How will they do it? 
Scotland's homes account for more than a quarter of carbon dioxideemissions. To reduce their carbon dioxide emissions they will have toreduce the amount of energy they use that comes from burning fossilfuels - or replace it with energy generated from renewable sources suchas the wind and sun.  Atthe end of the year, the MSP with the lowest carbon dioxide emissions(CO2 per square metre) from their home will receive a £500 prize todonate to a charity of their choice. 

How will their progress be monitored?   
Each MSP will get a visit from an expert from the Energy Saving Trust. They will assess how much energy the MSP currently uses, and how muchcarbon dioxide they are emitting, and give them advice on ways they canreduce this.   This will involve taking measures to make their homesmore energy efficient, such as loft insulation and low energy lightbulbs, or perhaps installing a solar panel to give them greenelectricity.

But it will also need the MSPs to change the way they behave! No more leaving the tv on standby all night.  The MSPs will then haveto decide for themselves what changes they can make to meet thechallenge and will be funding all the changes themselves.

We'll be keeping a close eye on them
Together with the Energy Saving Trust, Friends of the Earth Scotlandwill be watching closely to make sure that the MSPs are rising to thechallenge.   We’ll be visiting them during the year, looking closely attheir energy use and making sure they’re not cheating!

As well as bringing out the competitive spirit in our MSPs, we hope that the Home Energy Challengewill show practical, affordable ways that all of us can make our homesmore ‘climate friendly’ by reducing our dependence on energy fromfossil fuels.

You can progress their progress too
Check this webpage for updates on how the MSPs are doing.  There will be blogs by the MSPs themselves, a three-monthly visit by us to check their progress, plus interviews and a chance to enter our competition for who you think the winner will be!  You can also get tips and ideas for taking action in your own home, join our discussion forum or ask our experts your own questions.

• Latest news: find out how each MSP is doing
• The contestants: meet the Home Energy Challenge contestants
• Climate-friendly living: how to cut your own emissions
  
  
• Back to main MSP challenge index
  

Friends of the Earth Scotland's MSP challenge is
supported by a Polden-Puckham Charitable Foundation grant