but by their very nature they are completely water tight - so the Sun Jar can happily be left outside in any weather conditions. A perfect garden light or night light for a kids bedroom.

The competition is open until 20th October and is free to enter to anyone who registers with the Big Green Switch website. Other terms & conditions apply.

So click here now for your chance to win this beautiful Sun Jar!

Create your own green Switch List and you could WIn £100 worth of great eco goodies!

2008-09-08T07:38:00.001+01:00

Celebrate the great green things you've already done and plan your next steps with our new 10 Done, 10 To Do campaign.

10 Done, 10 To Do is all about feeling good about the changes you've made so far to green up your lifestyle and looking forward to what else you hope to do to cut your carbon footprint even further.

As a registered user of the Big Green Switch website, you can build your very own personal Switch List of all the green actions you've done or plan to do in the future. To take part in the 10 Done, 10 To Do campaign, simply add to your Switch List a minimum of 10 green actions which you have already completed together with at least 10 new green actions that you hope to do in the future.

As a thank you for committing to make the switch to a greener lifestyle, we'll enter you into our free prize draw to win £100 worth of eco friendly products to aid some of your future green changes.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE AND ENTER NOW!

WIN! a Verio wind-up MP3 player!

2008-09-01T13:24:00.004+01:00

Take your music on the move without worrying about battery power with this brilliant Verio wind-up MP3 player!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

The Verio wind-up MP3 player makes dead batteries a thing of the past and ensures you always have access to your music.

Winding up the Verio for just one minute provides 15-20 minutes of listening time. Also included is a USB and mains charger for when electricity is available. When fully charged, the player will provide music for up to four hours.

It features 1 Gigabyte of internal memory so you always have a huge music library. The player is compact and rugged and also includes an integrated flashlight and mobile phone charger.

The competition is open until 11pm on September 29th and is free to enter to anyone who registers with the Big Green Switch website. Other terms & conditions apply.

So click here for your chance to win this brilliant wind-up MP3 player

Soil Association Organic Fortnight - 6th to 21st September 2008

2008-08-29T11:16:00.001+01:00

The Soil Association Organic Fortnight takes place from September 6th to 21st and sees people across Britain celebrating all things organic.

During the fortnight, individuals, businesses and communities will be hosting events to raise awareness of the environmental, health and social benefits of organic production. The campaign also gives everyone a chance to enjoy organic products from delicious food and drink to beauty and textiles.

Events will be taking place all over the country from organic breakfasts at work and farm open days to organic cookery lessons in schools and organic fashion shows. Click here to find an event near you.

The message this year is ‘Love Your Planet, Choose Organic’. Amidst growing concerns about climate change and food security, Soil Association Organic Fortnight provides a chance to look at why organic production - fashion, beauty, food and farming - is better for the planet.

The fortnight kicks off with the Soil Association Organic Food Festival, Europe’s largest celebration of organic, 6-7 September 2008, at Bristol Harbourside and closes on a high with the Soil Association Scotland's Organic Food Festival on 20-21 September.

The Soil Association website is packed with more information about the fortnight, including how you can get involved, a list of scheduled events plus the facility to tell others about any events you are planning yourself. The website also includes details of how to order campaign material for any events you choose to run plus information on how schools can also get involved in the fortnight.

Visit www.soilassociation.org/organicfortnight for full details.

WIN! £1000 to spend on organic produce!

InstantWin4Now.co.uk are giving you the chance to win a massive £1000 to spend on organic food to feed all the family and help to keep them fit and healthy! For your chance to win, click here!

WIN! a Kitchen Composter Kit!

2008-08-25T09:30:00.000+01:00

Turn all your food waste into perfect compost and plant feed with this amazing Kitchen Composter Kit!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

The Kitchen Composter takes all your kitchen waste and turns it into rich garden compost and liquid plant feed. Never again will a scrap of food waste have to go into your bin!

The Kitchen Composter can take it all - raw or cooked food, meat, salad and veg, fish and more. Simply put it all into the composter, add a handful of Bokashi bran (included) which stimulates the micro-organisms into action and then just wait a few weeks for the whole lot to turn into perfect material to go onto your compost heap or straight onto your flower beds.

The container is air-tight so can be kept indoors or outdoors without fear of any nasty odours or hygiene problems so it's perfect for keeping in the kitchen, right where you need it.

The competition is open until 11pm on September 22nd and is free to enter to anyone who registers with the Big Green Switch website. Other terms & conditions apply.

So click here for your chance to win this brilliant kitchen composter kit!

Back to school - eco-style!!

2008-08-18T09:00:00.000+01:00

Get kitted out for the new school year with this fantastic set of recycled stationery and notebooks!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

Whether you're sending the kids back to school or simply wanting to stock up on supplies for your home or office, this set of recycled staionery has everything you need!

The prize pack includes:

A Remarkable^TM "I used to be a car tyre" recycled notebook

Two plain recycled notepads

A water-powered calculator

Remarkable^TM recycled car tyre pencil case

Recycled Remarkable^TM ball point and handwriting pens

Pack of 10 Remarkable^TM recycled pencils

Pack of Remarkable^TM recycled colouring pens

Remarkable^TM ringbinder and A4 document wallet made from recycled retail packaging

Remarkable^TM recycled polystyrene ruler

The competition is open until 11pm on September 15th and is free to enter to anyone who registers with the Big Green Switch website. Other terms & conditions apply.

So click here for your chance to win this fantastic set of recycled stationery!

WIN! £300 worth of your favourite eco-products!

2008-08-11T09:59:00.003+01:00

The Big Green Shop Eco Shopping Spree competition is back by popular demand!

Once again, we're giving you the chance to win eco-friendly gifts, gadgets and goodies of your choice from the Big Green Shop - and this time, there are £300 worth of products up for grabs!!

Simply take a look through the Shop and build yourself a dream Shopping List of all the great things you'd love to buy from it up to the total value of £300. We'll then pick one of our visitors' Shopping Lists at random - and pay for everything on the winning list!*

It's a great chance to bag yourself a range of clever energy-saving gadgets to help you to save energy and money on your bills or perhaps you'll choose to pamper yourself with a host of organic and natural body and skincare products?

Whatever eco friendly products you're interested in, this is your chance to scoop a huge shopping basket full of brilliant eco-friendly goodies you really want.

How to take part:

	Firstly, you need to register and log-in to the Big Green Shop. New users can register here while existing users of either the Big Green Switch or Big Green Shop sites can log in here. (Your usual Big Green Switch log in details will work fine on the Shop - there's no need to re-register).

	After you've logged in, click on the "My Shopping Lists" option on your account page and create yourself a new shopping list called "£300 shopping spree list".**

	Now you're ready to start browsing around the Big Green Shop site to discover a whole range of great products to help support a greener lifestyle. As you find products that you would like to be included in your possible prize pack, simply click the "Add to Shopping List" option for that product. When prompted, tick to add the product to your existing "£300 shopping spree list" and click done.

	Continue browsing and adding products to your list until you've reached between £280 and £300 worth of items (Take care not to exceed £300 or your entry will not count). You can view the running total value at the top of your list by choosing the "View List" option after adding an item to it or by clicking on "My Account" and then "My Shopping Lists". Then all you have to do is sit back and relax! At the end of the promotion, we'll be picking one list at random and paying for all the items on it for the lucky winner.*
So click here to register/log in and start building your dream Shopping List of great green products! * Terms & Conditions apply

Free your bike this summer

2008-08-07T09:34:00.006+01:00

It might be stating the obvious but cycling is good for you, good for the planet, it's fast, it's convenient, it gives you freedom and independence, it takes you from door to door – and it's fun.

A recent survey conducted by Sustran shows that 44 per cent of women have access to a bike but three quarters of them never use a bike at all.

The reasons women don't cycle vary from their concerns about safety to the problems of what to wear and the weather. Sustrans, who have been developing the National Cycle Network for the past three decades, believe that a combination of dedicated cycle lanes and good information on how and where to cycle are two key elements that would increase the number of women cyclists to European levels. In the Netherlands 32 per cent of women's trips are made by bike.

Sustainable transport charity Sustrans is encouraging more people, men and women, to get out and about on two wheels and is offering free tailored information packs to help people do just that. The pack is full of great ideas for rides in your region and comes with plenty of information to help you get more from cycling.

Sustrans is the charity behind many practical and innovative projects that help people travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment, including the National Cycle Network, 12,000 miles of people-friendly walking and cycling routes around the UK. Many are on traffic-free paths or quiet roads, perfect for families and anyone new to cycling. Over 75% of people in the UK live within two miles of the National Cycle Network so there’s sure to be a route near you.

To claim your free information pack from Sustrans visit www.freeyourbike.org.uk or call 0845 113 00 65

Great cycling prizes up for grabs!
We've teamed up with competition website InstantWin4Now to give you the chance to win a selection of great cycles. Click on the links below to visit the InstantWin4Now website for your chance to win!

	Instantly WIN an Apollo Men's Town & Trail Bike Available in 21" or 18" frames, this Men's Town and Trail Bike has an Aluminium frame, 21 speed gears, powerful aluminium V-brakes and Gel saddle for added comfort.
	Instantly WIN a Raleigh Pioneer Ladies Bicycle Perfect for city riding and leisurely cruises along country lanes, this ladies Raleigh cycle is designed to be functional, solid and reliable.
	Instantly WIN an Apollo folding bicycle With a lightweight aluminium frame, this Folding Bicycle has an easy folding mechanism allowing you to go from cyclist to pedestrian in seconds - perfect for green commuting!
	Instantly WIN a super cool Trikke bike! The Trikke is an excellent eco friendly alternative for nipping around town and it even folds up so you can easily carry it through shops, university or on the tube!

WIN! a fab energy saving Eco Kettle!

2008-08-05T13:32:00.003+01:00

Make your kitchen more eco-friendly and save on your energy bills with the Eco Kettle!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

The innovative Eco Kettle has a unique double chamber that allows you to measure out exactly how much water you want to boil, saving electricity, water, money and time, making it better for the planet.

The Eco Kettle will boil a cup of water in around 30 seconds so it uses far less electricity and makes a fast cuppa and uses 30% less energy than standard kettles.

The Eco Kettle has been approved by the Good Housekeeping Institute and is recommended by Powergen as a pioneering product in the battle to save energy in the nation's homes.

The competition is open until 11pm on September 1st and is free to enter to anyone who registers with the Big Green Switch website. Other terms & conditions apply.

So click here for your chance to win this brilliant energy saving Eco Kettle!

WIN! a portable Freeplay Summit Wind-up Radio!

2008-07-21T07:30:00.001+01:00

Win a Freeplay Summit Radio and listen to music around the house, in the garden or wherever you are!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

The Freeplay Summit Radio is a compact multi-band radio, which combines unparalled sound quality with the reliability of multiple power sources.

The Freeplay Summit Radio is compact and portable but still provides great sound quality when not used with headphones.

Features include: Wind-up, Solar, and Rechargable power options, 4 wave bands (FM, AM, SW, LW) Digital tuning, 30 station presets, LCD digital display panel, Clock and Alarm.

Wind-up power is created by an AC alternator driven by the crank handle. Alternatively, you can charge it using solar power via the thin, sleek panel on the top of the radio.

The competition is open until 11pm on August 18th and is free to enter to anyone who registers with the Big Green Switch website. Other terms & conditions apply.

So click here for your chance to win this brilliant Freeplay wind-up radio!

WIN! £100 worth of eco goodies of your choice!

2008-07-14T08:32:00.002+01:00

Discover the savings that you could make by living a greener lifestyle - and you could win £100 worth of eco friendly goodies of your choice!*

With the cost of living continues to rise, seemingly by the week, there's never been a better time to take steps to reduce some of your household bills.

By living a smarter, greener lifestyle, you'll not only be doing your bit for the environment and reducing your carbon footprint, you'll also stand to save a small fortune on your household bills at the same time!

We've pulled together 16 simple carbon-cutting ideas that will help you reduce your bills while also slicing a chunk off your carbon footprint. Collectively the tips could save you over £600 per year!

Size Up The Savings for your chance to WIN!

1) On each of the tip pages listed below, you'll see the "Size Up The Savings" piggy bank panel containing details of just how much a typical UK household could save in a year by carrying out that tip.

2) Take a look at each tip and make a note of the money-saving amount listed for each one. Once you've looked at them all, you then need to work out which three of the actions have the biggest money saving potential. (Of course, you could just guess - but we think you may be surprised by the actual answer!)

3) When you've got your top 3 money-savers worked out, click here to complete the Size Up The Savings entry form with the details.

All correct entries will then be entered into our draw to win £100 worth of eco friendly gifts and gadgets of your choice from Ethical Superstore.*

Our 16 "Size Up The Savings" money-saving tips...

	Switch equipment off fully instead of leaving it in standby mode			Choose top-rated energy efficient models when replacing old kitchen appliances

	Install cavity wall insulation to stop heat escaping through walls			Turn down your heating thermostat by a single degree

	Insulate your loft to stop heat escaping through your roof			Foil-back your radiators to reflect heat back into the room

	Wash your laundry at 30^oC rather than at higher temperatures			Fit draught-excluders to any breezy doors or windows

	Cut your tumble dryer time by 25% by using dryer balls			Only boil as much water as you need when making a cuppa

	Fit an insulation jacket to your hot water tank to keep your water hotter for longer			Cut out one washing machine load per week by doing fewer, fuller washes

	Ditch chemical cleaning products in favour of natural alternatives			Replace your standard light bulbs with low energy equivalents

	Fit a Savaplug to your fridge to reduce its energy consumption			Improve your car's fuel efficiency by leaving the air conditioning off and keeping windows closed

Click here to complete the Size Up The Savings entry form for your chance to win!

* Terms & conditions apply

WIN! a pair of cool recycled Grolsch bottle goblets!

2008-07-10T10:39:00.000+01:00

Enjoy your summer drinks in style with this pair of goblets made from recycled Grolsch bottles!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

These great environmentally friendly goblets are made from the iconic 450ml swing top Grolsch beer bottle, transformed into stylish and unique drinking glasses.

Grolsch goblets take recycling to the next level. They are made by first cutting away the base of the bottle, polishing the edges and then bonding the base to the neck to form the foot. Hey presto, an upside down beer bottle glass!

As the glasses aren't melted down, they save 90% of the energy normally used to make recycled glass.

Drinking from them is a delight and they'll make for a great talking point at your next party or summer barbeque!

The competition is open until 11pm on August 4th and is free to enter to anyone who registers with the Big Green Switch website. Other terms & conditions apply.

So click here for your chance to win these brilliant recycled Grolsch goblets!

Big Green Switch wins 'Campaign for Change' award

2008-07-03T13:43:00.005+01:00

Big Green Switch was last night named the winner of the Campaign for Change category in the New Statesman New Media Awards.

The website, which aims to empower people to make choices that help them live a greener life, was launched in May 2007 by Associated Northcliffe Digital’s Derby-based new product development division.

White-labelled versions of the website have been created for several of AND’s sister regional newspaper websites in the Northcliffe group including the Leicester Mercury, Derby Telegraph, Nottingham Post, Bristol Post, The Sentinel and the Western Daily Press.

Big Green Switch’s carbon footprint calculator and a tip of the day feature are also carried on the DMGT-owned Metro website.

Big Green Switch offers independent information and advice for those who want to be more environmentally-friendly and encourages visitors to share their own ideas and experiences via community message boards, comment panels and blogs.

Site manager Steve Allen said: “Our aim is to encourage people to learn about being green without feeling pressured or lectured. The emphasis is on achievable ideas which are easy to put into practice. ‘Start small and do more when you are ready’, is the key message.

“We are delighted to have won the award for Campaign for Change and proud to be recognised for having created what we feel is a clear, fair and positive information portal where anyone can find all the advice and knowledge they need.

“We would like to thank users for their continued support and daily website interaction which has helped us to build this online green community.”

The site also includes tools and features such as a green products shop, environmental jobs search engine and a directory of other green websites, businesses and organisations.

Judges decided that out of all the entrants in the Campaign for Change category, Big Green Switch had most effectively influenced opinions and behaviour through the use of new media technology. It championed a cause and provided information and tools to instigate change, they believed.

Big Green Switch currently receives about 45,000 unique visitors a month who between them look at about 300,000 pages.

The prestigious annual New Statesman awards, now in their 10th year, aim to highlight the positive impact of new media technology on public life. Big Green Switch received its award at a ceremony in central London.

WIN an OWL energy monitor!

2008-06-30T13:53:00.003+01:00

Monitor and reduce your home electricity usage by up to 25% with an OWL wireless energy monitor!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

The OWL Wireless Energy Monitor is an electricity usage monitor which shows you how much electricity you use at home and how much it costs you.

It also shows the level of CO2 emissions you are contributing to the environment through your electricity usage.

It's a simple but valuable tool providing you and your family with the information you need to reduce electricity consumption saving you up to 25% on your electricity bill while doing your bit for the environment.

Using the monitor and acting accordingly to reduce your energy use could save you as much as £100 a year off your electricity bills!

The competition is open until 11pm on August 4th and is free to enter to anyone who registers with the Big Green Switch website. Other terms & conditions apply.

So click here for your chance to win this fanatastic OWL monitor!

Change Your World - 30th June to 5th July

2008-06-24T15:39:00.000+01:00

Imagine a world with cleaner air, quieter streets and more space for kids (and big kids) to play.

It's easier to achieve than you think. Amazingly, if we all drove just one less journey a week we'd reduce car traffic by 10%. Fancy giving it a go?

Change Your World is a campaign from Sustrans which runs from 30th June to 5th July. During the week, everyone is encouraged to swap any car trip and walk, cycle, use public transport or car-share instead. Or even better, don't make the trip at all.

If you pledge to make the swap during the Change your World week, you'll be in with a chance of winning a Center Parcs family break and other great prizes.

Make your pledge to swap now at www.changeyourworld.org.uk.

For more tips and ideas on how you can reduce your transport emissions, visit the Big Green Switch.

WIN! a fabulous case of organic and fairtrade wine!

2008-06-23T11:21:00.004+01:00

Don't miss your chance to win a fabulous case of organic and fairtrade wine!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

Ethical Superstore's hand-picked range of fairtrade, organic and socially responsible wines are sure to hit the spot on a warm summer's evening.

The range features something for everyone, from occasional drinkers to connoisseurs, and as they put people and the planet first, the wines can be enjoyed with a clear conscience.

The Big Green Switch has teamed up with Ethical Superstore to give you the chance to win a fantastic mixed case of 12 wines. The case provides a great variety of both fairtrade and organic wines and includes white, red and sparkling wines.

The competition is open until 11pm on July 21st and is free to enter to anyone who registers with the Big Green Switch website. Other terms & conditions apply.

So click here for your chance to win this fabulous case of organic and fairtrade wines!

WIN! Eco friendly summer accessories!

2008-06-16T11:17:00.003+01:00

Win your choice of his or hers eco friendly summer accessories!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

Look good AND feel good this summer by winning a set of eco friendly fashion accessories for either him or her.

By opting for products made from natural materials such as bamboo or 100% organic cotton or recycled materials such as plastic packaging, you can be sure that your accessories have reached you without harm to the planet.

A lucky winner will get to pick there choice of either set below:

Eco accessories for him...

A 100% organic cotton, men's Volta t-shirt

A pair of fairtrade, biodegradable flip flops, ideal for the beach and keeping your feet cool in the summer heat.

Eco accessories for her...

A Monochrome Waves Eco Bag made from durable, waterproof polyester.

A Sunkist Tutti Frutti purse made from recycled juice packs - non-biodegradable foil and plastic packaging that would otherwise go into landfill sites and incinerators.

A divine heart shaped pendant resting at the foot of a solid silver chain.

The competition is open until 11pm on July 14th and is free to enter to anyone who registers with the Big Green Switch website. Other terms & conditions apply.

So click here for your chance to win this set of great eco friendly summer accessories!

Get on your bike for the UK's Bike Week!

2008-06-13T09:58:00.009+01:00

It's the UK's national Bike Week from 14th to 22nd June and everyone is urged to get out and about on their bikes.

Bike Week is the UK's biggest annual promotion of cycling and all things bike-related and provides a national umbrella for locally organised events and activities up and down the UK and this year.

Its simple main aim is to get people out and about on bikes and to get ‘more people cycling, more often'. Bike Week provides an opportunity to promote cycling as a great way to ‘have fun, get fit, and feel free'.

Whether you're new to cycling or an old hand, there's something for everyone during Bike Week. The official Bike Week website includes details of special events happening across the country plus hints, tips and links to more great cycling resources onlines.

Why not use the week as inspiration to give cycling to work a try? Sustrans estimate that 20 minutes of gentle cycling burns up to 100 calories and that regular cycling can make you as fit as an average person ten years younger than you!

The Sustrans website also offers lots more information about cycling around the UK including searchable and downloadable cycle network maps to help you plan out routes, either for commutting or for pure pleasure.

So dig out your cycle and give pedal power a go this coming week!

Great cycling prizes up for grabs!
We've teamed up with competition website InstantWin4Now to give you the chance to win a selection of great cycles. Click on the links below to visit the InstantWin4Now website for your chance to win!

	Instantly WIN an Apollo Men's Town & Trail Bike Available in 21" or 18" frames, this Men's Town and Trail Bike has an Aluminium frame, 21 speed gears, powerful aluminium V-brakes and Gel saddle for added comfort.
	Instantly WIN a Raleigh Pioneer Ladies Bicycle Perfect for city riding and leisurely cruises along country lanes, this ladies Raleigh cycle is designed to be functional, solid and reliable.
	Instantly WIN an Apollo folding bicycle With a lightweight aluminium frame, this Folding Bicycle has an easy folding mechanism allowing you to go from cyclist to pedestrian in seconds - perfect for green commuting!
	Instantly WIN a super cool Trikke bike! The Trikke is an excellent eco friendly alternative for nipping around town and it even folds up so you can easily carry it through shops, university or on the tube!