News
Broc the Badger Gets Some Energy Advice!
Wed, 13 July 2011Broc the Badger visited the mobile exhibition Fantastic Home on 2nd July at Pary on the Rec, an event at Answorth Recreation Ground in Broxtowe. 
It was a busy event from the work go and we had a good position at the entrance. The stall was busy for most of the day, but as we had assistance from three representatives from Broxtowe Borough Council we were able to deal with more detailed enquiries from a number of visitors.
There was great interest in solar of both types and the local plans for a large wind turbine stimulated some great debate. We were able to identify a number of families that were on the wrong tariff for their electricity and point others to offers for free energy monitors from their utility suppliers.
The energy bike was in almost constant use all day and in particular from one boy who mastered powering 100W of lighting very quickly. He kept coming back wearing different clothes and with different face paint on so that he could have another go!
Broc the Badger, Broxtowe Borough Council’s mascot, did a great job engaging people and driving them to the stall from elsewhere at the event and we got even busier then!
Rush For Energy Advice at Rush For Health
Wed, 13 July 2011Rushcliffe Country Park was the scenic setting for the Fantastic Home's visit to the annual Rush for Health event and the weather was on our side. There were some concerned expressions amongst the kite specialists attending the event in the morning but by the time the fun got started even the wind was on side.
Tim Baldwin of Marches Energy Agency was staffing the Fantastic Home throughout the day: “I got home-made cake and fresh coffee from the wonderful folks volunteering at the Ranger’s Station café. Best breakfast I’ve had in years, which was just as well as once people started arriving it was practically none stop for the next 5 ½ hrs.”
The day was marked by some in-depth conversations on energy efficiency, especially insulation and lifestyle changes and also renewable energy sources and the Feed In Tariffs and Renewable heat incentive. One gentleman even explained that using a solar photovoltaic system to generate his power he had managed to make his house completely carbon neutral and was now attempting to move into the negative by producing his own heat.
Sheila Hood and Jenny from Rushcliffe Borough Council worked alongside new MEA volunteer Sophy Bellis and were all impressed at the general awareness of energy issues amongst the crowd. Many had already installed loft and cavity wall insulation.
All in all a very productive and enjoyable day!
|
|
Per Year
|
Lifetime
|
|
CO2 Saved (Kilograms)
|
3742.67
|
57500.54
|
|
Water Saved (Litres)
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296352
|
2792160
|
|
Cash Saved (£)
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6,728
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74,163.92
|
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Value of Giveaways (£)
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4,090
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4,090
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Total Cash Saved (£)
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10,368
|
78,253.92
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Community-Owned Renewable Events Come to Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Tue, 12 July 2011FREE Low Carbon Planning Events
Friday 7th October 2011: Bowbridge Primary School, Newark
Saturday 8th October 2011: County Hall, Matlock
Both events: 9.30am to 5.30pm (registration from 9am)
Places are limited and pre-booking is essential by contacting: kirsty.mitchell@cse.org.uk. 
If you are interested in comunity-owned renewables then this event is for you!
This free one-day workshop is for community group members, individuals, councillors who are portfollio holders for planning and/or environment and local authority planners.
It will help you to engage with local planning and low-carbon development – and to understand how you can generate local energy.
The events will feature the PlanLoCaL model, a large-scale model of a town demonstrating how renewable energy technologies work, and the PlanLoCaL films, which include case studies and information on how to set up community-owned renewable energy projects. There will be a local keynote speaker at each event to provide a local context. All community groups represented will receive a comprehensive PlanLoCal pack.
Sessions will focus on how communities can get involved in local plan making, different kinds of renewable energy technologies, climate change adaptation, community engagement, and funding issues. All community groups represented will receive a comprehensive handout pack, including DVDs.
Contact kirsty.mitchell@cse.org.uk to book.
Funded by Groundwork East Midlands, these workshops are run by the Centre for Sustainable Energy in association with Marches Energy Agency.
Carbon Footprinting at Stoney Middleton
Thu, 16 June 2011 Stoney Middleton’s SMILE Village Day was the setting for a Carbon Footprinting Stall on 11th June. 
Villagers in the Peak District village had the chance to find out what impact their lifestyle was having on the environment and how they could improve it. There was a lot of interest in domestic renewables and low energy lightbulbs.
At the end of the day the person with the smallest footprint – Phyllis (pictured with SMILE Secretary Chris Tsielepi) – received a locally made pork pie, whilst the person with the biggest– Ian (also pictured) – received a TV powerdown to help begin shrinking his footprint.
The average footprint of all those surveyed was 10.8 tonnes, compared with a UK average of 9.8 tonnes.
Anyone can use MEA’s online We Save tool to help monitor and reduce their carbon footprint: www.wesave.org.uk.
Fantastic Home Helps Newton Solney Launch Low Carbon Project
Fri, 27 May 2011Newton Solney in South Derbyshire launched its Low Carbon Communities project with a visit from 
the Fantastic Home trailer. Staff were on hand to offer advice on energy efficiency and found that there was a great deal of interest in domestic renewables and tariff switching. Kris McGowan of Marches Energy Agency said:
the Fantastic Home trailer. Staff were on hand to offer advice on energy efficiency and found that there was a great deal of interest in domestic renewables and tariff switching. Kris McGowan of Marches Energy Agency said:‘About a third of the people that visited either had renewables already or were very positively interested. We also helped a number of people to assess and consider altering their electricity tariff as they were unnecessarily on Economy 7 which will in fact be costing them more.’
Visitors to the exhibition were also able to take away free items
which will help them save money. The lifetime savings from these items will be:
£££ £13,622
Water 356,025 litres
CO2 20,239.6 kgCO2