5:54pm Monday 23rd November 2009
FOUR university students are trying to persuade residents to turn off their electricity this weekend to save the planet.
Durham University students Andrew Miller, Siobhan Whadcoat, Oli Wootton and Charlie Chalkly-Maber have been visiting local schools to encourage children to take part in Operation Powercut, a national campaign to switch-off unnecessary household appliances between November 20 and 22.
On Saturday, the quartet will be manning a stall in the Market Place, Durham City, promoting energy-saving gadgets, as well as games and demonstrations aimed at children.
The students’ project is one of 10 across the country to make the finals of the npower Future Leaders Challenge, with the overall winner taking part in a trip to Antarctica to witness the effects of global warming first hand.
Andrew Miller said: "We have had a fantastic response from the schoolchildren we have visited and many are looking forward to ‘switching off’ this weekend and joining us for good green fun in the Market Square.
"We would like to challenge the whole of Durham to find out that it’s a kids’ game turning off and saving power."
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