News

strict warning: Declaration of views_plugin_style_default::options() should be compatible with views_object::options() in /home/sites/everybodys-talking.org/public_html/sites/all/modules/views/plugins/views_plugin_style_default.inc on line 24.

Villagers Save on Their Energy Bills

Wed, 11 May 2011
Members of a Nottinghamshire-based environmental group have recently completed a Low Carbon Communities project which will save villagers money on their energy bill and lower their carbon dioxide emissions at the same time. Members of the community group Greening Kinoulton have spent five months working in partnership with Midlands-based environmental charity Marches Energy Agency (MEA) to offer projects including volunteer training to those who would like to help householders to reduce their energy usage, energy surveys for local buildings, teaching sessions in the local primary school, and a renewables workshop.
 
The volunteer training has resulted in a group of local volunteers (pictured with their certificates at the end of the training) offering to visit the homes of local people to offer tailored energy efficiency advice to help them reduce their energy usage. Similar projects in other parts of the country have seen average bills fall by almost a fifth in homes which have taken part.
 
The Energy Surveys of local buildings have resulted in the soon-to-be-opened village shop installing loft insulation, solid wall insulation, energy efficient lighting and a highly efficient boiler for heating and hot water. All of these measures will reduce the shop’s energy bill. In addition, three village halls and St Lukes Church in Upper Broughton (pictured) were surveyed. Kinoulton Village Hall has subsequently submitted a grant application for funding towards a photovoltaic solar panel.
 
The project has worked with a range of local organisations including Greening Kinoulton, three village halls (Kinoulton, Hickling and Upper Broughton), St Lukes Church in Upper Broughton, and Kinoulton Primary School. It has been funded by Rushcliffe Borough Council.
 
Caroline Harmon, Project Manager at MEA, said:
 
‘We’re really pleased that this project has been able to benefit so many people living in Kinoulton, Upper Broughton and Hickling. The volunteer training and energy surveys will allow local people and organisations to continue to benefit from reduced energy bills and lower carbon emissions for years to come.’
 
Alastair Cuthill of Greening Kinoulton said:
 
‘The training and the surveys have inspired people and I am sure this will result in carbon savings. The survey of the new farm shop was especially timely and many of the recommendations have been implemented.’

Harworth Residents Power Lightbulbs with Leg Power

Fri, 25 February 2011
Local residents were given a chance to power lightbulbs with leg power when the Indoor Fantastic Home visited Harworth in Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire on 24th February.
 
 
Advice was given out on domestic energy efficiency and renewables, alongside free items which will help people to save energy and money at home. The Fantastic Home formed part of a larger 'Greening Fair' event which took place at Harworth Parish Centre.
 

Caroline Harmon, Project Manager at MEA, said:

'We're were really pleased to be able to offer advice to people in Harworth. The bike proved popular and got people thinking about their energy consumption.'

Volunteers Ready to Offer Energy Efficiency Advice

Wed, 12 January 2011
Members of a Nottinghamshire-based environmental group have recently completed training to enable them to offer advice on domestic energy efficiency to their neighbours.
 
Members of the community group Greening Kinoulton were offered the training by Midlands-based environmental charity Marches Energy Agency (MEA). Over three sessions the volunteers learnt how to visit a home and offer advice to householders on understanding energy bills, how to make a home more energy efficient and how to purchase renewables.
 
The group now intend to practise their new skills on friends before hopefully offering visits to others living in Kinoulton later in the year.
 
Caroline Harmon, Project Manager at MEA, delivered the training:
 
‘It’s fantastic to find so many people in one village who are willing to offer their time to help others to make their homes more environmentally friendly and save money on their bills. Similar projects in other parts of the country have seen average bills fall by almost a fifth in homes visited. Hopefully the same can be achieved in Kinoulton over time.’
 
The training was offered as part of a Low Carbon Communities project currently being delivered in Kinoulton by MEA in partnership with Greening Kinoulton and with funding from Rushcliffe Borough Council. The project also includes energy surveys of the village hall and a soon-to-be-opened village shop, education sessions in the local primary school and work with young people.
 
Greening Kinoulton was set up in 2010 to help people in the village to respond to climate change. Almost half of the all village’s households took part in an initial campaign to choose at least three simple actions they could take to lower their emissions and the estimated savings were more than 100,000 kilograms of CO2, more than 70,000 litres of water and almost £20,000 saved on future energy bills. The village subsequently received a Mayor’s Special Award for their contribution to ‘Building Stronger Communities’ at the Rushcliffe Community 2010 Awards.
 

Community Climate Action Network Service Users asked to Complete Survey

Mon, 10 January 2011

Users of a variety of services for individuals and community groups working to tackle climate change are being asked to complete a short online survey to help inform the future direction of the service.

The Community Climate Action Network provides regular e-newsletters to 280 people representing more than 60 community groups across Derbyshire and Nottingamshire. It also provides online profiles for community groups on the Everybody's Talking website and a Networking and Signposting Service for groups.

Caroline Harmon, Project Manager at Marches Energy, said:

'The services the network currently offers are based on previous consultation with individuals and members of community groups working to tackle climate change and the service proved popular during 2010. We're now keen to find out how people's needs have changed and improve and ammend the service accordingly during 2011.'

Users of the service can access the survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GSVDQRZ and should complete it by Sunday 30th January 2011.

Anyone wishing to subscribe to the e-newsletters should email ccan@mea.org.uk with 'Subscribe' in the subject line and their name and the name of any climate change-focused group they belong to in the body of the email.