A campaign to get residents to slash their carbon footprint has been started in Chineham.
Around 40 residents gathered at the Shaftsbury Room, Christ Church, to get the Chineham Greening Campaign off the ground on Monday.
The group elected a committee of volunteers to run the drive and set an official launch date for the parish.
Campaign leader Sue Juon she said the aim was to encourage residents to change aspects of their lives to help cut energy consumption.
The former teacher hopes Chineham can follow in the footsteps of Tadley and Sherborne St John which launched greening drives last year.
She said: “The campaign helps residents to save money and the environment. It’s the small things we ask that can really make a difference to everybody.”
The meeting decided on a shortlist of 10 things residents can do to help their environment.
Challenges include turning off lights when people leave rooms, washing clothes at 30degC and turning off the taps after they’ve brushed their teeth.
The pledges will be printed on cards and posted through the doors to Chineham's 3,200 households by volunteers.
Ms Juon said she hopes that at least 20 per cent of residents will take up at least five of the 10 challenges.
Residents supporting the campaign will display their pledges in their windows.
The total amount of carbon dioxide and money saved for the village during the challenge has been calculated.
For example, by walking journeys of less than a mile residents could save around £10, and save 22kg of carbon dioxide a week.
Supporting the campaign, Chineham councillor Martin Biermann said: “It is a good campaign and something I will be supporting.
“If people do these sort of things regularly, the greening campaign is going to make a massive change to people’s lives.
“While I will admit that I am a bit of an eco-freak this is not the point of the this.
“People do not need to believe in global warming and climate change, but they can save a few quid here and there.”
The Greening Campaign was started by Petersfield resident Terena Plowright and since its launch the not-for-profit company has taken its campaign across the country.
The first phase of the campaign will be launched at Four Lanes Community Junior School on Saturday April 2.
For further information, visit www.greeningchineham.hamp shire.org.uk
