Category Archives: Energy

Transition New Mills December Newsletter

08 Thursday Dec 2016

Posted by in Discussion, Energy, Events, Food, News

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Season’s Greetings to all Transition New Mills supporters! There have been strong signs of hope in what has often been a difficult year. Frequently these have come as a result of ordinary people doing wonderful things for their own communities. New Mills is fortunate to have a good number of active citizens, contributing in their own ways, without whom all our lives would be much poorer – so thanks to you all! Transition is all about local action, and there are some opportunities below. Please contact us on transition.newmills@gmail.com if you’d like to get involved!
Incredible Edible update

Some progress has been made on the projects mentioned in October’s newsletter, and we hope to be able to bring you some positive results on all three in the New Year:

  • New Mills Primary School are working on a funding package for improvements to their edible garden capabilities, including the installation of a greenhouse ,
  • a proposal has been tabled for the creation of a series of planters around the town with edible plants
  • funding has been committed by New Mills Community Orchard for the creation of a Forest Garden trial; a planting session will be arranged for spring 2017.

These are great practical projects; if you want to get involved, email us at transition.newmills@gmail.com
Egg Map

In addition, we are working on a town egg map. This will map the locations where you can buy locally produced eggs, normally using an honesty box. In future, this concept can easily be extended to cover many other locally produced items, ending up with a local directory, maybe something like Falmouth’s. If you know of any locations, or you want to sell eggs or other sustainable local produce yourself, let us know and we can put it on the map.

Discussion Group Next Meeting

The group is tackling the Universal Basic Income as its next topic; an attempt to get away from linking income with work or benefits. Here’s a short introductory video explaining the concept.
Sue will also give a report on her recent visit to Marrakech during COP22. The meeting is on Monday 12th December at 8pm; all are welcome. Please contact us on transition.newmills@gmail.com for details if you want to go.
New Transition movement website

The Transition Network now have a brand  new website! It’s not just a re-design; they have started afresh, making it more readable and accessible, and are introducing new features and lots more specific content.  Check it out with this link to our launch blog from Rob Hopkins, where he explains some of the key elements of the new site, and helps you find the things of greatest importance to you.
The Gift of Death

Before you buy any further Christmas presents; just bear in mind the consequences!  I’ve recycled one of my favourite George Monbiot articles from a few years back on what does and doesn’t make a good Xmas gift.
How to Save Energy and Be Warmer

Dreading the next fuel bill? A few years ago I participated a Global Action plan project on everyday household sustainable living, and created a series of handy ‘top tips’ guides, with a range of solutions to suit different interests, abilities and pockets. Rather than waste them, we’ll be offering them up in the newsletter at intervals, and putting them on our website. Check out this month’s, topically on energy use, and make it your New Year Resolution to try some out.

Local Giving

Any donations through our Local Giving site will be matched using lottery cash. This offer lasts until April 2017, and could give us up to £500 of free cash! Needless to say, we are very keen to reach this target, and being an environmentally based group there is flexibility over the projects for which we can use the money. Please help us reach this total in a very efficient way by donating as much as you feel comfortable at Transition New Mills | Localgiving

Forthcoming events

Discussion Group Monday 12th December, 8pm On the Universal Basic Income. Email transition.newmills@gmail.com for details
Solstice Stroll, Wednesday 21st December, 6-9pm Come and celebrate the Winter Solstice, with a gentle stroll visiting some of New Mills’ pubs, from the Masons Arms, through the town centre, to the Rock Tavern. May involve litter picking on the way!
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New Mills School Goes Solar!

19 Monday Sep 2016

Posted by in Energy, News

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It’s great to hear that Solar PV panels have finally been installed at New Mills School. Electricity generation started on Sunday 18th September from a 21kW array on the Maths and Swinburn Buildings.

In late 2012 the PTA launched the Solar Schools Project at New Mills to raise funds (aim £12,000) to install Solar PV panels. The school and PTA would benefit directly in the form of:

·    free electricity generated to the school

·    income to the PTA from Government incentive payments (FITs)

Approximately £7,800 was raised by the end of 2013, and Transition New Mills supporters raised over £400 of this through our ‘Clock New Mills’ walking challenge.

The Solar PV (much more than the school previously anticipated) has now been installed by the Schools Energy Co-operative. Although the financial model has changed, the PTA and school will still benefit by:

·    electricity generated sold cheaply to the school

·    PTA earning an annual interest payment on money invested in the Co-operative

Well done to everyone involved; another step closer to a low-carbon New Mills!

nms-solar-pv-work-in-progress

FREE RETROFIT ADVOCACY TRAINING OFFER

22 Sunday May 2016

Posted by in Energy, Training

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Transition New Mills is offering to cover the cost of training up to 4 New Mills residents to gain the knowledge and skills needed to motivate others in our community to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, reducing carbon emissions, improving comfort and reducing fuel bills. The course is being hosted by the Carbon Coop, Manchester.
All we ask is that you undertake to help spread good practice back here in New Mills. Let us know if you’re interested before you book!
WHAT: Retrofit Advocacy Training
WHEN: 9.30-12:30pm, Sat 11th and 25th June 2016 (as this is a two-part course you need to attend both dates)
WHERE: URBED offices, 5th Floor, 10 Little Lever Street, Manchester, M1 1HR
COST: Members – FREE, Non Members – £10 (To be reimbursed by Transition New Mills)
LEADS: Helen Grimshaw, sustainability consultant, URBED and Julian Tomlin, consultant, Carbon Co-op committee member, and householder.
This simple, two-part, participatory course will enable local green volunteers to confidently discuss energy efficiency and inspire others to find out more about retrofit, whether on a stall at a local event, in a meeting or workshop, or with friends and family.
Delivered by a specialist retrofit consultants URBED and a householder with retrofit experience, the fun sessions will involve presentations, a quiz, group activities as well as a bit of homework.
The training has been designed to comply with the Carbon Literacy Standard and all successful completers will receive a Carbon Literacy Certificate
This training is for volunteers to provide first stop advice and support to other householders. It will not replace the technical expertise provided by industry professionals.
Please book early as spaces are limited.

Join the Big Energy Saving Network!

22 Thursday Oct 2015

Posted by in Energy

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High Peak CVS is looking for volunteers for a project helping vulnerable people in the High Peak to save money on their energy bills.

The project is part of a national government-funded programme running through this Autumn and Winter called the Big Energy Saving Network.

Their brief is to provide outreach workshops, surgeries, 1-1 help and staff/volunteer training to help people switch and / or apply for energy-related benefits and generally save money on their energy bills.

The target audiences include a wide range of people (and support agencies) including those who are ‘off gas grid’ and ‘living in hard-to-heat homes such as solid-wall homes’.

They are looking for people who like talking to and helping people, and who have at least a little experience of using the internet.

You don’t need to have any energy-related knowledge as relevant training will be provided, nor will you be asked to lead workshops or training sessions unless you would like to.

If you are interested in getting involved or would like to find out more, please contact Esther Jones at High Peak CVS via 01663 736 429 or esther@highpeakcvs.org.uk as soon as possible.

The Parties Respond to Our Questions! Q4 – Community Energy

01 Friday May 2015

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Political party logos

The full, unedited responses for this question are available in this document: Candidates Responses-Q4.

Recent changes to the registration of co-ops and tax changes have put barriers in the way of community energy schemes. Conversely, George Osborne talks about tax breaks for fracking companies. Which would you prioritise and how?

Stephen Worrall (Liberal Democrats)

Stephen says that “You can rest assured that I would definitely prioritise community energy schemes, those tax breaks would be going to them rather than fracking if it was up to me!” He also says that the Liberal Democrats are committed to supporting new energy cooperatives in the next parliament.

UKIP

UKIP’s policies on energy include repealing the Climate Change Act 2008, which costs the economy £18bn a year; supporting the development of shale gas with proper safeguards for the local environment; earmarking money from shale gas for lower council taxes or community projects within the local authority; no new subsidies for wind farms and solar arrays; the abolition of green taxes in order to reduce fuel bills.

Andrew Bingham (Conservative)

Andrew says that the Torrs Hydro scheme in New Mills is a “source of pride”. He recalls prior to the last election bringing Conservative Shadow Ministers to see it, as it shows the way to many other parts of the country. He says that how it was conceived, funded and built is a tribute to people in New Mills.

Man-made climate change is a serious threat to this country and the world. Left unchecked it will have far-reaching consequences for our society. Andrew says that this is why his party is taking action to deal with the threat of climate change and ensure Britain’s energy security after “thirteen wasted years from Labour”. This action includes the world’s first Green Investment Bank, support for smaller solar energy projects, and direct or enabling investment of hundreds of billions of pounds for clean, low-carbon energy, supporting up to 250,000 jobs.  Renewable electricity has more than doubled and the amount of electricity we get from renewables has risen by 119% over the last four years.

As to the recent controversy over the registration of co-operatives for community energy, Andrew says that the “Financial Conduct Authority has been clear its current policy on the registration of co-operative and community benefit societies has not changed”. However, it has increased its focus on whether a society is a co-operative society or a community benefit society. As a result, some recent applications for registration as a co-operative society have been unable to show the necessary member participation. Andrew says that the FCA has met with societies and advisers to explain their findings.

And as to the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) providing tax relief to incentivise individuals to invest in higher-risk small and growing businesses, the Conservative Party believes that the community purpose underpinning community energy schemes makes accessing risk capital under Social Investment Tax Relief more appropriate than using the other tax-advantaged venture capital schemes that fall under the EIS. Andrew says that, “Even so, I recognise that community energy organisations face particular risks in comparison to commercial projects. As a result they can continue to benefit from tax-relieved investment despite the Government withdrawing eligibility from commercial projects.”

Andrew believes that the incentives are fair and sufficient to encourage investment into community energy organisations and remains committed to the community energy sector more generally.

Charlotte Farrell (Green)

Charlotte says that Greens would maximise the benefit of renewable generation to the local community through local ownership of generators, where possible through co-operatives. This would begin to balance the market domination of the big 6 energy companies. Community-owned renewable energy schemes such as have been successful in Germany allow far greater flexibility and security and must be given priority given the need to rid ourselves of fossil fuels because of climate change.

The Greens also totally oppose tax breaks given to all the fossil fuel companies.  Fossil fuel extraction has to be scaled back and renewable energy increased.  The Green Party is the only party to totally oppose fracking.

Caitlin Bisknell (Labour)

Caitlin fully supports community energy projects as a way of increasing the provision of cheaper, greener energy and would prioritise this over tax breaks for fracking companies. Labour wants to explore the potential for direct delivery of community owned generation into homes and businesses and ensure the regulatory environment supports the development of this sector.

Caitlin would also like to see local councils building new homes to the highest energy efficiency levels and encouraging other developers to meet those standards too; we also need to look at programmes to retro-fit our homes to make them more energy efficient.

Help us stay warm and cut fuel bills in New Mills homes

13 Friday Feb 2015

Posted by in Energy

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big energy saving network logo

Do you know people or groups in New Mills living in inefficient housing, on low incomes or in fuel poverty, who are struggling to stay warm and healthy in their home and keep their bills affordable?

Transition New Mills is keen to help High Peak CVS deliver free energy advice sessions in New Mills to help people cut their fuel costs. High Peak CVS’s trained and experienced Big Energy Saving team can help people to:

  • Switch energy supplier, and tariff or payment method to get a better deal
  • Find out if they qualify for a Warm Home Discount worth £140 this Winter
    Access grants to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, including insulation and boiler replacement
  • Make no and low-cost energy efficiency changes to their home
  • Make simple behavioural changes to use less energy and keep warm and healthy

High Peak CVS is offering short training sessions for staff and volunteers who support disadvantaged people, informal chats / awareness raising presentations for community groups and audiences, and 1-1 surgery sessions to help individuals take action to save money and energy.

We’d like your help to reach the people who would most benefit from this initiative. Likely audiences include elderly people, young families, people with disabilities and long-term health problems, those off-gas-grid or on low incomes.

High Peak CVS are already in contact with some groups in New Mills, but we would really like your suggestions as to which groups or organisations can help us reach the people in most need of this help, and how we can best make contact with them.

This offer is time limited, so please make your suggestions by reply or email transition.newmills@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Update on community energy in New Mills

27 Saturday Sep 2014

Posted by in Energy

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You may remember this blog post posing the question of whether we need more community energy in New Mills. An overwhelming 90% of people thought we did.

There are a number of stages involved in getting community energy up and running. Broadly speaking they are:

  1. Decide on what type of energy project to develop
  2. Determine a suitable site
  3. Put in place the organisational infrastructure
  4. Raise investment
  5. Build the power station
  6. Generate clean, green power, manage the organisation and distribute dividends
  7. Repeat to reduce carbon emissions, increase energy security and create local jobs!

The good news is that there is now a small team from Transition New Mills working on this. And, having spoken to a number of people, we reckon that generating electricity from solar panels (‘solar PV’) on one or more large roofs is the best way to start. Why is this?

  • Lots of other people have done it so we can follow a well-worn path
  • The technology these days is fairly standard so it’s not likely to present many technical difficulties
  • It’s relatively cheap and provides good financial returns
  • There’s usually no need for planning permission
  • It’s not usually subject to much controversy.

Of course, none of the stages outlined above are simple and we need help. For some of the practical considerations, we’ve secured the partnership of an experienced and friendly solar installation company, Sustainable Energy Systems, whose involvement is vital in ensuring that sites are suitable and we can address technical issues. Together, we’ve been scouting out potentially suitable sites (i.e. large, broadly south-facing roofs in New Mills!) and approaching the people who look after them. Sometimes, finding the right people to talk to and getting a foot in the door is not always as easy as it might seem. Whilst of course it wouldn’t be right to give details of meetings and conversations we’ve had, I can say that one site that looked initially promising is unfortunately not appropriate. We’re currently engaged in discussions over one other potential site and we’re at the early stages of approaching others.

Also extremely helpful has been Ovesco. This organisation was formed by people from Transition Town Lewes and their first project was an installation of solar panels on the roof of a family-owned Sussex brewery. They have definitely been there, done that and have the contacts and expertise to prove it! Among other very useful pointers, they suggested that whilst our first priority is to realise the initial project, the medium-term game plan should be to operate several community-owned power stations so that we can afford for someone to devote a portion of their time to manage them (and their investors) and to develop further opportunities.

Watch this space for further updates as the project progresses. If you have any suggestions or want to get involved, feel free to get in contact via the usual channels or post a comment below.

Installing solar panels on a roof in New Mills

Installing solar panels on a roof in New Mills (mine!)

More community energy in New Mills? Have your say!

30 Sunday Mar 2014

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Is it time for more community-owned renewable energy in New Mills? There are an increasing number of community energy projects around the UK, with many towns and communities putting a lot of effort into becoming more energy-efficient and generating more green energy. Some examples include:

  • Wadebridge in Cornwall, which is aiming to generate 30% of its electricity from local renewable sources by 2015
  • Balcombe in Sussex, which was recently the site of exploratory fracking investigations (and a high-profile protest camp) and is now intending to invest £300,000 in solar power
  • The South Wales valleys, which has an ongoing share offer to invest in solar power on seven community buildings.

So what about New Mills? Our town is of course home to the UK’s first community-owned hydro-electric scheme, the Torrs Hydro, and there is an ongoing project to raise money to put solar panels on the roof of New Mills School.

But could we be doing more? There is certainly no shortage of options: just downstream from Archie at Torr Vale Mill, another weir could generate more hydro-electricity; we have numerous south-facing roofs where we could put solar panels; we have plenty of wind; and let’s not forget the Renewable Heat Incentive, which makes more viable the installation of community heating schemes. As well as an investment in our future energy security, many of these options could be good financial investments too.

We would like to know what you think. Please take part in our poll and send this to as many of your friends and neighbours as possible to get them to vote too.

And if you would like more community energy and you’d like to help make it happen, contact us.

Cheaper Solar Panels for your House?

11 Tuesday Feb 2014

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Sustainable Hayfield is exploring the scope for attracting significant discounts from solar power installers by bringing together households interested in having solar panels installed. Is this of interest to you?
Owners of solar panels get three distinct benefits:
  • a renewable source of electricity, reducing CO2 emissions and dependence on energy providers;
  • opportunity to become more self-sufficient in energy, and reduce bills significantly;
  • you generate an income stream by exporting electricity to ‘the grid’, currently about 15p per KWh, guaranteed for 20 years (a typical installation would have 2-4 kilowatts capacity).
That’s all very positive. The downside has been installation costs. Whilst costs for a typical house have fallen hugely – from around £15,000 ten years ago to £5-6,000 now – this is still a big sum, though they should last for 20-25 years with no problems.
Sustainable Hayfield has heard from installers they’d be very keen to talk, offering considerable reductions on normal prices, where they can arrange a number of installations together in a location. This is because it clearly reduces their costs (travel, scaffolding, more efficient use of time etc.). Sustainable Hayfield would like to bring together interested local households and approach a range of installers with an outline proposal for near-simultaneous installations i.e using the purchasing power of a ‘critical mass’ of consumers to lever savings.
Are you interested? Have you thought about solar power but been put off by the cost or because you’ve not known enough about the prospect? Why not join us in seeing what’s available? There’s absolutely no obligation at this stage, just an expression of interest in the idea. We already have a small number of local households who’ve registered interest, but we want more. That could include you, local friends and neighbours. It would be great if we could approach installers with 10, 20, 30 prospective installations, which we think would be a very attractive proposition to them.
If you’d like to register your outline interest, please contact Mike Crompton of Sustainable Hayfield (pmcrompton@gmail.com) (tel: 01663 744248) in the next 3- 4 weeks. The intention is to hold a meeting of those interested. We look forward to seeing what ‘people power’ might be able to achieve!

Keep Warm and Cut Energy Bills

29 Wednesday Jan 2014

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Tonight (Wednesday 29 January) 7.30pm at the Royal Hotel, Hayfield an event will feature free presentations offering information/advice on cutting energy bills, organised by Sustainable Hayfield. The event recognises that our area’s cool climate and many old stone houses, often results in above-average energy bills.
 
They’ll be presentations on government schemes – Green Deal and ECO – designed to help households ensure homes are properly insulated and be energy-efficient, sometimes free or with little/no upfront installation cost. So there will be a look at criteria for replacement boilers, free insulation and the like. And there’ll be information offering scope for reduced fuel use. There will also be a focus on how to make use of renewable energy, generating your own electricity and getting some of the cash benefits – via the Renewable Heat Incentive and feed-in tariffs – to help keep energy bills affordable. General and one-to-one advice will be available.
 
Energy bills get much attention just now. Charges continue to rise. And many companies are aggressively trying to sell products. This event, however, is organised by local villagers for people in the local area, with no selling. The emphasis is on information/advice. So, if you’re simply looking for ‘tips’, are confused or unaware about available help, or want to know more about relevant renewable energy sources, come along. You’ll be very welcome and may learn things to your – and your pocket’s – advantage!