Buildings across Greater Manchester light up green to launch clean energy offer

Manchester Town Hall, MediaCityUK and Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium are among many locations across Greater Manchester lighting up green this week to encourage residents and businesses to switch to renewable electricity.

From today (18 March) residents and organisations in Greater Manchester can register their interest for exclusive offers on green energy at www.gmgreen.energy.

The green energy offers are a result of a partnership between Greater Manchester Combined Authority and green energy experts, Big Clean Switch, who have negotiated the deals exclusively for Greater Manchester.

An exclusive deal for households will be launched on 26 March, with offers for businesses and community groups following in April.

The buildings lighting up green are either already powered by green electricity or are in the process of moving over to green electricity. They’ll light up green every evening from 18 March to 22 March.

The initiative is timed to coincide with Mayor Andy Burnham’s Green Summit, taking place at the Lowry Centre on 25 March. The summit will launch Greater Manchester’s five-year environment plan, which sets out the urgent actions we all need to take in the next five years if we are to meet our long-term vision of becoming a carbon-neutral city region by 2038.

One of the actions needed is for residents and businesses of Greater Manchester to switch to green energy.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “This is a great initiative that literally shines a spotlight on a key issue. Switching to a renewable energy supplier is something we can all do, and Big Clean Switch have made the process simple and straightforward. It’s better for the environment, and in many cases will also lead to savings on people’s bills.

“At this year’s Green Summit, we will be launching our five-year environment plan to set us on the path to carbon neutrality in 2038. Only by us all taking action – residents and business included – will we hit that target, so I’d encourage everyone to make that switch.”

The Very Reverend Rogers Govender, Dean of Manchester said:

“Manchester Cathedral is proud to be supporting the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s green energy campaign by lighting the clock on the Cathedral tower green.

In 2013, Manchester Cathedral installed underfloor heating powered by ground source heat pumps that use natural energy stored in the earth to heat and cool the cathedral. We all have a key role to play in working together to make a difference and to protect our planet and switching homes and businesses over to renewable energy is a great way to get involved.”

Clare Philips, Direct of Social Purpose & Julia Giannini, Corporate Responsibility Manager at ITV Services Ltd said:

“Improving the environmental impact of our business, both on and off screen, is an important part of our Social Purpose strategy. We’ve been running the buildings we own on renewable energy for some time, and the brilliant team at Coronation Street have worked hard over the years to also reduce waste and the energy they use. We’re delighted to be part of the Green Summit and show our support for a lower-impact Manchester.”

Local households have saved an average of £270 a year switching to green energy since Big Clean Switch started working with Greater Manchester Combined Authority in late 2017.

As well as all 10 Greater Manchester local authorities, a host of other organisations from across the city including football clubs, universities and businesses are backing the Greater Manchester Big Clean Switch campaign, the first of its kind in the UK.

The full list of buildings lighting up green are:

• Dukinfield Town Hall, Tameside Council
• ITV studios in MediaCityUK
• Manchester Cathedral
• Manchester City Football Club’s Etihad Stadium
• Manchester Town Hall
• MediaCityUK
• Salford Town Hall
• Stockport Town Hall
• Swan Street Studios, Royal Exchange Theatre
• United Utilities’ Davyhulme Water Treatment Works, Trafford

Article Published: 18/03/2019 16:55 PM