Ipswich Town Football Club, with the support of Main Sponsor E.ON, the Defra Climate Challenge Fund and CRed have reached the target of becoming the UK's First Carbon Neutral Football Club.

Having reached this target, the Club will receive a substantial five figure donation from E.ON, (the company that runs Powergen), for Jim Magilton's player transfer budget.

To make this happen 3200 tonnes of carbon dioxide have been saved, through 3,000 Town fans making a total of nearly 14,000 energy efficiency pledges for their homes on the 'Save your energy for the Blues' website, in return for a range of ITFC Money Can't Buy prizes for themselves and rewards to the Club from E.ON.It was season ticket holder, Mel St Pier's pledge of buying a hybrid car that took the project over the 100% target.
Derek Bowden, Chief Executive at Town, said: "Over the last six months the Club has also worked hard to decrease its own energy consumption with the current figures showing a decrease of 20%, compared to the same period last year.

"This has been done through a number of measures, including switching the Club to a green energy tariff, fitting the floodlights with low energy light bulbs, plus ensuring that catering kiosks fridges are emptied and turned off between fixtures.

"I would also like to say a massive thank you to all the fans, schools, local businesses and project partners who have helped us reach this target.We could not have done this without each and every one of you making these energy saving changes in your homes or schools and changing the way that you travel to Portman Road on a matchday."

ITFC - history makers

Jason De Vos, Town skipper and Project Ambassador said: "It has been really inspirational to see the way the fans have embraced this scheme.It is clear that by aligning the energy saving programme with their local football club it gave it more meaning and a focus for the fans."

Mike Thompson, Head of Sponsorship, E.ON UK said: "We're delighted that the Club has become Carbon Neutral in what has been a truly groundbreaking scheme.We believe it's vital we help change the way that people use energy and this project has been a fantastic way of doing this in the Ipswich Community.We hope that the fans maintain these energy efficiency measures in their homes and that they reap the on-field benefits of the donation we have made to the player transfer budget."

Dr Simon Gerrard, CRed Programme Manager, said: "Offsetting carbon using community-based activities is a valid activity which can contribute to a carbon management plan involving other elements such as demand reduction, energy efficiency and switching to renewable energy. This pioneering project paves the way for other sporting activities to reduce their carbon emissions.

"The CRed System builds in a success factor to each pledge so we don't make the naïve assumption that everyone does everything they say. As two-thirds of the Club's carbon emissions are associated with transport it's important that the fans have been involved. They have stepped up to the mark and been counted."

Dr Matthew Ling, Head of Environment Strategy at Ipswich Borough Council added: "Climate change is a big issue for Ipswich and the region, and this project has shown how important it is for the Football Club and their fans.

"This achievement demonstrates the importance of involving businesses, community organisations and individuals in raising awareness of climate change and tackling the causes.This project has been a fun and innovative way of engaging people with a difficult and complex area but has demonstrated that Ipswich leads the way again."
For further information on the Save your energy for the Blues project, log onto www.saveyourenergyfortheblues.co.uk.