Homebase turns off the lights

MILTON KEYNES: Homebase stores are switching off lights during sunny working hours in an attempt to reduce power bills.

MILTON KEYNES: Homebase stores are switching off lights during sunny working hours in an attempt to reduce power bills.

A spokesman said: "All the little things can add up to an awfully big difference. This is simply an energy saving initiative, implemented at a local level."

Home Retail Group, owner of Homebase and Argos, ordered stores to start cutting their carbon footprint.

The Homebase 'Switch it Off' campaign, which began a year ago, asks individual stores to make energy savings wherever possible, for example by keeping back doors shut to preserve heat.

Home Retail Group says it has reduced its total carbon footprint by 7% over the past year.

For commercial operation, automatic lighting triggered when people enter an area and low energy light fittings can produce large savings in little used areas like warehouses.