Bristol City Council will demonstrate support for initiatives to save energy, reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change when it participates in Friends of the Earth's (FoE) latest 'Blackout Bristol' campaign on October 31.

The FoE campaign asks businesses, organisations and individual residents to turn off their lights that evening to spur people, companies and institutions to think of their energy consumption and switch to more energy-efficient practices. The campaign also 'names and shames' those companies and organisations that unnecessarily leave lights on in and around their buildings at night.

Council Leader Cllr Helen Holland will join FoE activists on College Green at 6.30pm on October 31 to 'switch off' most light and power in the building and the floodlights that usually light up the roof and front of The Council House, a grade 2 listed building and important visitor attraction.

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Cllr Holland said: "The City Council is proud to play its full part in 'Blackout Bristol'. Friends of the Earth campaign reflects our own efforts to reduce energy use and carbon emissions - and encourage other organisations to do the same. By taking part in this 'switch off' event to promote 'Blackout Bristol', I believe we can encourage more people in our city to think about how they might reduce energy use in their home or workplace.

"The Council is now purchasing 100% renewable energy for its street lights and is working to make our city a recognised 'green capital' by promoting alternative ways to power heating and lighting in our own buildings. These include new biomass wood-burning boilers, solar panels, proposals for small wind turbines on council buildings and plans for an ambitious wind farm using large turbines at Avonmouth."

For more information about Friends of the Earth's Blackout Bristol campaign visit: www.blackoutbristol.com

(GK/SP)