Greening the streets

There are times when the issue of climate change seems so huge, so daunting, there is a temptation to want to thrust the entire problem of dealing with it on to international organisations and governments. They have the clout, if they are prepared to use it, to make a difference. By comparison the contribution of the individual is just a drop in the (rising) ocean.
Not so. British Gas and the Institute for Public Policy Research thinktank are conducting a "green streets" trial - a year-long experiment to demonstrate how much energy families can save.
Five months in and results from the 64 families taking part are encouraging. Energy usage is down by nearly 30% and carbon emissions have dropped.
Granted, not everyone has the readies to rush out and buy a new highly efficient boiler, install solar panels or the latest word in home insulation (though the IPPR has some interesting maths to back the investment case).
However, the experiment is drawing attention to some simple ways of changing our behaviour to minimise energy use: not over-filling the kettle, washing clothes at lower temperatures, turning the lights off and not leaving electrical equipment on stand-by.
It all sounds just so insignificant. But "Green Streets" suggests it does make a difference - both to fuel bills and the environment.
julia.finch@guardian.co.uk