The residents of San Lawrenz are committed to turning their village into an ecological hub as more than three fourths of the houses there are equipped with solar water heaters.

To highlight this achievement and promote eco awareness, the local council put up a welcome sign at the entrance to the village saying: San Lawrenz, The Village That Thinks And Acts Ecologically, Welcomes You.

The sign says the locality cut its carbon dioxide emissions by 5,059 kilogrammes last year and by 134,904 kilogrammes this year.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi praised the village's achievement during a recent visit adding that it reflected the government's vision to turn Gozo into an eco island.

The fact that 80 per cent of San Lawrenz's households had installed solar water heaters also showed a change in people's mentality in favour of the environment. Residents were encouraged to install the heaters through two schemes. The first, by the government, offered a refund of half the cost, up to a maximum of €460 and the other scheme, launched by the local council with the help of government funding, consisted of a €140 grant, mayor Noel Formosa explained.