spring newsletter - issue 8

8/9/2019 Spring Newsletter - Issue 8

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South Shropshire Housing Association – Eco-families Pilot Project

Four pro-active SouthShropshire HousingAssociation (SSHA)families have agreed totake part in a pilot project,with the aim to

demonstrate that real people can engage withthe issue of sustainable energy.

Each household uses a different heating fuel,and will be tracked over several months to seehow they can save energy and money, whilstdoing their bit for the planet.

Energy audits have led to action plans, andtraining has been provided to help familiesunderstand how to make their homes moreenergy efficient.

David Hunt (pictured below), a tenant from

Bishop Castle, is taking part in this pilotbecause:

"It is an eye opener for my children to understand the value of energy, whilst it is an interesting experience for us to know where the energy goes. This pilot will increase our awareness of energy efficiency, and will help us save money." Not only will these energy champions benefitfrom lower fuel bills, but also from animprovement in their skills. They now use aplug-in energy monitor, a real-time energymonitor, and log onto www.wesave.org.uk towork out their carbon footprint and find ways ofreducing it. This could potentially have a widerimpact on their respective communities, oncethey start sharing their experience andknowledge.

The project, which started in February 2010, isfunded by SSHA and is delivered by MarchesEnergy Agency.

Housing associations that would like to takepart in a similar project are welcome to contactthe Project Manager: [email protected]

Training for Co-operative Staff

MEA are working with theEnergy Saving Trust to helpdeliver training to Co-operativeRetail staff.

The training will be cascadedto all staff of their 3,600 storesand will cover energy saving inthe home and in-store.

The Co-op has ambitiousplans - they are seeking toreduce their energy use by25% by 2012 and 97.5% oftheir electricity is already fromrenewable sources. They haveset up a system of RegionalEnergy Managers, Area

Energy Champions and StoreEnergy Champions to receiveand cascade training.

MEA's expert trainers will bedelivering the trainingalongside the Regional EnergyManagers across the countrybetween now and April.

Issue 8 Spring 2010



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4th SECHURBA project meeting takes place in Athens

Representatives from all 7partner countries involved inthe SECHURBA project metin Athens in March to discussproject progress.

MEA is the coordinatingpartner of the consortium,

which is taking part in a 2½year project looking at waysof making historic buildingsmore energy efficient andhighlighting the role that suchbuildings can play towardshistoric urban communities'carbon reduction targets.

The meeting comes hot onthe heels of a recent reportpublished by the HeritageLottery Fund which estimatesthat heritage tourismcontributes £20bn to the UKeconomy and has animportant role to play in oureconomic recovery.

The first day of meetingstook place at a hotel whichwas a mere 10 minute walkfrom the Acropolis where anon-going conservationproject is taking place using

traditional materials andtechniques to preserve theParthenon and surroundingbuildings.

Partners were given ademonstration of the softwaretool that is being developedunder the project to helpdecision makers choose whattype of interventions might beallowed to be introduced into

case study buildings whichare mainly listed and usuallysituated in ConservationAreas. Each partner countryhas also been compiling a

database of new technologiesthat are emerging which canbe applied to historicbuildings. Information on alldata so far compiled will beavailable for download fromthe partner website nextmonth (www.sechurba.eu).

Each project partner islooking at a number of casestudy buildings within theircommunities and will producea strategy to reduce carbonemissions from the buildingsby a minimum of 40% fromcurrent situation.

Project Coordinator, NicoleSolomons, who is leading theproject on behalf of MEA said:"Holding the meeting in suchan historic location as Athenswas the perfect setting toconsider how such buildingshave survived this long, andhow much we can learn fromthe building methods andmaterials that were used atthat time. By emulating theiruse of passive (non-mechanical) systems for

ventilation, heating andcooling, could save us energytoday."

Low Carbon Enterprise website launched

Our newest team, Low Carbon Enterprise(LCE) has launched its website.

LCE are our sustainable energy experts,working with businesses, local authorities,charities and community groups, and public andthird sector organisations.

They are able to offer a range of services tohelp you and your organisation reduce itscarbon emissions, be more sustainable andalso save money. From initial energy

assessments of buildings to providing expertadvice on energy saving measures andrenewable technologies.

Visit the new websitewww.lowcarbonenterprise.org.uk



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Shrewsbury Shop Front Display

MEA received funding from Central Shropshire Partnership Sustainability Group to participate in their"Window of Opportunity" project.

This is a way of putting some of the many empty shop premises inShrewsbury town centre to better use by publicising activities andcampaigns run by local environment groups in central Shrewsbury.

We used the funding to raise awareness about climate changeissues and to advertise the services of the ActionHeat Team and

newly formed Low Carbon Enterprise consultancy team.

The display consists of a series of posters highlighting the followingissues: climate change science; energy in the home; renewableenergy systems; sustainable transport and climate change andland issues. The display can be seen in a premises on the ground

floor of the Pride Hill Shopping Centre, next to TK Maxx.

Be prepared for next Winter!

This winter has been one of

the coldest for a long timewith householders needingmore than ever to be able tokeep their houses warmwithout the worry of morecostly fuel bills. Energyprices have risen dramaticallyover the last few years andfuel bills are at an all timehigh.

One of the best ways of

ensuring that you keep theheat in your home, meaningthat you save money on yourbills is to ensure your home isproperly insulated.

The County's AffordableWarmth initiative KeepShropshire Warm (run byMEA) is offering all homeowners and private tenantsthe chance of huge insulation

discounts. Having alreadyassisted over 5000 households since it's launchin January 2008, the KeepShropshire Warm team arepleased to announce that weare still able to offer insulationat last years prices.

Project Manager Jo Meakinstates "we are delighted to be

able to continue to offer thesame reductions as 2009.Any home owner or privatetenant that pays their CouncilTax to Shropshire Councilcan get Cavity Wall Insulationfrom £89 and Loft Insulationfrom £89"

This is going to prove to be a

massive help to householdersin a time when people areworried about their finances.Although winter is starting tocome to an end it will paydividends to invest now inpreparation for next winter.We would suggest that theinstallation of both measurescan save a household as

much as £300 per year ontheir energy bills, proving thatit really does pay to insulate"

Those aged over 70 or inreceipt of benefits may alsobe entitled to free insulationsubject to the availability offunding and further qualifyingcriteria.

Keep Shropshire Warm canalso advise on heating grants,energy efficiency, tariffswitching or other financialhelp you may be entitled to.

Contact the Keep ShropshireWarm Team on 01743

277123 or visitwww.keepshropshirewarm.org



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Fuel Poverty research in ShropshireShropshire is one of three areas of the countrychosen to take part in a study into fuel poverty.

The Hands Up Project aims to analyse theeffects of fuel poverty and its impact onpeople's health and the local economy. It isbelieved that rural areas are particularly badlyhit, due to the number of properties off the gasnetwork. The Hands Up project is one beingorganised by the Commission For RuralCommunities with active involvement from therural Services Network and all local authoritiesin the three areas which include Shropshirealong with County Durham and East Riding.

MEA's Keep Shropshire Warm team has beendrafted in by Shropshire Council to assist in theco-ordination of the "Hands Up" initiative acrossthe county. The first phase of this scheme iswell underway with 2,500 households in SouthShropshire having been targeted with a specific

questionnaire designed to gain a clear andaccurate portrayal of how households in ruralareas are being affected by rising fuel costs.Early indications show that 29% of thosehouseholds targeted are spending more than10% of their annual income on heating theirhomes - this exceeds the national averagesuggesting that fuel poverty can have a biggerimpact on rural communities, many who live inhard to treat homes which are often unable to

take advantage of current governmentinitiatives aimed at making homes moreaffordable to heat.

Over the next few months a number of focusgroups will be held throughout SouthShropshire to gain further insight and speak toindividuals directly affected by rising fuel costs.It is hoped that evidence gathered through this

initiative can build a picture of fuel poverty inthe rural areas and to assess why currentaffordable warmth initiatives seem to be failingto help in rural areas. It will also look at theeffects this has on the health service and localeconomy.

For further information please contact JoMeakin on 01743 277123 or [email protected]

Light Fantastic visits South Derbyshire

Despite the cold, the sun warmed us up in Budgen's Car Park in Melbourne for the second LightFantastic Event for South Derbyshire District Council. We had a steady flow of visitors throughout theday who were able to receive detailed advice on everything from light bulbs to feed in tariffs, warmfront grants to draught proofing. Representatives from South Derbyshire Council were also able torefer visitors for insulation surveys, and hopefully subsequent installations. Staff of the store alsocame out for advice and information.

Visitors: 270

Bulbs distributed: 550

TV Powerdowns distributed: 47 (not including those to be delivered)

Computer Powerdowns distributed: 42 (not including those to be delivered)

CO2 savings: 79,230 kg CO2 lifetime

Retained Economic Benefit: £37,856



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Stafford Light Fantastic – Stafford Half Marathon

This was the first event in aseries of five for StaffordBorough Council. We wereassisted for the day byNatasha and Ben fromStafford Borough Council andMEA also brought a volunteeralong as well.

We were kept quite busymost of the day, with Natashaand Ben directing people tothe stand which was locatednext to the start finish line.Most visitors already had lowenergy light bulbs in some oftheir fittings but not all. Manyhad struggled to findspotlights and GU10replacements and we were

able to direct them to onlineretailers as well as outliningthe costs and savingsassociated with the bulbs.

On the few occasions whenthe stand was quiet we wereable to give Natasha sometraining in climate change andenergy issues as well asoutlining recent research in toattitudes towards energy

efficiency. She was alarmedto find out her carbon footprintusing our paper footprintcalculator, having just flownback from Australia.

As well as light bulb enquirieswe had discussions withcommunity groups, one in

Doxey needing a speaker onclimate change (this has beenpassed to Sebastian). Thesecond group are consideringre-roofing their communitybuilding and wanted adviceon solar panels.

There was some confusionamongst people about thedifferent types of solar panelsand we were able to advise

and point them to reputableinstallers as well as give themfactsheets and discuss thenew feed in tariffs. One lady

had nearly fallen foul of oneof the disreputable installerswho recently cold called

offering her a discount on asolar thermal system - £8000,down from £12000, whenreally the maximum should be£6000 and averaging £4000.

The energy bike was popularwith the fun runners andespecially the children, butnot with the half marathonrunners, many of whom werestruggling even to hold on to

the bulbs we gave them.A very busy day and we lookforward to the next.

spring newsletter - issue 8

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