NEWS FROM NPOWER

THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT, THE FUTURE’S GREEN
The planet’s in safe hands as children grasp energy issues


LONDON February 23RD, 2009 – Leading energy company npower is investing in the next generation of bright green hopes as it launches Little Green Fingers – a campaign to help primary school children learn about the potential of renewable energy through the science of gardening.

npower is offering 50 schools solar panelled greenhouses for schools keen to get green - and research shows children are eager to learn about the big eco issues of the day. When asked about their understanding on energy issues, savvy seven-year-olds revealed heartening responses: 98% of kids know they should always turn lights off and 93% have the ‘techno-how’ to take their computers off standby to save electricity.

But there is still more to learn, with the Government striving to hit 20% of UK power being generated by renewables by 2020, one third (31%) of the next generation of home owners don’t understand what the term ‘renewable energy’ means.

npower commissioned the research to launch Little Green Fingers, an inspiring initiative designed to help four to seven year-olds learn about natural and renewable energy through the science of gardening. The programme will award 50 schools an eco-friendly, solar heated greenhouse to highlight how the earth’s energy gives plants the power to grow. Schools and families across the UK will be able to benefit from engaging teaching resources and how to guides and watch video clips which will help to bring the power of the earth’s energy to life for children in a fun, hand on way.

Baby Brainboxes
• Almost 70% of children know that the sun and wind can make power – but they don’t know exactly how!
• Up to half (49.8%) understand that solar panels can collect energy from the sun and turn it into power
• 88% of kids know that wind turbines create power for our homes

Confused kids
• But kids don’t always get it right - one in ten even think energy makes them tired!

Former Blue Peter presenter Zoe Salmon, who launches the campaign for npower today, says: ‘Making science inspirational and getting to grips with natural and renewable energy has never been more pressing. That’s why I’m out in the garden for npower’s Little Green Fingers campaign to help under-7s learn about energy and growing in the way they learn best - hands on and hands dirty!’

To bring the learning of energy to life for the ‘little green fingers’ in your life, ask your child’s head teacher to enter the competition today by visiting www.npower.com/littlegreenfingers.

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For further information, images and interview requests please contact:
Frank PR: 020 7693 6995 or npower@frankpr.it




About Little Green Fingers
Little Green Fingers is an inspiring new project from npower which focuses on bringing the learning of energy to life for 4 – 7 year olds through the science of gardening.

npower is offering 50 schools from around the UK the opportunity to get growing in a full scale greenhouse – with a solar powered heating system - as part of the npower Brighter Futures programme. Should your group of Little Green Fingers be one of the lucky winners, npower will provide you with a free greenhouse complete with safety glass and gardening kit. Curriculum based resources, tailored lesson plans and fun tasks will be available online to demonstrate the power of the earth’s energy.

Find out more at www.npower.com/littlegreenfingers

About npower Brighter Futures
npower Brighter Futures, our education programme, aims to inspire young people from their first day at school to their first day at work.
We achieve this by:
• helping them to develop their skills and knowledge to make their own choices
• empowering them to achieve their vision of a ‘brighter future’ for themselves and for the environment

npower Brighter Futures brings under one umbrella npower’s education programmes – from primary schools through to universities.
Our programmes focus on either:
• environmental education – energy generation, energy efficiency, climate change and sustainability
• our commitment to increase the pool of young talent in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths; or
• meeting the recruitment challenges we face in the energy industry www.npowerbrighterfutures.com

About npower
• npower is one of the UK's largest electricity suppliers and has 6.6 million customer accounts across the UK
• npower sponsors the Test Match Series in England, Women's Test Series, the Twenty20 Cup and Village Cup.
• npower was recently awarded platinum status in Business in

NEWS FROM NPOWER

NPOWER IN POLE POSITION TO FIND TOMORROW’S FUTURE LEADERS
UK WIDE SEARCH FOR YOUNG ANTARCTIC EXPLORERS


LONDON February 19th, 2009 – As energy company npower sets out on its latest mission to explore the potential of renewable power in Antarctica, it launches a recruitment drive to find a team of intrepid youngsters who’ll set out on a mission to save the last great wilderness on earth.

The expedition, in winter 2010, will be lead by polar explorer Robert Swan OBE. As he embarks upon this year’s two week mission to Bellinghausen, Antarctica, Swan is joined by ten npower employees who, having completed a rigorous selection process, will leave their company call centres, power stations and offices across Britain for the trip of a life time.

Swan, aged 52, is a seasoned explorer having first docked on the Earth’s southernmost continent in 1984, and becoming the first man to walk to both the North and South poles in 1989. npower joined Swan’s Antarctic mission in 2008 when it equipped him with a wind turbine and solar panels, helping him also become the first person to live powered solely by renewable energy in the harshest environment on earth. Renewables experiments in Antarctica aim to prove the possibility of harnessing the elements to power homes and work places in more clement conditions.

Future Leaders has been developed by 2041 and npower to find the next generation of Robert Swans; young people with drive and passion, committed to learning about climate change and discovering new solutions to tackle its harmful effects. All 18-23 year olds nationwide are invited to put themselves forward as a potential Future Leader. Robert Swan and npower will select Future Leaders who will visit Antarctica in 2010 to see the effects of climate change at its raw edge and understand the potential of renewable power. Each Future Leader will be inspired to instigate climate awareness among their peers upon their return to the UK.

Robert Swan says, “Our aim is to find a group of passionate environmental advocates whose experiences in Antarctica will spur them to ignite climate change awareness among their peers. We’re looking for passionate young people who want to make a difference and who are excited by the potential of renewable energy to power our futures. Nowhere is environmental damage more evident than in Antarctica so by taking npower employees there in 2009, and the Future Leaders in 2010, I’m confident we can start to make a real change to the public perception of climate change and eventually see widespread use of renewable energy.”

To learn more about the 2041 – Future Leaders programme, and Robert’s latest visit to Antarctica, log on to www.npower.com/2041. Robert Swan and the npower team will host regular updates from his expedition from the e-base which is going live 365 this year, completely powered by renewable energy. The 2009 expedition departs Great Britain on February 24.

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For further information, images and interview requests please contact:
Frank PR: 020 7693 6995

About Future Leaders
Future Leaders is a programme within npower Brighter Futures that is aimed at 18 to 23 year olds. The aim is to find young people with drive and passion, committed to learning about climate change and discovering new solutions to tackle its harmful effects. All 18-23 year olds nationwide are invited to put themselves forward as a potential Future Leader. Through visiting Antarctica with Robert Swan in March 2010 and seeing the effects of climate change at its raw edge and understanding the potential of renewable power, each Future Leader will be inspired to instigate climate awareness among their peers upon their return to the UK.

About Brighter Futures
npower Brighter Futures, our education programme, aims to inspire young people from their first day at school to their first day at work.
We achieve this by:
• helping them to develop their skills and knowledge to make their own choices
• empowering them to achieve their vision of a ‘brighter future’ for themselves and for the environment

Npower Brighter Futures brings under one umbrella npower’s education programmes – from primary schools through to universities.
Our programmes focus on either:
• environmental education – energy generation, energy efficiency, climate change and sustainability
• our commitment to increase the pool of STEM talent; or
• meeting the recruitment challenges we face in the energy industry

About 2041
• 2041 is the year of the review of the Environmental Protocol of the Antarctic Treaty. Our aim is to work towards the protection of this treaty, so there is never a need to exploit the last great continent on Earth for minerals and fossil fuel.

About Robert Swan
• The 'English Al Gore', Robert Swan is a prominent environmental campaigner and polar explorer who has spent his life working towards preservation of the Antarctic wilderness and promoting recycling, renewable energy and sustainability to combat the effects of global warming
• In 1992, Robert spent 8 years in the Antarctic cleaning up over 1,500 tonnes of scrap metal on the Russian base. With the current Antarctic mining treaty terminating in 2041, Robert is calling for people to investigate renewable energy so that they can find alternatives so that the fragile polar environment is left unharmed
• Robert Swan has campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness about climate change, the future of Antarctica and the importance of renewable energy. From UN activities, Climate Summits, working with businesses like npower and even in primary schools, Robert takes every opportunity to build awareness and commitment to change

About npower
• npower is one of the UK's largest electricity suppliers and has 6.6 million customer accounts across the UK
• npower sponsors the Test Match Series in England, Women's Test Series, the Twenty20 Cup and Village Cup.
• npower was recently awarded platinum status in Business in the Community’s CR Index.