Politicians face energy challenge

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MSPs from five Scottish political parties are taking on a home energy challenge to reduce emissions from their own properties.

Jack McConnell, Rob Gibson, Robin Harper, Jim Hume and Mary Scanlon have pledged to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions.

The aim is for the politicians to try to make their homes "climate-friendly".

The competition is being run by Friends of the Earth Scotland and the winner will get £500 for their chosen charity.

In order for the five politicians to make their homes more energy efficient over the course of the year, they will make changes such as adding loft insulation and low energy light bulbs or installing solar panels.

THE POLITICIANS Rob Gibson (SNP)Jack McConnell (Labour)Mary Scanlon (Tory)Jim Hume (Lib Dem)Robin Harper (Green)

Each MSP will have their home energy use calculated by experts from the Energy Saving Trust, which is a non-profit organisation funded by the UK Government and the private sector.

The trust was set up to address the damaging effects of climate change and to promote sustainable energy use.

Friends of the Earth Scotland's greener homes officer, Liz Murray, said: "By taking up this challenge, the five MSPs will be playing their part personally.

"And in doing this, they will see at first hand what government could do to make it easier for all households in Scotland to become more climate-friendly."

A website, hosted by Friends of the Earth Scotland, will publish updates on the MSPs' progress, including blogs by the MSPs themselves.