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Local Groups Gather to Learn About Low Carbon Planning

Wed, 19 October 2011

A total of around 50 people gathered at two low carbon planning events in Newark and
Matlock earlier this month to learn more about how to bring community-owned renewable
to their area, as well as how to adapt to climate change. The event was organised by the
Centre for Sustainable Energy in partnership with Marches Energy Agency.

Members of local community groups gathered with local planners, local authority climate
change and energy officers and elected members to take part in a number of interactive
workshops, including a chance to explore the Plan Local Model –a four metre by one
metre fictional town with lots of environmentally friendly features.

(www.planlocal.org.uk/pages/the-model).

Comments from the day included:
• ‘Great range of speakers, topics, exercises and info-many thanks for such a rich
and enjoyable day. Keep up the good work!’ – Climate Change Officer, Local
Authority
• ‘A good balance of speakers and content. Would have taken months of research to
have achieved this myself.’ - Community Group Member
• ‘An excellent event, informative and participative and very enjoyable.’ – Community
group member

All community groups represented received a free Plan Local pack – a folder full of
practical exercises, information sheets and DVDs to help groups plan and launch a
community owned renewable. Any community group can download or order this pack for
free: www.planlocal.org.uk/downloads/group/the-planlocal-resource-pack.

Anyone who missed the events has the opportunity to attend the same event in Corby,
Northamptonshire on Friday 28th October or Leicester on Saturday 29th October. For more
information contact: kirsty.mitchell@cse.org.uk.

Derbyshire Eco Centre Courses

Wed, 19 October 2011

Various dates

The Derbyshire Eco Centre – one of the county council’s adult education centres - is
holding a number of eco-themed courses this autumn, including topics as diverse as
building a house from wood and making jewellery from recycled materials.

www.derbyshire.gov.uk/ecocentre

Farming Renewable Demonstration Workshops

Wed, 19 October 2011

Various dates and locations across the East Midlands: see website for more details

Each event: 9:45am-1:15pm

£10 per person, advance booking essential: tina.boddington@fwag.org.uk
Organised by The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group in partnership with ICE
Renewables.

A series of workshops across East Midlands for farmers and landowners on reducing
energy costs and increasing income through renewable technologies. This is a great
opportunity to find out how renewables could help you save money on farming costs,
secure your energy supply, diversify your business and understand your carbon footprint.
The workshops are based at farms across the region where you can see the technology in
action. Expert speakers will present on: Energy Efficiency & Carbon Audits, Overview of
Renewable Technologies, Demonstration of Featured Technology.

www.fwag.org.uk/events/england-events.htm

Free Business Energy Monitoring Kits in Derbyshire

Tue, 11 October 2011
Are you a Derbyshire-based small or medium sized business looking to reduce your energy usage and cut your bills? Then Derbyshire County Council can help you with free energy monitoring kits available to borrow for 12 weeks. The kit includes a real time monitor, separate plug-in monitors for individual pieces of equipment, monitoring forms and climate change and energy management guides. The aim is to help you know what energy you’re using and where so that you can then use less.
 
To arrange a loan contact your local Derbyshire library or call 01246 207207 to arrange collection from the Chesterfield Commerce Centre. For general enquiries about the scheme email climate.change@derbyshire.gov.uk or call 01629 538304.
 

Cut Carbon Emissions to Prevent an Alien Attack

Tue, 11 October 2011

NASA Scientists have claimed that reducing our carbon emissions could prevent an alien attack. Extraterrestrials could view changes in the earth’s atmosphere as evidence that humans are spiralling out of control and decide to take pre-emptive action to wipe us out to ensure we don’t become a threat: ‘Humanity may just now be entering the period in which its rapid civilisational expansion could be detected by an ETI because our expansion is changing the composition of the Earth's atmosphere, via greenhouse gas emissions,’ a report states.

 http://arxiv.org/abs/1104.4462