News

Carbon Footprinting at Stoney Middleton

Thu, 16 June 2011

Stoney Middleton’s SMILE Village Day was the setting for a Carbon Footprinting Stall on 11^th 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 2011

Newton 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:

‘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

Ollerton Eco Farm

Fri, 27 May 2011

Open publication - Free publishing - More eco

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.