Improving the Use of Energy in Buildings

The activities are:

• A race against time around a virtual reality office switching off equipment left on by careless users;
• Finding and selecting energy efficiency and renewable energy options in a home, but with a strictly limited budget;
• Answering a quiz about features they have to find in a low energy building;
• Taking part in a role playing game to select the best travel options for three generations of a family; and
• Choosing a holiday from a virtual travel agents - but with the risk that climate change may have led to unexpected changes at the destination.

As you work their way through the game you have to try and cut your carbon footprint from a typical English figure of 5.5 tonnes to a level of 2.0 tonnes. You can score extra points based on how well you have done the tasks, and can compete against other players to record the highest points score. At the end of the game you are taken forward to 2066 to see if they have done enough to save England from the worst problems associated with global climate change.
In 1066, England was invaded by the Normans. Can you prevent England being invaded by the sea in 2066?

The game was created as part of Defra's Climate Challenge programme to increase public awareness of Climate Change across the country. The National Energy Foundation, Logicom and British Gas also provided support for the game's development. The game can be played by anyone with access to a PC (not Mac) running Internet Explorer and broadband connection. A copy of the game was sent to all English schools on a CD-ROM in early 2008; if you are from a school in the UK but do not appear to have received this CD-ROM please contact Ian Byrne.

But you don't need a CD - the game is now available to play on http://www.logicity.co.uk/game. Why not have a go now!