Saturday, February 23. 2013
Schools Energy Project - Update
From the Jan 2013 New Forest Transition AGM
New Forest Transition School and Community Energy Saving Project
- This is a 2 year project involving 10 New Forest primary schools
- Aim is to reduce the energy consumption of the ten schools by 15%
- Funding from New Forest National Park’s Sustainable Development Fund with support from Hampshire and Wiltshire County Councils
- Project was launched in Sept 2012 with positive local press coverage
- Project Coordinator plus team of volunteers working with the ten schools
- Project presence on New Forest Transition website due in a few weeks
Key elements of the project:
- 2½-day residential stay at Minstead Study Centre for 34 pupils from each school to learn about energy
- Hampshire and Wiltshire County Councils providing free Energy Audit to each school
- Use of online Smart meter gas and electricity usage monitoring system which has already revealed some significant energy issues.
- Purchase of project’s own Thermal Imaging Camera (with BIG Lottery funding)
- Training of all project volunteers on how to use the Thermal Imaging Camera
- Use of the Thermal Imaging Camera as an educational resource with the pupils in each school, plus also for surveying school buildings to identify trouble-spots where heat is being lost
- Sharing of energy-saving information, activities and experiences between the schools being facilitated by the Project Coordinator
- Involvement by schools in Switch-off Fortnight (Nov 2012) and other Energy Awareness activities
- List compiled of finance schemes available to schools, community groups and households which support energy-saving & energy-generation initiatives. This will be regularly updated as most finance schemes have limited funds and are therefore short-lived.
Thursday, February 14. 2013
Renewable Energy Marketplace, 19 March, Exeter
The Renewable Energy Marketplace is the largest exhibition of its kind in the south west, with more than 1200 attendees at the 2012 event, all interested in installing renewable technologies in their business or homes and reducing their energy use.
It’s a great opportunity to:
· Meet over 100 installers and suppliers showcasing the latest products and services
· Hear from industry experts on important energy initiatives and policy
· Find out the best ways to reduce energy costs
· See live demonstrations of installations and technologies
· Get to understand the entire sector in one day, all in one place
· Learn about the skills needed by the market and how to get them
· Secure products and services at exclusive exhibition prices
· Latest energy efficiency ways to refurb your house
· Find out more about saving and earning money from renewable heat in 2013
· Chance to speak directly to installers about your projects
This customer facing event will bring together renewable energy and energy efficiency companies alongside attendees from wide ranging backgrounds - including farming, construction, tourism, local government, service sectors and the general public. Ultimately, it is the key place to exhibit, network, and do business.
With the announcement that neither solar PV nor thermal technology will qualify for the £125 million government cash back scheme, the marketplace offers a great outlet to discuss the upcoming Green Deal changes and how they affect solar PV installations and the solar energy industry. The marketplace also offers a platform to
debunk any solar energy myths that are frequently batted around and constantly affect solar installations, myths such as ‘there not being enough sun in the UK’ or even queries over obtaining planning permission for solar panels.
http://www.regensw.co.uk/renewable-energy-marketplace
Sunday, February 3. 2013
Green Power to Germany in the Future
BBC Radio 4's Costing the Earth Series
Berlin's Big Gamble - Does Germany have the answer to the World's Energy Problem?
"The money of the village, for the village"
Iplayer Radio 4 Costing the Earth - 30 minutes - LISTEN NOW!
Wednesday, August 22. 2012
Community Aiming for 100% Renewables
Going Back to the Future
Wadebridge in Cornwall wants to be Britain's first community renewables-powered town.
Its an impressive ambition. "The plan is to reach 30% local renewable electricity by 2015 and of course 100% eventually," says Stephen Frankel, Chair of the board of Directors of WREN (Wadebridge Renewable Energy Network).
"People don't realise how recent the phenomenon of relying on imported energy is. Wadebridge used to have its own electricity supply company and gas works. We're just going back to the Future, though now we can complement central energy systems with local, clean energy."
(Taken from Good Energy - Good News Summer 2012)
Monday, August 6. 2012
Green Open Doors 2012
Green Open Doors
Sat 20th - Sun 21st October 2012
In September 2011, New Forest Transition ran a Green Open Doors weekend when residents opened their doors to spread the word about sustainable living. This year on the weekend of Sat 20th – Sun 21st October 2012 the event is being rerun by the New Forest National Park Authority in conjunction with New Forest Transition.
- Do you have sustainable technologies in your home?
- Did you take part last year and would like to open your home again?
- Would you be willing to share your experience and knowledge with others?
Green Open Doors is an opportunity for home owners around the New Forest to showcase the sustainable technologies they have in their properties (insulation, solar, heat pumps, wood fuel etc). Property owners open their homes to the public over the weekend, guide them round and explain the measures that they have undertaken. The aim is to share knowledge and experience, encouraging others along the path of sustainability!
To register your property please complete the form available at www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/greenopendoors. The closing date for registration is Friday 17th August 2012
Tuesday, July 17. 2012
Schools Energy Project - Update
New Forest School and Community Energy Saving Project Gets the Green Light!
The New Forest School and Community Energy Saving Project, which grew from the annual get together in January, has recently been awarded substantial funding from the National Park Authority Sustainable Development Fund to work with 10 schools and their communities to promote energy saving over the next 2 years. The key elements of the project include a residential visit to Minstead Study Centre to learn about energy, an energy audit courtesy of Hampshire County Council, practical school and community based activities and the use of a thermal imaging camera which will be owned by the project. The recruitment of a project co-ordinator is now underway and the project will be launched in September.
The participating schools have now been confirmed as:
Abbotswood Junior - Totton, Bartley Junior
Bransgore Primary, Breamore Primary
Burley Primary, Hordle Primary
Morgans Vale and Woodfalls Primary, South Baddesley Primary
St Luke’s Primary - Sway, Tiptoe Primary
We will be looking to assign a volunteer from Transition to each of the schools to help them make good progress. More details on this will follow shortly but if you are interested in being a volunteer for your local school please get in touch.
It’s a really exciting project for Transition New Forest to be leading on and shows that we are seen as an organisation who has the skills and determination to encourage behaviour change through practical action.
If you would like to find out more about the project please contact Sam Mawby at sam_mawby@hotmail.com (underscore between sam and mawby)
Monday, July 9. 2012
Southampton Biomass Plans
Follow this link to find out why there's such an outcry about the plans for a huge Biomass project in Southampton.....and if you agree, you can send in your objections.
http://www.nothankshelius.co.uk/
Monday, July 2. 2012
UK Homes using more electricity than ever
Here's an interesting article by the BBC based on a recent survey of household electricity use. How do you compare?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18577035
Monday, June 25. 2012
Energy Group's Project - Goes Ahead
Well Done Energy Group!
We now have funding for the Schools and Community Energy Saving Project we need to hire a project co-ordinator for the next 2 years!
See below for more details. See attached for Job Discription.
Closing date is the 6th July.
Sam
Job Description
Continue reading "Energy Group's Project - ... »
