CLOSE THE DOOR!

When we are sitting down we usually close doors close to us. This prevents draughts and helps to keep a room warm in cold weather - it reduces energy waste.

The scale of energy waste is greatly increased if external doors are left open. Research has proved that in the case of shops, 50% savings in fuel use is gained if doors are opened when customers enter the shop instead of being left open. The research found no conclusive evidence that footfall, or transactions, were affected by closing the shop door.

Keeping doors open and the heating on full is estimated to be costing the UK's retailers £1billion a year.

The close the door against energy waste campaign started in Cambridge and has now spread to seven other cities in England.

Closing shop doors is an easy, cost effective way of cutting CO₂ and contributing to the targets set for 2026.

Birmingham City Council's target is a 60% reduction. Birmingham Friends of the Earth has posted information about the campaign on their website and encourages us to Take Action: "The next time you're out for some retail therapy and see a shop door wide open, politely ask them to close the door. Simple! Or come along to our campaigns meetings."

Contact Robert Pass - birmingham@closethedoor.org.uk - for details of this campaign, or Joe Peacock - joe@birminghamfoe.org.uk - about FoE campaigns.