Climate Week Best Campaign 2012

Endorsements

Scottish Parliament

From the motion  S4M-01711 put forward by Patrick Harvie MSP

"That the Parliament recognises the benefits to business and the environment of the Close the Door campaign, which encourages retailers to make a significant contribution to reducing their overall environmental footprint while lowering their own business costs by keeping their doors closed, keeping heat in; notes that, in case studies, small shops saved about half their heating bills and 10 tonnes of CO2 with very little effect on trade."

Boris Johnson

Mayor of London

"I want London to become a leading low carbon, energy efficient city. This requires everyone to take action to become far less wasteful. Many people will be astonished that 50 per cent of energy usage in shops can be taken up just by keeping the doors open. The Close the Door campaign is one of the simple ways London's vibrant and innovative retail sector can help us achieve this, whilst saving money off fuel bills at the same time."

Sir Richard Lambert

Former Director General of the CBI 2006-2011

"I endorse the aims of the Close the Door campaign for retailers to increase environmental and cost savings significantly by simply closing the door while heating or cooling their shops. The many stores that already do this send out a positive message that they care about the environment, the physical comfort of staff and customers and that their profit is not adversely affected by closing the door. The campaign takes a measured approach, using hard data from Cambridge University on the very significant saving in energy and carbon emissions gained from this simple measure. Closing the door is common sense and an easy win by any standards."

Ed Davey

Former Secretary of State for Energy

"I thoroughly support Close the Door’s objectives to save energy and cut carbon emissions in shops with such a simple measure. This is such an easy and positive contribution retailers may make to cut energy use significantly while reducing their fuel bills - and increasing the comfort of their staff and customers. I applaud the many stores of all types and sizes who have adopted a closed door policy when using heating or air conditioning, and urge those who haven't to join the campaign now. It is simply common sense"

Vince Cable

Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills

"This campaign highlights a business practice where an open door policy is operated on the high street irrespective of outside temperature. When heating or air conditioning is being used there are environmental consequences, and the cost of energy waste is added to the cost of trading. Close the Door have shown that thousands of retailers of all types and sizes are trading responsibly and successfully by simply closing the door when the heating or air conditioning is on."

Prof Sir David King

Former government Chief Scientific Adviser and Director of Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, Oxford

"I fully support Close the Door as there is an urgent need to do everything we can to reduce carbon emissions. UK business is in many ways prepared to lead the way and in asking retailers to close their door while using heating or air conditioning, this campaign addresses an area of waste that we often overlook. It is an easy and effective way to cut energy waste and I encourage both retailers and customers to support it."

William Hague MP

Foreign Secretary, MP (Con) Richmond (Yorks)

"I am very pleased to support the Close the Door campaign. Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time and we must all do what we can to help. To address the challenges it brings, the environment needs to be at the top of the political agenda, but campaigns such as this are an important reminder that politicians alone do not have all the answers. It is only by working collectively now that we can help preserve our planet for future generations, so please do join me in remembering to close the door! With one small action individually we can make a huge difference together."

Dr Ben Barratt

Kings College London, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment & Health

“In many of the UK’s towns and cities we still face levels of air pollution that carry serious health risks, both in the short and long term. Work carried out by King’s College London and Imperial College London in shops on Regent Street showed a clear one third drop in PM2.5 and black carbon particulates simply by closing the door during working hours. NO2 was similarly cut. Closing the shop doors facing polluted streets affords a significant reduction in risk not only to customers, but also to staff who have to work in the space all day. It is simple common sense. 

While we work on resolving the wider issue of air pollution, it is important that people at most risk are made aware, and that simple measures to reduce their exposure are made available to them. This may be by taking a less polluted travel route, ventilating houses near busy roads by opening windows only at the back, or closing the shop door on to busy streets.

The WI (National Federation of Women's Institutes)

Ruth Bond, NFWI Chair

"As seasoned climate change campaigners, WI members are always keen to prevent energy waste so asking shoppers and retailers to reduce their carbon footprints in one easy step seems a natural fit.

Closing the door is a straightforward and common sense action that everyone can take to make a difference. The NFWI is delighted to back the campaign"

Andrew Lansley MP

MP (Con) for South Cambridgeshire, Secretary of State, Health

"I am delighted that this initiative represents one of many good and innovative ideas coming out of the region I represent. It is absolutely critical that we all pay attention to reducing energy use and emissions. Retailers who keep their doors open while heating or cooling the store are wasting significant amounts of energy. Whether retailers or customers, we can stop this by simply closing the shop door. It is that easy. Excuses based on tempting customers into shops through open doors are not acceptable or sensible in this time of global warming and fuel crisis. The campaign started in Cambridge which now has over 250 stores of all sizes keeping the door closed, and other cities are following. Keeping the door closed against energy waste clearly need not cause retail hardship. Please join me in supporting the Close the Door campaign."

Euro-MP Chris Davies

Liberal Democrat environment spokesman in the European Parliament

"I wholeheartedly support the Close the Door campaign and the work it is doing to persuade retailers to close their doors against energy waste. Estimates suggest that shops waste around £300 million each year because their doors are left open. Many could slash their energy bills by 20-25% if they closed them. The excess use of energy is also contributing to climate change but could be solved by simply shutting the door and keeping the heat or air conditioning in. I have heard both shop staff and customers complaining on windy days about icy air whistling in through open doors. The policy is madness and I hope retailers will wake up to the waste.

Open doors are intended to entice customers to step inside. But with the United Nations predicting that billions will suffer from the effects of global warming it is morally indefensible to waste energy in this way."

Usdaw

The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers

"Usdaw is pleased to support the work of the Close the Door campaign to improve conditions for shop workers.  As well as wasting money and energy, open shop doors in winter can cause great discomfort to staff who may spend all day in cold or fluctuating temperatures.  Closing the door when it's cold outside makes both staff and customers more comfortable and is something all shops should be doing." 

Charles Clarke MP

MP (Lab) & Former Home Secretary

"It is crucial that we all act to prevent energy waste wherever possible. No one heats their home and leaves the doors and windows wide open and yet we tend to overlook what happens in shops. Keeping the door closed while energy is being used to heat or cool a shop is easy, effective and common sense. Not doing so is wholly irresponsible. We all have a part to play in this whether working in the retail sector or as customers. I encourage everyone to join me in lending support to the Close the Door Campaign."

Oliver Letwin MP

MP (Con) West Dorset, Minister of State, Cabinet Office

"At a time when we are all looking for cost savings and we are also trying to make the use of energy more efficient, it is good news that the 'Close the Door' campaign ... is encouraging businesses to save energy and money by keeping doors shut when the heating or air conditioning is on."

Zac Goldsmith MP

Conservative MP for Richmond Park & North Kingston, and author of "The Constant Economy"

"Energy efficiency is by far the easiest, quickest and cheapest method of reducing bills and emissions. I recognise the clear and obvious benefits of the 'Close the Door' campaign, both in terms of saving money for businesses, and lowering CO2 emissions. In addition, there is evidence in other shopping areas that a 'door closed policy' does not stop shoppers from entering shops, and I fully endorse the 'Close the Door' campaign."

Natalie Bennett

Leader of the Green Party

I am delighted to endorse the Close the Door campaign. Walking down high streets, it sometimes seems that through open doors we're deliberately trying to heat the planet, while leaving staff to spend their days at a miserably cold temperature. 'Close the Door' is an excellent example of the way in which we can make our lives better while also reducing the damage we do to our environment. Staff and shoppers can enjoy more comfortable conditions, businesses can save money and we can cut carbon emissions.

Caroline Lucas MP

MP (Green Party, Brighton Pavilion)

"I am very happy to be supporting the Close the Door campaign which encourages shops to save money and carbon emissions just by closing their doors. Research from the Cambridge University proves that closing shop doors in winter reduces energy usage and carbon emissions by up to 50%. I am delighted that the campaign's first group of school pupils is from Patcham High School in Brighton. This is a wonderful example of how young people can engage with their local community to bring about change for the better."

Kevin McCloud

Presenter, Grand Designs

"All shops should sign up to the Close the Door Campaign. Leaving the door open in winter to heat the street can double energy consumption and make a pretty job of just heating the planet.  So just close the door, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, halve energy bills, and make customers and staff more comfortable into the bargain"

Lorely Burt MP

Lib Dem MP, Solihull

“I fully support the Close the Door campaign to get shops to close their doors when using heating or air-conditioning. There are other ways of indicating you’re open for business than leaving doors wide open, particularly in freezing cold weather. Shops lose millions of pounds every year by this practice. It’s bad for the economy and bad for the planet.”

Councillor Pamela Fleming

Council Cabinet Member for Business, Community and Culture, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

"An open door is a huge waste of energy for the store and can create varying temperatures that can cause inconvenience for both staff and customers. It is also a huge waste of money, something high street retailers can ill afford in these tough times. I would encourage everyone to find out more about the campaign, and for retailers to keep the door closed as their contribution to Climate Week next month."

Julian Huppert MP

MP (Lib Dem) Cambridge

"I am in support of the Close the Door campaign and their work to ensure that retailers keep their doors closed when using energy for climate control inside shops. Heating or cooling the street is just not acceptable at a time when we have to pay serious attention to avoiding energy waste.

Results from an independent research project in the University of Cambridge, to be published autumn 2010, demonstrate that energy wasted through open store doors is significant . Closing the door, just as we all do at home when using heating or air conditioning, is easy and effective. Several hundreds of shops in Cambridge alone already now follow this practice without any adverse effect on profit. Indeed they are saving on their energy bills.

The Close the Door campaign started in Cambridge and is a great example of many exciting initiatives that come out of this region. Please follow me in supporting the campaign whether you use shops as a consumer or work in them. Close the Store Door – it’s that simple."

Emily Thornberry MP

MP (Lab) Islington South and Finsbury

"I fully support the Close the Door Campaign as global climate change is the most serious issue facing the world. This campaign not only makes a really difference to energy waste but is also raising awareness and showing that very simple actions can make a real difference. Whilst ensuring that shop doors are kept closed, this campaign inspires people to save energy in other ways, such as turning off lights when leaving the room and recycling. We should all do more to avoid excess energy consumption. Individual actions have a huge impact on energy waste and this campaign is a perfect example of that.

I encourage everyone to join me in endorsing the great work of the Close the Door Campaign."

Mike Berners-Lee

Carbon Footprinting Expert and Author

"This campaign has identified a staggeringly simple and painless way to make a noticeable dent in our emissions. It’s a no-brainer for anyone who cares at all about the environment or their fellow man. The Cambridge University research project and the number of shops of all sizes already closing their doors, show that this can work for everyone. I fully endorse Close the Door.”

John Hemming MP

MP (Lib Dem Birmingham Yardley)

"As Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Peak Oil and Gas I am only too well aware of the dangers of our addiction to fossil fuels. I am delighted to support Birmingham Close the Door's campaign to reduce the energy consumption of our shops, which currently account for 46% of the city's CO2 emissions. We must all play a part in reducing our carbon footprint, getting our retailers to keep their doors closed in winter is a simple yet effective way to do this."

 

Mike Tuffrey AM

AM, London Assembly

"I am delighted to support the Close The Door Campaign. Closing shop doors will not only reduce energy consumption and save money but should act as the catalyst to bring about more widespread behavioural change in the retail industry.
Hopefully this initiative will galvanise retailers to go even further and become even more energy efficient - I will look forward to high street shops using more LED lights in their showrooms and turning their thermostats down. There are lots of practical ways to make a difference that cost little but achieve much.

The Close The Door Campaign symbolises a more accessible, common-sense approach towards reducing our energy consumption across the commercial sector. It should be encouraged by both retailers and consumers alike."

Claire Perry MP

MP (Devizes - Con)

"Substantial and cost-effective reductions in carbon emissions from buildings will be an essential part of the UK’s ambition to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. Retailers who keep their doors open while heating or cooling the store are wasting significant amounts of energy. The Close the Door campaign asks retailers and customers to stop this by simply closing the shop door. This will help retailers to lower their costs as well as make a significant contribution to reducing their carbon emissions.

The scale of the UK’s carbon reduction challenge is such that we need precisely these kinds of measures if the UK is to cut carbon emissions significantly. This innovative idea is an illustration of the Government’s Big Society vision, where individuals, communities and groups join together to achieve common goals. It is critical that we all pay attention to reducing energy use and emissions."

Stephen Williams MP

MP (Lib Dem) Bristol West

"I am delighted that the Close the Door campaign has come to Bristol. We all need to do our bit to save energy in order to reduce the risk of climate change.  As winter and Christmas shopping will soon be upon us I urge all Bristol shop keepers and retailers to endorse the Close the Door campaign, saving energy and giving a positive message to their customers  at the busiest time of the retail year."

Kerry McCarthy MP

MP (Lab) for Bristol East

“It is vital that we all take whatever steps we can to reduce our own carbon emissions and raise awareness of the need to do so.  By making this one small change, retailers will not only be helping the environment, but also reducing their fuel bills.  I am therefore backing the Close the Door Campaign and will be doing what I can to encourage local people and businesses to take part.”

Ben Bradshaw MP

MP (Lab) Exeter

"I fully support the Close the Door Campaign, and am very pleased to see Exeter at the forefront of another good campaign. I hope this will encourage the retail sector and customers alike to act responsibly in keeping doors closed while energy is being used to heat/cool a store. Preventing energy waste is critical to us all, and this is an easy and effective step at very little inconvenience. Please support those shops which close their doors to conserve energy."

Anne Milton, MP

MP (Con) for Guildford, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Public Health), Health

"This is a fantastic idea to make a real difference to excess energy consumption, whilst also having an impact on climate change. It is terrible to walk down a high street and see shops with their doors open, particularly during this freezing weather, with warm air and energy pouring out. Well done to the women whose idea this was. It just goes to show that everyone can make a difference. I am certainly going to do all I can as a constituency MP to encourage all of the shops in my patch to close their doors.

Not all local shop managers have discretion on whether the doors area open or not, and not all local shops have doors that are capable of opening and shutting as each customer comes through. Some shops have already shut their doors and I am writing to the head offices of a number of the retailers in Guildford to raise this issue with them. I have also written to Guildford Borough Council to see if there is any pressure they can bring. Times are tough for shops, but acting responsibly is what people want to see. If anyone wants to let me know of shops that keep their doors open do drop me an email.”

Dawn Primarolo MP

MP (Lab), Bristol South

"I think it’s a good idea to encourage retailers to close their doors where it’s possible and practical for them to do so.  We’re all being encouraged to save energy for the sake of the environment and I’m very happy to support the aims of the Close the Door campaign."

Andy Slaughter MP

MP (Lab), Hammersmith

"As winter descends on us in the UK, the number of shops one can see with their doors open and losing heat is striking. I support this campaign and believe that if more people do so then we can move towards a consumer attitude which favours a closed door policy."

Andrew Mitchell MP

MP (Con Sutton Coldfield), International Development Secretary

"Fifteen per cent of UK crbon emissions come from public and commercial buildings. Therefore, substantial and cost-effective reductions in carbon emissions from buildings will be an essential part of the UK's ambition to mitigate the worst effects of climate change.

Retailers who keep their doors open while heating or cooling the store are wasting significant amounts of energy. The Close the Door campaign asks retailers and customers to stop this by simply closing the shop door. This will help retailers to lower their costs as well as make a significant contribution to reducing their carbon emissions.

The scale of the UK's carbon reduction challenge is such that we need precisely these kinds of measures if the UK is to cut carbon emissions significantly. This innovative idea is an illustration of the Government's Big Society vision, where individuals, communities and groups join together to achieve common goals.

It is critical that we all pay attention to reducing energy use and emissions. I am therefore, pleased to support the Close the Door campaign."

Roger Godsiff MP

MP (Lab Birmingham Hall Green)

"I am very pleased to hear there is a new environmental campaign in Birmingham to cut energy by getting shops ad public buildings to close their doors when their heating or air conditioning is being used.

This is an excellent initiative and a very easy way of reducing CO2 emissions and I fully support your campaign and wish it well."

Richard Burden MP

MP, Lab Birmingham Northfield

"Climate Change is one of the greatest challenges facing our generation. I am proud that the Labour government set ambitious targets for cutting carbon emissions – but we also need to take practical actions to make sure we hit those targets. Closing shop doors is a common sense solution to how we can help do that – it will save money and cut emissions at the same time. I welcome the Close the Door Campaign and hope shops and shoppers here in Birmingham will take up this opportunity to do their bit for our environment."

Gisela Stuart MP

MP, Lab Edgbaston

"This simple, effective initiative has been taken up by many leading retailers.  I fully support the campaign to encourage more shops to take up the challenge to make a huge difference to their Co2 emissions and of course a difference to their fuel bills." 

Paul Maynard MP

(Con) Blackpool North and Cleveleys

I thoroughly endorse the aims of the Close the Door campaign, a beautifully simple idea with great scope for cutting carbon emissions from high street stores. Energy efficiency is a great challenge for everyone and I am delighted to help raise awareness of such an elegant solution to the problem. Closing the door of heated or air conditioned shops makes a significant difference to energy use at the heart of the community. What’s more, by taking this easy step, businesses can expect further benefits such as reduced energy bills and a healthier in-store environment. Adopting Close the Door makes sense for us all, giving customers and retailers the chance to help business and make a real difference to the community.

Daniel Zeichner MP

MP (Lab) Cambridge

As MP for Cambridge I am delighted to make supporting Close the Door one of my first actions.

Climate change is an urgent problem and yet sometimes it seems hard to know what local, individual actions we can take.

Backing Close the Door is one of those actions. It's so simple. closing the shop or restaurant door to the street when heating or cooling the premises or when air pollution levels are high on the street outside saves a large amount of energy (and money), and greatly improves the air quality inside the premises.

This in turn improves working conditions and public health.

It's no surprise that our local Cambridge initiative has grown from eight independent shops into an award winning national campaign backed by thousands of shops of all types and sizes including national retailers.

In actively supporting close the Door I encourage you to follow my lead.

Heidi Allen MP

MP (Con) for South Cambridgeshire

"I support the Close the Door campaign, home grown in my constituency. Backed by excellent research, this is a very simple idea that really works, for business and the community. Close the door to the shop or restaurant and you can greatly improve air quality inside, currently a serious health concern across UK towns and cities.You can also save significant amounts of energy in heating/air conditioning otherwise disappearing out of the door to heat or cool the street. There are now thousands of shops across the country operating successfully like this. It is such common sense and benefits us all whether we shop in or staff these businesses."