News
Children's Climate Change Games
Mon, 29 July 2013Children bored this summer? Download the Home Energy Saver Wordsearch, Low Carbon Countdown (a eco-twist on that old favourite Snakes and Ladders) and Use It or Lose It! Three games designed to keep them occupied and help them learn about how to tackle energy use.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 10. fun and games1.pdf | 519.3 KB |
| 11. fun and games2.pdf | 843.95 KB |
One Third Would Invest in Community Renewables
Mon, 29 July 2013One third of people would consider personally investing in small-scale community renewable projects such as wind farms, solar farms or small-scale biomass plant according to a new poll by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.
Of more than 2000 people surveyed, 25% would considering investing in Energy Bonds where the money would be used to build large energy infrastructure projects such as offshore wind.
Other significant finds included that 93% of the public is concerned about higher electricity and gas bills, 64% are worried about possible blackouts and 51% think the government should support the construction of more renewable energy sources like solar, wave and tidal power.
Dr Tim Fox, Head of Energy and Environment at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said: ‘Government must stop playing politics with our energy system and the environment and make clear exactly how it is going to ensure that the country’s future needs are affordably met. It is only with this clarity that energy companies will have the confidence to invest in the infrastructure needed to keep the nation warm, lit, moving and working.’
The people polled were asked about what types of technology they would favour to secure future energy supplies. Renewable energy sources like solar, wave and tidal power were the most popular, with 51% of people saying the Government should provide more support for these projects. 43% said there should be more support for offshore wind farms, 31% for onshore wind farms; while as few as 8% supported more gas-fired power stations.
www.imeche.org/news/archives/2013/06/13/energy_poll_blackouts
Rural Community Energy Fund Launches
Mon, 29 July 2013- Rural Community Energy Fund Launches
- Support Available for Community Groups
The Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) has been launched to support rural communities in England to develop renewable energy projects which provide economic and social benefits to the community.
The fund will provide up to approximately £150,000 of funding for feasibility and pre-planning development work to help projects become investment ready: approximately £20,000 to pay for an initial investigation into the feasibility of a renewable energy project followe by an unsecured local of up to approximately £130,000 to support planning applications and develop a robust business case to attract further investment. Community groups will need to pay back a set amount on top of the loan borrowed which will be rolled back into the fund to help support even more community energy projects across rural England.
Funding can be used to support rural projects across the renewable and low carbon energy spectrum including wind, solar, biomass, heat pumps, anaerobic digestion, gas Combined Heat and Power and hydro.
Two organisations are offering help to community groups looking to apply to the fund:
Centre for Sustainable Energy: www.cse.org.uk/news/view/1740
Nottingham Energy Partnership: www.nottenergy.com
Comic Relief Local Communities Grants
Mon, 29 July 2013Nottinghamshire Community Foundation is administering Comic Relief funding to tackle economic and social deprivation in local communities. Local groups can apply for between £1000 and £10,000. The programme aims to empower local people, enabling them to create lasting change in their communities. Projects should be run by people directly affected by the issues they are dealing with and priority will be given to small, locally based groups or organisations in areas of disadvantage that have a clear understanding of the needs of their community. Types of activities that might be funded include projects to combat fuel poverty and food co-ops. Deadline: 8th August.
Eco House For Sale at Hockerton
Wed, 24 July 2013The largest house at Hockerton Housing Project in Nottinghamshire is up for sale.
The private four-bedroomed, earth sheltered house and front garden have stunning views overlooking a lake and woodland, and the new residents will share in the use of land for food-growing, renewable energy generation and rainwater harvesting with other houses at the project. Energy bills at houses are 1/5th of the national average and income is generated by renewable energy systems to cut bills even more.