Lower Your Carbon At Home And Get £500 Off Council Tax

19 February 2010, 05:07 | Updated: 19 February 2010, 06:15

Want to try a low-carbon diet for three months - and maybe win £500 off your council tax?

Luton Borough Council is looking for ten families to join its Green Up Luton Challenge.

They will be checking your energy usage, waste recycling and journeys for three months, and if you make your home the most environmentally friendly, you could win a discount off your council tax.

Participants will be chosen at random and will first off, need to provide information on electricity, gas and water bills, and then keep a diary relating to energy consumption for the three months.

Fortnightly challenges will also be set, and meter readings will be taken at the beginning and end of each month.

The wining household will be selected on the basis of the greatest percentage reduction in energy consumption, performance in the fortnightly competitions, and creative presentation of inspiring ways of carbon reduction at the end of the challenge.

The winning household will receive £500 off their council tax bill for 2010/11. Second prize is a £300 discount, and third prize is £200 off.

Trevor Brennan is the Principal Climate Change Officer at Luton Borough Council:

"All that information will go so that we are better prepared in the years to come about how we recycle and how we deal with our waste. So it gives us a much most practical and realistic way with working with households in Luton and encourage them to be more environmentally friendly.

"What we feel is the most effect is to work with individual families to look at their energy and how much water and waste they use. And we feel that the best way of people making changes in their lifestyle, and by making simple changes, we can all save money and help the environment."

Closing date to register for this new scheme is 25th February.

If you are interested in taking part all you have to do is email myclimate@luton.gov.uk with your name, address and three ideas on how you would green up your family and Luton.

Alternatively you can write to: Climate Change Team, Town Hall, George Street, Luton, LU1 2BQ or call 01582 54 60 04