Nov 2005: Lots of little Pledges will make a World of Difference

Over 1000 householders in the South West wide have already pledged to save a little energy at home in order to make a big difference in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, the major cause of climate change.
They agreed to do things like turn the TV off stand-by, not overfill the kettle, and turn the thermostat down by 1°C. The resulting actions will save 300 tonnes of carbon dioxide, that’s the total emissions for 50 houses. The average financial saving per household will be £33 each year.
Nearly half of those who took part promised to ask a friend to pledge, if you would like to help stop climate change contact your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512012 or pledge online at www.thelittlepledge.co.uk.
The campaign is being run by the Energy Efficiency Advice Centres for the South West and funded by the Energy Saving Trust.
Emily Bullock from the Wiltshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, is co-ordinating the regional campaign says: “We can all help to stop climate change by taking small actions at home such as turning appliances off stand-by, not overfilling the kettle, or turning the thermostat down a little. Making sure your insulation is up to scratch will take a little more effort but will also save more energy and therefore money in your home. If you would like advice on saving energy at home, or information on grants and discounts for insulation call your local advice centre on 0800 512012."

Nov 2005: Businesses get Energy Briefing

Energy and eNVironmental Exhibition and Conference

More than 300 people attended a major environmental conference in Weston-super-Mare. The event held at the Winter Gardens, was devoted to raising awareness of how business can improve their use of energy and reduce waste.
Speakers included Andrew Lee director of campaigns at the World Wildlife Fund and Claire Gibson, head of planning, transport and the environment at the South West of England Regional Development Agency:
Mr. Lee said “Stopping globally dangerous climate change means keeping the Earth below two degrees of warming” For businesses’ and planners in the South West, this means transforming the way energy is produced and used, and the way communities are designed."
Visitors, to the exhibition and conference included two Dutch delegates from the regional government of North Holland, who are hoping to set up a similar event in the Netherlands.
Conference organizer Phil Harding from the Government Office for the South West, said, "It is great that our contribution to helping businesses and public organizations to review their costs and help the environment is being recognized internationally.
"We are also taking care that we ensure their visit is as environmentally-friendly as possible by funding a 1kw solar panel now fitted to the roof of the Winter Gardens."This will offset the carbon emissions from the flights from Holland."

Further information: www.oursouthwest.com/envec

August 2005:
Proposed Deep Sea Container Terminal at Bristol Port

On one hand, "Considerable concern exists that the United Kingdom is suffering from a shortage of deep sea container port capacity. In addition, much of the existing capacity is concentrated in the southeast of England, where traffic congestion is endemic and becoming worse" (www.bristolport.co.uk).
On the other hand, how do we in the South West feel about an increase in road traffic and emissions right on one of the busiest motorway bottlenecks in Britain?

Visit www.bristolport.co.uk to find out more about the port's proposition.

24th July 2005:
Great Bow Yard, Langport Somerset

A unique waterfront development of twelve eco-homes, the first of its kind in the South West.
Find out more at www.swecohomes.co.uk

Our members tour of these twelve eco homes provoked great interest and many questions. Highlights were the South facing sunspaces with maximum natural daylight into the main en suite bedroom with their dual flushing toilets harvested from rain water, the use of reclaimed bricks and stone for the gable ends and the timber cladding and decking from sustainable sources. A most enlightening and enjoyable visit.

Are you a rotter?

Its not just gardeners who compost – millions of people who care about the environment are now adding composting to their recycling activities. Making your own compost benefits the environment, gardens, and your pocket by saving money on compost and fertilisers. Under European law, Britain must reduce the amount of ‘waste’ going to landfill (buried in large holes in the ground), particularly waste which can be composted.
Up to a third of the average household bin is made up of waste that could be composted, such as kitchen waste. Composting takes these materials out of your rubbish that is collected, saving it from being landfilled which can cause pollution to air, land and water. Composting also cuts down the need to buy peat based products. Most commercial compost comes from peat bogs, a threatened natural habitat with rare plants and animals. It’s a crying shame to use this, when our home-made compost is just as good!
The 1st – 7th of May 2005 sees the fifth UK wide Compost Awareness Week campaign. Compost Awareness Week aims to encourage the public to make and use compost. Organised by The Composting Association, the awareness week hopes to persuade people across the UK to see for themselves how easy it is to transform common items of garden waste, such as grass cuttings, prunings and leaves into high quality compost by using a home compost bin.
Want to find out more?
Try these websites to find out how you can make black gold for your garden:

• North Somerset Council composting website (includes details of how to get a £10 compost bin with free delivery and free kitchen scraps bin) - www.n-somerset.gov.uk/composting
• Recycle Now - Compost at Home - www.recyclenow.com/home_composting
• Composting Association Website - www.compost.org.uk/dsp_news_detail.cfm?id=208
• HDRA - www.hdra.org.uk