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New Guides to Communicating Climate Change Available

Thu, 8 March 2012

Convinced of climate change, but find it hard to explain to others? Not sure of the best thing to say to convince someone to take action to tackle climate change?

A new website takes the best research evid­ence and trans­lates into prac­tical guides on a wide range of topics, to help you get the most from cli­mate change com­mu­nic­a­tion research.

With a com­pre­hensive and fre­quently updated data­base of aca­demic papers, a reg­ular news­letter, and a blog fea­turing com­ment and ana­lysis from cli­mate change com­mu­nic­a­tion experts, Talking Climate is the gateway to research on cli­mate change communication.

http://talkingclimate.org/

Community Group Members Visit Inspiring Research Homes

Thu, 8 March 2012

20 people from around Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire recently visited six inspiring research homes at the University of Nottingham.

The group, a mixture of members of community groups that are tackling climate change and staff and elected members from local authorities, were given a guided tour of the Creative Energy Homes Project. The project consists of six houses which each incorporate energy efficient and renewable technology. One home was built as a home would have been in 1930s and has since been retrofitted to try to increase its energy efficiency. A pair of semis have been built from fairly normal building materials, but have been made much more efficient than normal - one has achieved Code Level Four under the Code for Sustainable Homes, and the other Code Level Six.

The tour was well received with one attendee saying that they felt better 'able to inform others with more assurance of different systems.' Another attendee commented that they 'will expect developers to offer energy efficient homes for our community, incorporating the facilities seen today.'

More information about the project is available on their website.

The tour was organised as part of the work of the  Community Climate Action Network.

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Marches Energy Agency Seeks East Midlands-Based Trustee

Tue, 28 February 2012
Marches Energy Agency (MEA), a Midlands-based charity is seeking a representative from the East Midlands to sit on their Trustee Board/Board of Directors.
 
For the past three years MEA has delivered the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Local Authorities Energy Partnership Climate Change Communications Service, which involves, amongst other things, maintaining their Climate Change website: (www.everybodys-talking.org) and providing an interactive mobile exhibition focused on climate change, energy efficiency and domestic renewables. The exhibition has delivered more than 5000 tonnes of CO2 savings during this time and engaged more than 17,000 people. We also deliver the Community Climate Action Network in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, currently with funding from both the two county councils and the LAEP. This service offers monthly e-bulletins, a tailored desk-based research service and a range of other services to community groups focused on tackling climate change (for full list of services see: www.everybodys-talking.org/communities-area/community-support ).
 
Last year we collaborated with Apex Carbon Solutions to successfully bid to deliver the WarmStreets insulation scheme in the East Midlands. The scheme aims to deliver 28,000 loft and cavity wall installations before the end of CERT funding in December 2012.
 
We have also worked with a number of community groups and local authorities to obtain funding and deliver various training projects or events in the East Midlands, including recently helping in four Local Energy Assessment Fund bids, three of which were successful. In 2011 we won funding to deliver four Low Carbon Planning training events for communities at locations across the region. We have undertaken 31 community building audits in the East Midlands through the Community Sustainable Energy Programme - on average each audit identified CO2 savings of 24%).
 
As a registered charity it is a legal requirement to have a board of Trustees – volunteers who share the ultimate responsibility for the charity. As a company limited by guarantee, all our Trustees are also Directors.
 
Given the extent of our work in the East Midlands, our Trustees would like to see an individual with interests in the East Midlands, either through community or business partnerships or from a district council not currently represented on LAEP.
 
Trustees are ultimately responsible for the running of the charity. All operational management is delegated to our director Richard Davies, MBE. The Trustee Board meets once a quarter to oversee decisions and ensure legal compliance.
 
As a Trustee, you will learn a lot about how charities operate and gain experience in areas such as setting strategic goals, accounting, financial planning, employment practice and recruitment, or give you an opportunity to share these skills if you already have them.
As a Trustee you can be involved in work that you might not yet have had the chance to try as a paid employee.
For more information on MEA, please visit our website at www.mea.org.uk or if you are interested in finding out more about being a Trustee, please contact Wendy Tozer, Assistant Director on 01743 246007 / wendy@mea.org.uk

Community Chest: Funding for Community Buildlings

Fri, 17 February 2012
 Western Power Distribution (WPD) have just launched their Community Chest grant scheme, and £50,000 is available to enable communities to install energy efficiency measures in community buildings. The grant is being administered by the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) who can also provide expert advice and guidance to help groups to carry out an audit of their buildings.
 
Community groups within WPD’s distribution area, which serves the Midlands, South and West Wales and the South West of England, can apply for grants of up to £1000, in order to pay for simple but effective energy efficiency measures to not only reduce their energy costs but also reduce the carbon emissions of the buildings they use for their activities.
 
Eligible measures include insulating loft spaces, installing energy monitors, draught proofing windows and doors, fitting effective heating controls and installing low energy lighting. 
 
The application process is simple. Groups are asked to submit a short application form and provide quotes for recommended improvements, as well as completing an audit of their building. Guidance is provided on CSE’s website, www.cse.org.uk/wpdcc, or you can email wpdcc@cse.org.uk for more information.

Funding for Community Owned Renewable Projects: Early Stages

Tue, 7 February 2012

Energy Share have posted the following item on their website:

'We know from speaking to you that one of the biggest problems facing renewable energy projects is financing those early stages. Planning applications, feasibility studies, legal advice, site surveys. Once these obstacles are out of the way funding for the installation itself is far more forthcoming . But until then many groups feel as though they are on their own.

'So what difference would £5,000 or £10,000 make? If energyshare was able to support you in raising this amount would it help to kick your project into action? Who's up for seed funding? This week get involved in our forum chat, add the name of your group and what you would do with the money and we will see what we can do...'

Visit the relevant forum page here: www.energyshare.com/forum/all/funding/new-community-fund/