FESTIVAL Place's energy efficiency drive has earned it a place in the international spotlight.

A Sky News team spent Monday, November 6, filming in Basingstoke shopping centre for its coverage of the publication of the Stern Review on the consequences of climate change.

The channel chose Festival Place because the centre has reduced its energy consumption by 11 per cent after introducing measures such as improved lighting control systems, reduced heat settings and better staff training.

Centre bosses have been working in partnership with the Carbon Trust, an independent company that shows businesses how to cut their carbon emissions.

Festival Place marketing manager Jane Stewart said: "Climate change is the biggest environmental threat faced by the UK and in this country, businesses are responsible for about 40 per cent of all carbon emissions.

"It is, therefore, important that all businesses, especially large organisations such as Festival Place, begin to address this problem.

"Festival Place has reduced its energy consumption by 11 per cent. We set about doing this by commissioning a survey from the Carbon Trust.

"It helped the centre management team identify a number of strategic and tactical energy efficiency measures which were then implemented, including purchasing green energy, introducing a lighting control system, and reviewing and improving the centre's heating systems."

As part of its bid to be more environmentally sustainable, the centre also collected rainwater to use in the public fountains in the summer, and bosses are now looking into ways to boost the amount of waste recycled by the businesses in Festival Place.