FEW people can claim to speak for the nation, but Piper Terrett can do just that after being named Green Voice of the UK.

The year-long role, created by the Energy Saving Trust, enables her to speak for the average Joe on environmental issues.

Piper, 33, who lives on the Sunnymede estate, Billericay, has always loved animals and nature.

But her interest in green affairs grew more profound when she left her job as a financial journalist to become a freelance writer in 2007.

Piper soon learnt a lot of things people can do around the home were kind to nature and economical.

She said: “I realised I was going to have to cut down on my budget, so I started writing a blog, following my adventures of trying to save money.

“What I found was a lot of people who use the website are also interested in saving the planet.

“And there were a lot of things you can do that are green and save you money.”

Chronicling her everyday experiences of trying to keep costs down worked well, and Piper decided to turn her blog into a book called The Frugal Life: How to Spend Less and Live More.

She then heard about the chance to become the nation’s voice on green issues, and find out what the Government was doing to prevent a global catastrophe.

As one of 100 people entering the Energy Saving Trust’s competition, Piper thought she had a less than slim chance of gaining the title of Green Voice of the UK.

She said: “I really didn't expect to win.

“Even when I had to go to Westminster, as one of the last four people in the competition, and present a video, the other finalists were very strong as well.”

But despite her own reservations, Piper was announced winner.

Since then she has taken on the title with gusto and faces a busy ten months as she visits residents up and down the country.

Her aim is to find out what they think about climate change and being more environmentally friendly.

Piper will then put those views across to senior politicians.

She said: “It’s about giving the man on the street a voice, because a lot of people feel disconnected from the issues.

“It can be hard for people to relate to enivronmental issues.

“They hear about ice caps melting, and polar bears dying out, and wonder what it has to do with how they live their lives. It is really important, but people need information they can connect to their lives and what they can do to help the situation.”

As well as working on a national level, Piper has embraced the climate challenge in Billericay since moving to the town from Romford five years ago.

She is a member of Billericay’s Greening campaign, which is trying to reduce the amount of CO2 emitted by homes across the town.

Piper said she hopes her year as the UK’s Green Voice will see people everywhere become more aware of green issues.

She said: “I’m just one person and I know I’m not going to stop the polar ice caps from melting on my own.

“But there needs to be more awareness of what people can do, although some things have already changed.

“Now you go to supermarkets and so many of the shoppers have their reusable ‘bags for life’ brought with them. It’s almost frowned on not to.

“But it would also be really nice if we could get Billericay and the surrounding area to become more aware of the issues.”