Monday 6th July
Open Evening 6.30 to 8.30 - everyone welcome - turn up when you can
Cut Your Carbon Footprint Ceremony with The Bishop of Bedford 7.00 to 7.30
Greenfield School, Pulloxhill Road, Greenfield, Beds MK45 5ES
For more information contact Gareth Ellis on 0780 9873124 or inggareth@googlemail.com
Monday, 6 July 2009
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Flitton and Greenfield Carbon Challenge
Here's a reminder of some of the projects and actions identified at a community meeting back in 2008.....
Improve building insulation – homes and local community buildings
Wind power and solar power for church hall
Encourage walking and cycling
Discourage car use – school run; provide alternatives
Local green waste recycling
Local natural waste water treatment – use grey water for agriculture (and households)
Buy local or British produce whenever possible; sell produce from local allotments
Walking bus for school
Improve paths and pavements
Encourage householders to have solar powered external lighting
Encourage switching off of lights and turning heating down and closing curtains, wear woolly jumpers
Reduce traffic
Encourage car sharing – via local web site and school
Better public transport – more info and timetables
Return of village store and post office – community scheme in church hall?
More use of allotments
Unplug transformers and other standby equipment
Restore Flitwick Mill to generate electricity
Recycle batteries
Solar panel buying club
Collect cooking oil
Low energy light bulb scheme
Encourage council to convert refuse lorries from diesel to veg oil
Food waste collection
Enforce 30 mph speed limit
Encourage home working and or provide local base for homeworkers e.g. Church Hall
Local timezone - Change time of getting up
Plant trees – e.g. along A507 to also reduce noise; encrouage more in gardens; seek sponsorship
Publicity re carbon footprints
Geothermal project for village
More information on energy efficient appliances
Wood burning stoves and fires – using local wood
Set up local network of energy volunteers or wardens or advisers on neighbourhood basis
Bulk purchase of energy saving appliances
Free order/collection of regular items – papers/milk
Promote public transport
Biodiesel project/ storage facility
Education
Mirrors to reflect sun into space – increase albedo
Local wind turbine – possibly near Industrial estate
Switch off pubic lighting after 11pm
Ban Christmas lights
Ban patio heaters
Given that the meeting was a brainstorming session it is understanable that some of the ideas are a bit ambitious but a surprising number have been taken up subsequently and others are waiting for us to take action. Other ideas and projects have been proposed since. These include the solar panel project for the school which picks up on some of the earlier suggestions for solar projects and for awareness raising and education.
Projects or ideas which are progressing include:
Encouraging "walk to school" - the parish council and school governors have been working to ensure safer routes for children to walk to school; the school have installed a bike rack and organise regular walk to school days
Improving paths and pavements - the parish council have been lobbying Highways for improvements to pavements
Enforce 30 mph zone - the parish council have been organising speed checks and pushing for traffic calming to be installed
Allotments on Flitton Hill are now more fully utilised
Food waste collections now cover Flitton and Greenfield
Information on energy efficiency - we had a presentation from the local energy advice centre
There is a lot more which has not been progressed. I would be keen to see more energy projects happening. I am currently in discussions with the Central Beds Council to see if we can get some energy meters on loan which could be distributed to people interested in finding out how they can save electricity in the home. A number of people have expressed interest in solar panels which could be an opportunity for a buying club - potentially leading to discounts and easier access to grants. To progress these ideas though we need volunteers willing to help with coordination.
Improve building insulation – homes and local community buildings
Wind power and solar power for church hall
Encourage walking and cycling
Discourage car use – school run; provide alternatives
Local green waste recycling
Local natural waste water treatment – use grey water for agriculture (and households)
Buy local or British produce whenever possible; sell produce from local allotments
Walking bus for school
Improve paths and pavements
Encourage householders to have solar powered external lighting
Encourage switching off of lights and turning heating down and closing curtains, wear woolly jumpers
Reduce traffic
Encourage car sharing – via local web site and school
Better public transport – more info and timetables
Return of village store and post office – community scheme in church hall?
More use of allotments
Unplug transformers and other standby equipment
Restore Flitwick Mill to generate electricity
Recycle batteries
Solar panel buying club
Collect cooking oil
Low energy light bulb scheme
Encourage council to convert refuse lorries from diesel to veg oil
Food waste collection
Enforce 30 mph speed limit
Encourage home working and or provide local base for homeworkers e.g. Church Hall
Local timezone - Change time of getting up
Plant trees – e.g. along A507 to also reduce noise; encrouage more in gardens; seek sponsorship
Publicity re carbon footprints
Geothermal project for village
More information on energy efficient appliances
Wood burning stoves and fires – using local wood
Set up local network of energy volunteers or wardens or advisers on neighbourhood basis
Bulk purchase of energy saving appliances
Free order/collection of regular items – papers/milk
Promote public transport
Biodiesel project/ storage facility
Education
Mirrors to reflect sun into space – increase albedo
Local wind turbine – possibly near Industrial estate
Switch off pubic lighting after 11pm
Ban Christmas lights
Ban patio heaters
Given that the meeting was a brainstorming session it is understanable that some of the ideas are a bit ambitious but a surprising number have been taken up subsequently and others are waiting for us to take action. Other ideas and projects have been proposed since. These include the solar panel project for the school which picks up on some of the earlier suggestions for solar projects and for awareness raising and education.
Projects or ideas which are progressing include:
Encouraging "walk to school" - the parish council and school governors have been working to ensure safer routes for children to walk to school; the school have installed a bike rack and organise regular walk to school days
Improving paths and pavements - the parish council have been lobbying Highways for improvements to pavements
Enforce 30 mph zone - the parish council have been organising speed checks and pushing for traffic calming to be installed
Allotments on Flitton Hill are now more fully utilised
Food waste collections now cover Flitton and Greenfield
Information on energy efficiency - we had a presentation from the local energy advice centre
There is a lot more which has not been progressed. I would be keen to see more energy projects happening. I am currently in discussions with the Central Beds Council to see if we can get some energy meters on loan which could be distributed to people interested in finding out how they can save electricity in the home. A number of people have expressed interest in solar panels which could be an opportunity for a buying club - potentially leading to discounts and easier access to grants. To progress these ideas though we need volunteers willing to help with coordination.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Solar Electricity for Greenfield School
The Solar Photovoltaic array has finally been installed on the roof of Greenfield CofE (VC)Lower School and is now producing electricity - despite the wet weather!
The project is an initiative of the "Flitton and Greenfield Carbon Challenge" a local group involving people in Flitton and Greenfield supported by the local Parish Council.
The aim of the Flitton and Greenfield Challenge is to encourage people to lower their carbon emissions in their own homes and to also raise funding for community projects. At a group meeting last year it was decided in the first instance to seek funding for a school project as this was seen as a good focal point for raising awareness. Also the school had recently become an Eco School and needed to take further action on energy to maintain this status. Solar photovoltaics were seen as a suitable technology as they require minimum maintenance and also are easily transferrable to another building (a consideration for the school as the buildings are in need of replacement).
Funding was successfully sought through the EEDA Cut Your Carbon programme and this was matched by applying to the Government's Low Carbon Buildings Programme.
In all just over £50,000 was secured for a 9 kW array capable of producing a significant proportion of the school's electricity demands. The Parish Council assisted with the grant application to EEDA and the Diocese of St Albans (Greenfield School is a Church of England School)were also very helpful in securing the necessary funding.
The Solar Array is being officially "switched on" on the 6th July. All are welcome and there will an opportunity to learn more about the technology and the current incentives for home installations. Watch this space for more details. In the meantime you can contact Gareth Ellis on 0780 9873124 or inggareth@googlemail.com for more information.
The project is an initiative of the "Flitton and Greenfield Carbon Challenge" a local group involving people in Flitton and Greenfield supported by the local Parish Council.
The aim of the Flitton and Greenfield Challenge is to encourage people to lower their carbon emissions in their own homes and to also raise funding for community projects. At a group meeting last year it was decided in the first instance to seek funding for a school project as this was seen as a good focal point for raising awareness. Also the school had recently become an Eco School and needed to take further action on energy to maintain this status. Solar photovoltaics were seen as a suitable technology as they require minimum maintenance and also are easily transferrable to another building (a consideration for the school as the buildings are in need of replacement).
Funding was successfully sought through the EEDA Cut Your Carbon programme and this was matched by applying to the Government's Low Carbon Buildings Programme.
In all just over £50,000 was secured for a 9 kW array capable of producing a significant proportion of the school's electricity demands. The Parish Council assisted with the grant application to EEDA and the Diocese of St Albans (Greenfield School is a Church of England School)were also very helpful in securing the necessary funding.
The Solar Array is being officially "switched on" on the 6th July. All are welcome and there will an opportunity to learn more about the technology and the current incentives for home installations. Watch this space for more details. In the meantime you can contact Gareth Ellis on 0780 9873124 or inggareth@googlemail.com for more information.
Forthcoming Events
"Transition Bedford" on Mon 22nd June 6pm at The Bunyan Museum/church, Mill St
more details below...
"Flitton and Greenfield Challenge": Grand launch of Greenfield School Solar Array at Greenfield School on Mon 6th July
More details soon.... contact: Gareth Ellis 0780 9873124 inggareth@googlemail.com
TRANSITION BEDFORD?
MON 22nd JUNE 2009
Open meeting - free to attend – some refreshments will be provide but you can also bring drinks and snacks to share and any photos and flyers of projects ongoing in your community, company or organisation
Can Bedford transition to a sustainable and vibrant community?
Venue
The Bunyan museum/church – Mill St, Bedford Town Centre, MK40 3EU
Date and times
Mon 22nd June 09; Meeting 7pm-9pm (Networking starts at 6pm)
Content
6pm Pre event drinks, networking and viewing of photos of varying local projects
7pm A short film introduction to the Transition Network
7.20 Introduction to Zero Carbon Castle by Peter Bull co-founder, Sustainable Oakley by Gerry Sansom Oakley Parish Council, as well as varying other groups from around Bedford, presented by members of those groups
8pm Community mapping - ideas, opportunities, resources, needs and visions of a sustainable, vibrant and resilient Bedford
8.45pm Where now? Final session
Who is the event for?
Open to all, from Bedford & surrounding areas, who want to respond to climate change; residents, politicians, activists, business people and members of NGO’s and charities alike. “Keynote contributors” have been invited from Zero Carbon Castle, Queens Park and Kempston in Bloom, Golden Gardens, Sustainable Oakley, Bedford Borough Council and all parishes, Central Bedfordshire Council, BTCV, BCCF, Groundwork, Oxfam, Sustrams, Forest of Marston Vale, Wildlife Trust, Beds Rural Communities Charity, Green Business Network, BigBarn.co.uk, Buy-Local.net and many others
more details below...
"Flitton and Greenfield Challenge": Grand launch of Greenfield School Solar Array at Greenfield School on Mon 6th July
More details soon.... contact: Gareth Ellis 0780 9873124 inggareth@googlemail.com
TRANSITION BEDFORD?
MON 22nd JUNE 2009
Open meeting - free to attend – some refreshments will be provide but you can also bring drinks and snacks to share and any photos and flyers of projects ongoing in your community, company or organisation
Can Bedford transition to a sustainable and vibrant community?
Venue
The Bunyan museum/church – Mill St, Bedford Town Centre, MK40 3EU
Date and times
Mon 22nd June 09; Meeting 7pm-9pm (Networking starts at 6pm)
Content
6pm Pre event drinks, networking and viewing of photos of varying local projects
7pm A short film introduction to the Transition Network
7.20 Introduction to Zero Carbon Castle by Peter Bull co-founder, Sustainable Oakley by Gerry Sansom Oakley Parish Council, as well as varying other groups from around Bedford, presented by members of those groups
8pm Community mapping - ideas, opportunities, resources, needs and visions of a sustainable, vibrant and resilient Bedford
8.45pm Where now? Final session
Who is the event for?
Open to all, from Bedford & surrounding areas, who want to respond to climate change; residents, politicians, activists, business people and members of NGO’s and charities alike. “Keynote contributors” have been invited from Zero Carbon Castle, Queens Park and Kempston in Bloom, Golden Gardens, Sustainable Oakley, Bedford Borough Council and all parishes, Central Bedfordshire Council, BTCV, BCCF, Groundwork, Oxfam, Sustrams, Forest of Marston Vale, Wildlife Trust, Beds Rural Communities Charity, Green Business Network, BigBarn.co.uk, Buy-Local.net and many others
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