Weather foils Isles of Scilly energy experiment

A world-first experiment to try and reduce energy use for the day on the Isles of Scilly was foiled after a turn in the weather caused participants to use more electricity.

Published: 5:25PM BST 07 Oct 2009

More than 2,000 people on the tiny islands were asked to turn off all unnecessary electrical appliances in a bid to cut power consumption by 15 percent.
The experts behind the project used Scilly - 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall - as all power reaches the island through just one cable from the mainland.
Islanders followed a series of guidelines including switching off unnecessary lights and TVs when not in use and only filling kettles with the exact amount of water required.
But despite the mass power-down red-faced organisers announced they reduced electricity consumption - by just over one percent.
Organiser Dr Matt Prescott said the experiment was undermined by bad weather - which saw people using more power than usual.
He said: "Scilly usage fell by 1.2per cent. The weather was horrendous compared to the day before so we were really fighting the conditions.
"Normally electric use tends to go up on a Tuesday so we were fighting the general trend and the weather."
The aim of the project - called E-Day - was to cut power use over a 24 hour period to prove that green living can considerably reduce energy output.
Organisers chose Scilly because power reaches the island through just one cable from the mainland - making it easier to measure the energy used.
Project organisers say it was the first "co-ordinated attempt" of its kind involving an entire community anywhere in the world.
The Isles of Scilly has a population of 2,150 people living on five islands - St Mary's, Tresco, St Martin's, St Agnes and Bryher.