News
My Home Energy Planner Survey & Prize Dra
Thu, 26 March 2015My Home Energy Planner will be an online tool to help householders to understand their current energy usage and decide which energy efficiency improvements suit their home best. The tool is currently being developed and householders are invited to complete a short survey (www.svy.mk/1FFC8sc) that features a prize draw for one of 12 OWL micro energy monitors.
Find out more about My Home Energy Planner: www.urbed.coop/projects/my-home-energy-planner
Consulation on Derbyshire Solar Farms
Wed, 25 March 2015Derbyshire County Council are asking local residents for their views on proposals to build solar farms at several county council sites. The council has identified six locations in the North East and Amber Valley areas, for the project.
The proposals are to set up a series of ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) sites - better known as solar farms - on council-owned land which is currently underused. This includes former colliery or underused agricultural land unsuitable for growing crops.
The consultation is running until 20th March 2015 and can be accessed online: www.derbyshire.gov.uk/solarfarms
The council are also holding some 'Solar Farm Drop In Sessions' to find out what people think about the plans. Forthcoming dates are:
- Killamarsh Sports Centre, Stanley Street, Killamarsh, Friday 27 March 2015, 1pm to 3pm - Westthorpe Hills, former Westthorpe Colliery site
- Swanwick Methodist Church, Community Room, Derby Road, Swanwick, Tuesday 31 March 2015, 1pm to 3pm − former Swanwick Colliery reclamation land
- St James' Church, Church Lane, Temple Normanton, Monday 13 April 2015, 1pm to 3pm - agricultural land at Mansfield Road, Temple Normanton
Eco Open Homes Event: Tell Us Your Story
Fri, 13 March 2015The third annual Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Eco Open Homes event is taking place during May 2015.
Last year more than 300 people visited 17 homes and other buildings across the area to take a peek at their eco features - everything from renewables to simple draughtproofing features.
We're looking for people who would like to open their homes for a day and tell the story of how they made it a warmer, cheaper place to heat and power that is better for our world.
You don't have to be a technical expert on the things you've done to your home (although we won't mind if you are!); you do need to be an expert on what it's like to live in your home (which we're sure you are!)
- Do you smile when you get your energy bill because it's so much lower than it used to be?
- Do you feel so much cosier since you insulated your walls or hung lined curtains?
- Do you obsessively watch your solar panel meter and turn on the washing machine when it's producing power?
- What's the thing you're most glad you did to your home to make it more eco friendly? The thing you can't stop telling your friends about?
- What wouldn't you bother with if you were starting again?
Hundreds of people would love to be inspired by your story this May.
Marches Energy Agency can offer you support to open your home. We have a guide to opening your home, we'll be running a webinar later in the year, and we can help you to generate local publicity. We may even be able to provide you with a volunteer to help you on the day.
For more information contact Caroline Harmon: caroline.harmon@mea.org.uk or 07748 508704.
Grants of up to £3750 for Solid Wall Insulation
Fri, 13 March 2015As of midday on Monday the government will be offering grants of up to £3750 for solid wall insulation. People living in older homes with no cavity can claim up to a maximum of 67% of the cost of installing the insulation.
Also on offer: up to £1250 if you install two of the following measures in your home:
· Cavity wall insulation
· Condensing mains gas boiler
· Secondary glazing
· Double/triple glazing (replacing single glazing)
· Flat roof insulation
· Replacement warm air unit
· Fan-assisted storage heaters
· Energy efficient replacement doors
· Floor insulation
· Room-in-roof insulation
· Waste water heat recovery
You can also claim up to an extra £500 if you have moved into your home in the last twelve months. Finally, you can claim up to £100 towards the cost of a Green Deal Assessment.
These grants are not dependent on income – they are simply available in your home needs this work doing. You will need to have either an EPC certificate or a Green Deal Assessment which has been carried out in the last two years.
The grant funding for solid wall insulation is likely to run out very quickly. We recommend applying as soon as possible after the funding is released.
More details about the scheme and its requirements can be found here.
Belper in the Lead In East Midlands Energy Race
Thu, 26 February 2015
Transition Belper are currently ranking first on the leaderboard for the East Midlands region in Global Action Plan’s Big Energy Race, and, at the time of writing, are fifth nationwide! The Big Energy Race is a national challenge for community groups and individuals, designed to help those taking part to reduce their household energy bills. Transition Belper are now calling for any East Midlanders who'd like to sign up to support Transition Belper's efforts to secure some community funding by doing well enough to win a prize. From the end of February the top team from each region will compete for a final prize of £20,000 towards a community energy project. The Big Energy Race runs until the 31st of March, it's easy to enter and entrants can do as much or as little as they like.
Sign up: www.bigenergyrace.org