004. Spring 09

newsletter Issue 4 Spring 2009

Community Action Opportunity MEA’s Carbon Forum team are offering their flagship community action scheme - ‘Carbon College’ - to new groups, as the pilot programme draws near to a very successful close. This learn and do scheme harnesses the creativity at a grass roots level in responding to fuel poverty and climate change. Carbon College combines a series of awareness raising workshops with help in planning out and running community based projects, all with a focus on climate change and/or sustainable energy. The scheme gives a core group of community members a solid grounding in energy awareness and all the skills needed to make a difference in their community - from fund raising and planning projects to using those plans to create

some really effective action. Community groups can now sign up for the programme, which is suitable for anyone with an interest and a little spare time - from young people’s groups to Low Carbon Communities, mental health groups to parents groups. Anyone interested in applying for this training programme or finding out more can contact Nancy Davies (nancy@mea. org.uk or 01743 277 113)

In This Issue Climate Change Act pg. 2 Uganda Exhibition pg.3 Herefordshire Staff Training pg 4 Volunteer Action in Shrewsbury pg.5 Welcome to Sylvia pg.6 Happy Birthday Pump House pg. 7

On-line Monitoring Being Used in Seven Counties The word about our new online monitoring tool is starting to spread and we now have people signed up in 7 different counties across England and Wales. Included in this are people from community groups from Somerset, Shropshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Powys and Warwickshire. Talking about this, Simon from MEA said ‘I hope this tool will help show people how much 1.

energy they are using and over time demonstrate a trend in reduction. By sharing it with friends and neighbours in their own communities I hope this will inspire people to make greater changes than they have yet considered’. If you would like to get involved individually or as a community, then please call Simon on 01743 277106 or email him at simon@ mea.org.uk

MEA PUBLICATIONS

The Climate Change Acts - MEA Brings the Region up to Speed

The Queen’s speech November 2008 brought into UK law four new pieces of legislation relevant to energy and climate change - the Climate Change Act, Energy Act, Planning Act and Planning and Energy Act. MEA recognises the importance of Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) members, including local authorities and service deliver-

ers, understanding the new and forthcoming implications for their own roles. MEA’s policy manager, Katherine Shepherd, responded to this need by preparing a briefing paper to set out and untangle the aims and key provisions of each Act. A workshop on 12th March brought together LSP representatives from a range of sectors to

consider and discuss what the implications might be. Feedback was used to inform this section of the paper and to ensure its local relevance. The briefing paper and workshop form part of a package of activities in climate change mitigation and adaptation taking place between 2008 and 2010 supported by the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (RIEP). Policy-makers must be aware of UK ambitions, requirements and the opportunities if they are to have influence and become integrated as part of internal practice. MEA’s Carbon Forum team has published a separate briefing and workshop on climate change communications.

Eco n’Home Project Guide - Available to Download Eco n’Home was a three year project that developed and piloted a best practice model to providing energy advice to households. This innovative new approach involved providing households with a comprehensive energy audit and a year of ‘follow up’ in which households received further personalised support and advice. Over 850 households from across Europe were involved in the pilot project and on average each household reduced their energy consumption by 9% and reduced their annual CO2 emissions by 0.8 tonnes. The project, which was part funded by the European Commission’s IEE programme, brought together expertise from ten organisations from six European countries.

This Project Guide gives an overview of Eco n’Home and will be of interest to anyone involved in providing domestic energy advice. As a highly replicable model, the Eco n’Home service could be implemented either as a single project or as part of an existing initiative. As well as providing a summary of the

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project and its results, the guide provides all that is needed for organizations to replicate the service: tools, local methodologies, lessons and recommendations. Further information can be found on the project website, www.econhome.eu

MEA EDUCATION

Ugandan Climate Change Exhibition MEA has been building links with Uganda through an exciting new project making a climate change exhibition. MEA recognises climate change as an international issue and the importance of working together with others to reduce CO2. It aims not to limit this engagement to the West Midlands and UK but also to form partnerships with organisations in other countries, including developing countries such as Uganda. In December 2008, the Agency’s Director Richard Davies undertook a scoping visit to explore with the British High Commission how the Uganda Museum could be upgraded and used as a communication tool on climate change. As well as spending two days at the museum, Richard met with many of the key organisations and individuals in this field from wider environmental initiatives. MEA’s Carbon Forum team has now undertaken to design and

manage the implementation of a new Climate Change exhibition for the National Museum of Uganda, in Kampala. The exhibition will introduce climate change, its history and potential impacts with an emphasis on how these issues are important from a Ugandan perspective. Sections of the exhibition will focus on specific areas of life, such as the home, transport, agriculture and entrepreneurial opportunities. The average carbon footprint

per person in Uganda is 0.1 tonnes, far below the per capita footprint in the UK of about 10 tonnes in the US of close to 20 tonnes. However it faces its own sustainable energy challenges, particularly as the economy and society continue to grow and develop, and the demand for energy resources to rise. This work is being supported by the Bilateral Programme. The ambition is to have the new climate change exhibition ready to open in June 2009.

Our Director Richard Davies with Rose Mwanja Nkaale, Commissioner: Museums and Monuments, Ministry of Tourism, Trade & Industry Uganda

Ross on Wye Climate Talk ‘Climate Talk’ is a structured discussion activity that enables groups to build up a carbon reduction plan based on their own ideas and priorities. We have been running Climate Talk sessions as part of the Herefordshire 121 project, including a recent trip by Kris McGowan to Ross on Wye. The event had a good turn out and seemed to attract a good cross section of the community.

There was a good mixture of opinion and experience, from seasoned campaigners to novices on the subject, and even one or two sceptics. A lively and sometimes heated debate ensued with many useful topics covered. This included drawing together the links between climate change, peak oil, fuel poverty and energy security, whilst also focussing on local activity. 3.

After closing the session attendees were given low energy light bulbs, action packs, room thermometers, posters and ‘switch it off’ stickers as well as being signposted to further engagement materials available on the internet. It was identified that two people from each group were interested in setting up a Ross Transitions Towns group, they were introduced and will pursue this potential.

Training for Dudley Council We’re very excited to announce that we have been commissioned to develop member and officer training for Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council. We will be working with them to develop a set of tools and training that they can deliver in the future. We will also be taking the Light Fantastic exhibition trailer out there for ten events over the summer, including a staff training event.

Herefordshire 121 Staff Training MEA’s Carbon Forum team are currently working with Herefordshire Council on an EST funded project to raise energy awareness and inspire action on climate change across the county. During this last quarter, Richard Hammerton has been running a series of two hour staff training sessions for the officers of Herefordshire Council. The sessions are intended to raise energy awareness and carbon literacy throughout the Council, and include topics such as Climate Change & Energy Issues, Carbon Footprinting, Renewable Technologies, Energy Efficiency, Transport and Food. They are delivered to a diverse range of participants from across all of the teams in the Council. Each session begins with a talk from Richard to introduce the subject followed by a specially developed workshop activity where participants get to grips with some of the most important issues and learn more about the subject of the session. All of the sessions have been very well received and the early feedback comments we have had reflect this: “I am greatly enjoying your training sessions” “I have found it really valuable already and have briefed up in the organisation” In keeping with the low carbon message of the course, Richard has travelled to all the sessions using public transport. 4.

MEA ACTION

Volunteer Action in Shrewsbury Starting in March, the Carbon Forum Team have been joining forces with the Shrewsbury branch of Friends of the Earth to work with the residents of Underdale and Monkmoor in Shrewsbury. The ultimate aim of the project is to build up capacity and knowledge of climate change and energy issues, enabling a team of volunteers to help the wider community to reduce their energy use, CO2 and bills. Carbon Forum

has lined up a large number of low energy light bulbs for them, powerdown units, and subsidised insulation. Our Light Fantastic trailer will be visiting the area to kick the project off and after that we will be running a training morning, providing volunteers with all the information and skills needed. The volunteers will then be able get out into the community to make a real difference to energy use over the coming year.

5 Million Reasons to Book Light Fantastic The Light Fantastic project has now exceeded 5 million kg CO2 saved by giving away low energy bulbs and Powerdowns to its visitors. Alongside that the associated financial savings are now over £2 million. That’s meant a significant measurable achievement at each event and we make sure all our clients and venues have their individual data fed back to them.

MEA Goes to Dudley Our Director, Richard Davies, supported by the Carbon Forum team, has been undertaking a strategic piece of development work culminating in a presentation to the Dudley Community Partnership Board in February. This sought to embark on an ambitious programme of MEA work in Dudley across most of MEA’s themes. The research in advance of the board meeting identified ‘all the talents’, ongoing activity as well as funding opportunities. Dudley MBC are said to be relishing the opportunity to work with MEA. We look forward to assisting them on their journey to a low carbon future. Contact the Carbon Forum team ([email protected]) for more information about our Corporate Services and Member and Officer Training. 5.

MEA TEAM

Welcome to Sylvia! This quarter we welcomed a new member of staff to our team. Sylvia is the Project Manager in our Low Carbon Communities team and joined us in January this year. Living the low carbon life is nothing new to Sylvia. She grew up on a self-sufficient small holding in Brittany, where food and fuel were on her doorsteps. She appreciates the benefits of localism and is keen to share her experience with people who wish to decarbonise, be it in an urban or rural setting. Sylvia’s interests are wideranging: alternative films, slow food, coastal walks, rummy among others, and she is the number 1 fan of Stacey Grove (a song by Marc Bolan and the name of her cat!) She appreciates pretty much everything as long as it is unspoilt, genuine, thoughtprovoking and environmentallyfriendly. Sylvia joined the Low Carbon

Communities Team in January 2009, bringing with her a wealth of experience in communitybased projects. Previously, she worked on EU-funded projects designed to help businesses anticipate and adapt to change.

In her new role, Sylvia helps start communities on a low carbon journey by bringing like-minded people together, and by delivering workshops to help them reduce their carbon footprint.

Red Nose Day On a normal day MEA has no problem doing something funny but for Red Nose Day 2009, we decided it was time not only to do something funny - but for money! The Agency joined together with Water Management, BuildIT International and the Shropshire and Wrexham Rail Company, also based at the Pump House, to wear something red and a nose, indulge in coconut ice and to make a donation to the Comic Relief appeal. Since 1985, Comic Relief has sought to inspire the nation to have a laugh while raising cash to help change lives. 6.

Happy Birthday Pump House! A year has now passed since MEA moved to its new office at the Shrewsbury Pump House from the former site on Swan Hill. Together with a number of other local environmental organisations, the Agency was the first to inhabit this sustainable energy and energy efficient redevelopment and new build. Our feet were installed, officially, under desks from the 1st April 2008. This move enabled MEA to realise is long term dream of a climate-friendly office - let’s just say the last one had a way to go (although we did save carbon with no heating!) A solar thermal system, solar photovoltaics, and wood-pellet boiler, together with widespread recycling, composting, water efficiency, and a fleet of sustainable vehicles, all help keep our footprint low. Our energy performance is pretty impressive as the table at the bottom of the page shows. MEA has continued to grow and expand throughout this year and we celebrated our 10th birthday with a party at the Pump House. The River Severn rose, we bought an office canoe, and the river went down again. Highlights include a cartoon festival, European visits, launch of Re:think Energy, our 10th birthday party, closer partnership with the East Midlands, and at least four new communities embarking toward their own low carbon vision. The current Pump House residents are Marches Energy Agency, sustainable transport consultants Gfleet, development charity Build IT International, Water Management Consultants, the

carbon neutral Information Solutions, and the Wrexham & Shropshire rail company. Prior to being an office building, the diverse history of occupants here has ranged from the

Shrewsbury & Atcham Social Club, an underwear factory, to its original function as a Victorian waterworks and pumping station house.

Pump House

Best Practice

Typical

Electricity (kWh/m2)

39

54

85

Heat (kWh/m2)

16

79

151

(‘Best Practice’ and ‘Typical’ are figures for “naturally ventilated open plan offices”, as published by DETR 2000) 7.

MEA Team Building Day January took MEA out of its office and into the natural environment with trips to Llynclys Common in the Oswestry Hills, Shropshire for a day of conservation work. The Common is managed by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust and famous for its biodiversity. This involved scrub clearance along a proposed fence line and the building of a fire, which proved perfect for baking potatoes for lunch! An MEA team building event takes place every year and gives staff the important opportunity to get to know each other better, to let off frustrations and do something active, an excuse to get mucky and have fun. A good relationship across the Agency means that teams work well together to develop and deliver climate change projects.

Marches Energy Agency is a registered charity, #1070942

Main website:

www.mea.org.uk

MEA team websites:

www.carbonforum.org www.projectcarbon.org www.lowcarboncommunity.org www.keepshropshirewarm.org switchboard: 01743 246 007 email: [email protected] The Pump House, Coton Hill, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 2DP 8.