News
Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire Homes Sought For Eco Home Open Event
Wed, 1 April 2015Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire residents who have reduced their energy bills, insulated their home, put solar panels on the roof or even built their own eco home, are being invited to open their doors to inspire others this spring as part of the third annual Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Eco Open Homes event.
Marches Energy Agency, a local charity, is looking for householders who have made a variety of energy efficiency and environmental improvements and would like to open their homes for a few hours, or a whole day, during May 2015.
More than 300 people visited homes in 2014
The event is an opportunity to inspire others to make their homes warmer, cheaper to heat and better for the environment by showing them what you’ve done – be it simple draught proofing, a highly efficient boiler, rainwater harvesting, or generating your own renewable energy. There’s no need to be an expert or to have opened you home before as Marches is offering support to those taking part.
Caroline Harmon of Marches Energy Agency, organisers of the event, said: ‘Last year, 325 people visited homes and buildings around the two counties. We’re lucky to have lots of energy efficient, eco homes in the area and this year we’d like to help even more of them open their doors to the public. We’re offering training and help with publicity to all homes taking part.’
If you would like to take part contact Caroline Harmon on 07748 508704 or caroline.harmon@mea.org.uk.
Details of houses which are open, and when, will be listed on the event’s website: www.everybodys-talking.org/ecohomes
The event is being funded by the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Local Authority Energy Partnership and a Green Open Homes Grant from the Centre for Sustainable Energy.
Mapping of non – gas households in England and Wales
Thu, 26 March 2015Many households in England and Wales are not on the gas network. The Government’s recent fuel poverty strategy indicated a need for better information to target fuel poverty programs especially for those not on the gas network. The test map indicates the spread of non gas households in England and Wales.
Check out how many household’s in your area are ‘off gas’: http://bit.ly/1DYbEBH
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.