Inspired to create a lower carbon future

There are now over a million people who are part of EDF Energy's Team Green Britain - if you get on your bike, you could join them and help tackle climate change.

"One person can make a difference," says Mark Kiehlmann, 44, who is expecting more than 2,000 to attend next week's Bishopsbriggs Cycle Festival, which he founded and organises. "If you have enthusiasm, it's infectious."

Just one of hundreds of events taking place during Team Green Britain Bike Week from 18 to 26 June, this festival shows how one person with passion can inspire others to join together to make a real difference.

Team Green Britain was founded by EDF Energy in 2009, to bring people, schools and communities together to help reduce Britain's carbon footprint.

As EDF Energy is the first sustainability partner of London 2012, it set out to inspire as many as people as possible to reduce their carbon footprint by 2012 through Team Green Britain. Thanks to inspirational individuals like Mark, there are now over one million people who are part of the community.

"What inspired me to make a difference were my three children," says Mark. "I wanted to make it easier for young people to cycle because it's such an easy way to cut your carbon footprint. It's quick, easy, cheap and keeps you fit. So I set up East Dumbartonshire's Cycle Co-Op last May with a group of mums and dads and we go into schools to help with cycle training and also teach bike maintenance.

"But we wanted to get our message across to more people in a fun way and that's why we held our first Cycle Festival last year. It was so successful we're holding another one during Team Green Britain Bike Week. It shows that just one person can kick start something big."

With over 350,000 expected to take part, Team Green Britain Bike Week is set to again be the UK's biggest mass participation cycle event and has one simple aim: to promote everyday cycling for everyone.

However, cycling is just one way to make a difference. Together with travel, home and food account for around 60 per cent of the UK consumer's carbon footprint*. So in addition to Bike Week, EDF Energy's Team Green Britain supports other events such as the Eden Project's Big Lunch initiative, encouraging people to take a low carbon approach to cooking tasty, locally sourced food. And at teamgreenbritain.org you can find advice and ideas that could help you reduce energy you use in the home by up to 20 per cent**

"Team Green Britain is a great support for events like ours and joining the team is a great way to be inspired to live a lower-carbon life," says Mark. "If you want to see the change, you have to be the change."

To be part of it, visit: teamgreenbritain.org

Do you know a green hero?

EDF Energy's Team Green Britain is looking for 12 green heroes to inspire Team Green Britain members to start living a more low-carbon life. As a reward they'll get tickets to London 2012. There will also be the chance to try some of EDF Energy's innovative carbon-saving products and services. And the most inspirational hero, as judged by Team Green Britain members, will win £10,000 to support a sustainability project in their community. Nominate yourself or someone who's making a difference at: teamgreenbritain.org/what-you-can-do/Your-chance-to-be-a-hero

* Source: Act on CO2/Carbon Trust.
**Based on a typical EDF Energy customer with typical energy consumption, supplied on EDF Energy's standard tariffs, who reduces their household's annual energy consumption by 20 per cent through energy-saving measures. "Typical energy consumption" means an energy consumption of 3,300 kWh of electricity and 16,500 kWh of gas each year.