I'm turning into my Dad

Yes - old news huh.

Many a comic has done a 10 minute routine based on this old trueism. Still...my Dad has managed to plant a series of time-bombs in my deep subconscious.

The one that seems to have exploded recently is 'never go upstairs empty handed'.

This particular life rule seems to have kicked in relatively shortly after I suddenly found myself turning lights and power sockets off around the house like a person with OCD.

I put the latter down to the amount of time I spend preaching that although energy effeciency programmes deliver big benefits to companies...an extra 5% saving can be made if people would only turn the lights off when they leave the office store room!

Still - the activation of the 'never go upstairs empty handed gene' suggests that there's an age thang going on here.

Do you - I ask myself - hit your late 30s and suddenly become more receptive to this type of sensible...if undeniably boring...advice?

Given the almost religous acceptance of most things green by the under 30s I've always been slightly disappointed to find yet another facilities manager or energy manager conforming to the usual stereotype...mid to late 50s, glasses, Mr Buyright shirt.

Here we go again I think... I'll have a job on my hands to get them past the environmental and onto the big savings and quick returns the systems we provide can deliver.

Perhaps I've been wrong all along.

Looking back on the business we've done over the last year. We've been disappointed by the funky glasses, suit and trainers brigade who seem to drown in the environmental aspect of any energy efficiency proposition, where as Mr Mannering and friends have not only bought into the low carbon strategies we propose but immediately recognise the hard cash savings they can deliver if they get with the programme!

Older and wiser eh.

I'm not there yet... but the number of unnecessary trips between the kitchen and loft has decreased significantly in recent weeks. With a bit of luck there's lots more 'wise' to come.