TEMPERS BOILING AT STATE OFFICES Ryan putting wind up COP
Fury as kettles unplugged
KETTLES, fans, heaters, fridges and all other “non-work related” electrical appliances will be banned in public sector offices from the end of next week.
It is all part of the Government’s Reduce your Use campaign to cut down energy use and they are leading by example by implementing the draconian ban.
However, the move has caused uproar in Government departments, where workers received a strongly-worded circular informing them of the policy this week.
One senior member of staff told The Star: “This is absolutely ridiculous, they’re treating us like children.
“It’s just pure optics because at the same time as they’re dumping our fans and heaters, the empty hallways have the heat on all day, every day.”
Favour
Labour public expenditure spokesman, Ged Nash, told The Star that he is in favour of climate action, but is asking the Government to “cop on” and be reasonable at the same time.
He said: “I’d be the very first person to say that the civil and public service needs to lead by example in energy efficiency.
“This makes sense from an environmental, energy use and cost perspective.
“My message would be this: public service managers must apply common sense when applying this new circular. “Some offices and buildings across the public service have good facilities and appliances available for the use of staff.
“It’s fair to say that some don’t and standards are far from consistent across the spectrum.
“A bit of cop on will need to be shown when appealing these new rules, and local and individual circumstances will need to be taken into account when this circular comes on stream.”
Heaters
The full list of banned appliances includes fans, kettles, fridges, coffee machines, heaters, microwaves, toasters and sandwich makers.
The circular sent to public sector staff seen by The Star reads: “All public sector bodies are expected to play a key role in lowering their energy use and costs, and as part of the ‘Reduce Your Use’ campaign, it has been deemed necessary that all nonwork related electrical appliances must be removed from the office floor, including, but not exclusively limited to fans, kettles, fridges, coffee machines, heaters, microwaves, toasters, sandwich makers. “All such appliances must be removed from the office floor by close of business on November 25th. Any remaining after this date will be removed.”