Green couple set their goldfish free to save energy

That's the message from Julie and Stuart Webster, who have been taking part in our eco experiment this summer.

The couple, who live in King Henry's Road, have been monitoring their energy use with a plug-in meter and one of the major changes they have decided to make is to find a new home in a friend's pond for their two goldfish.

Julie said: 'When we realised how much energy was being used in keeping the filter to the fish tank switched on day and night, we decided it was time the fish went.'

So the fish have gone and the tank stands empty. Julie says it is difficult to accurately judge how much electricity they are saving, as the electricity companies make their bills so complicated.

'It's almost as if they are doing it on purpose,' she says, even though they opt for Green energy with Scottish Power.

But the couple have been interested to see how they can reduce energy by making simple changes in the way they use appliances.

Julie said: 'We now only ever fill the kettle with the amount of water we actually need. I would like to check out the dishwasher and cooker, but unfortunately the plugs are inaccessible.'

Julie and Stuart are expecting their first baby in February and will be moving from Lewes to Devon.

They are determined to live a green lifestyle and have been invited to visit a Scandinavian-built lodge in Devon, which is the ultimate in energy saving.

'Ideally we would one day like to be self sufficient and have our own wind turbine,' she adds.

In the meantime, Julie and Stuart will be interested to see how much energy they can save when the new baby arrives.