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23rd January 2001

British Gas has teamed up with The Scout Movement to create a generation of energy conscious youngsters through a new initiative called 'Think Energy' - the country's biggest educational campaign on energy efficiency.

Now thousands of homes across the UK will hear the benefits of reducing the amount of energy consumed at home to help save the environment as well as cutting energy bills.

British Gas is sponsoring The Scout 'Conservation' proficiency badge and at the same time has challenged Scouts to spread the word about energy efficiency.

Joe Dublin, Marketing Manager for The Scout Association, said; 'Conservation and environmental issues have always been a fundamental part of our work with young people. With the support of British Gas and the resources they are able to provide, Scouting will be very well equipped to make a significant contribution to something that should concern everyone.'

Jon Kimber, British Gas Think Energy Manager, is delighted about the new partnership with The Scouts and said:

'With environmental issues at the forefront of everyone's minds, it is essential for all of us to learn more and act now to protect our world.

'We are very pleased to be working with The Scouts and challenge others to take up the Think Energy pledge.'

This new partnership with The Scouts provides a major boost to Think Energy. Already 10,000 schools have received their free resource pack and offers of support continue to pour in.

If just 500,000 people take the Think Energy Pledge then in one year they will save the same amount of energy as it takes to power Brighton (54,000 homes.)

Children can take part in Think Energy:-

• At a school through the Think Energy programme

• On-line at http://www.think-energy.com/kids

• 10,000 Scout Groups throughout the UK.

Notes to editors: -

• Think Energy is a free resource for schools designed to teach children between 8-13 years old about how we use and waste energy in the home. It is the biggest energy efficiency programme ever undertaken in schools and was launched in October 2000.

• The programme has been designed around the National curriculum and endorsed by the DfEE, DETR and the EST.

• Over 10,000 schools have received our free think Energy pack to date and we expect to issue over ¼ million home kits over the coming months.

For further information contact: Public Relations Department (public.relations@scout.org.uk)