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Case Study
Eco Santa visits East Midlands family
Presents to improve energy efficiency
December 2009 - One East Midlands family asked for help in making their home more energy efficient this winter, and "Santa" paid them a visit along with an energy doctor from the Energy Saving Trust.
Santa is very busy at this time of year, but he didn't let that stop him from replying to a letter from one East Midlands family.
 | The Ghattauras asked for help in making their home more energy efficient this winter, and as the family were on the 'nice' list, Santa paid them a visit along with an energy doctor from the Energy Saving Trust.
Santa and the doctor arrived at their home on a tandem bicycle with a sack full of eco-gifts and a wealth of energy saving knowledge for the family. Santa said: "I'm very pleased that you want to save energy, and as you have all been very good this year I have brought you some 'green' gifts to help you." |
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Parents Perm, 40 and Amelia, 42, received an eco kettle to ensure they only boil as much water as they need, and an energy monitor to keep an eye on how much energy they are using.
Each of the children also received an eco-gift. Amar, who has previously worked with the Energy Saving Trust as a Waste Detective, was given a book on fun ways to be more environmentally friendly.
She said: "It will give me even more ideas on how to save energy. Saving energy has been really good fun. I have even been invited to London by Ed Milliband to meet other children who want to be more eco-friendly. I can't wait." |  |
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Sohnia unwrapped a game about recycling, and Bishan received a wind up torch in the shape of Santa himself.
The energy doctor said: "These gifts are extra special because they are far better for the environment. The book was bought from a charity shop, and so has no carbon footprint. The game is made from recycled card, and the torch uses renewable energy rather than batteries."
The energy doctor then gave the family gifts of knowledge that will help them save energy, and money, for years to come. They could save a lot of energy by turning off appliances at the wall when not in use, washing and drying clothes at lower temperatures and using draught excluders to keep rooms warmer. He also told the family that they are losing 30% of the heat from their home through their un-insulated cavity walls.
Full-time mum Amelia said: "We're so grateful that Santa and the doctor came to visit us. The children were so excited about meeting them, and they're very keen to save the environment, so we've all have had a great day.
"It's easy to underestimate the importance of turning off lights when you leave a room, timing the heating to come on only when needed, and little things like that, but they really do make a difference when the energy bills fall onto the mat."
The family are now looking into getting cavity wall insulation, which could save them around £260 a year in heating bills, whilst Santa went home to prepare his delivery of even more presents on Christmas Day!
