newsletter
Issue 11 Winter 2010/11
It’s official - feed-in tariffs
are working
Initial figures published by
the energy regulator Ofgem
show that the introduction of
Feed-In Tariffs (FITS) in April
last year has given a massive
boost to the renewable energy
industry in the UK. In the first six
months, 9,350 installations were
registered under the scheme. In
addition, over 2,500 installations
previously registered with the
Renewables Obligation scheme
have been transferred to FITS.
Under the FITS scheme,
subscribers are paid to generate
their own electricity. Small-scale
solar, wind and hydro schemes
Fantastic Home breaks the £1.5 million savings
barrier in three months!
Our Fantastic Home exhibition
has achieved phenomenal
things in its first three months
of operation. Despite the cold
qualify and surplus energy can be
sold back to the grid. The tariffs
are designed so that over the
lifetime of the scheme the initial
investment should be recouped
two or three times over.
These initial figures are very
encouraging and it is hoped that
FITS will go on to emulate the
success of similar schemes in
other countries. In Germany,
for example, where tariffs were
introduced in 2000, supported
small-scale installations supply
7% of the country’s electricity and
the renewables sector employs
170,000 people.
weather and snow, we have
delivered 34 events since the
start of September, covering
the length and breadth of
the Midlands. Our staff and
volunteers have braved
temperatures as low as -4oC.
In total 4,568 people have visited
us and benefited from our free
energy saving devices which
get them on the first rung of
the energy efficiency ladder.
We have also referred people
for insulation and renewable
1.
In this issue
MEA News:
p2 Insulating homes “a
no-brainer” says
Huhne
MEA course picks up
two awards
MEA Communities:
p4 Community Groups
tackle climate change
MEA Enterprise:
p5 Farming holds the key
to a low carbon future
MEA Technology:
p6 Shrewsbury Library
takes part in energy
saving trial
technology installations. We have
assisted many local authorities in
promoting their own schemes as
well as providing a higher profile
to community groups. Finally, we
have recruited and trained ten
volunteers to be energy saving
champions in their own local
areas.
In total we have saved our
visitors £1,685,483 as well as
87,931,815 litres of water. The
CO2 saving associated with this
is a phenomenal 2,613,612 kg.
 MEA News
Insulating homes “a no-brainer” says Huhne
MEA News
Energy and Climate Change
secretary Chris Huhne has
announced tough new rules to
protect consumers when they
insulate their properties under
the Government’s Green Deal.
MEA course picks up two awards
The Fit For the Future project,
which includes a tenant and staff
engagement course developed
and delivered by MEA in
partnership with Accord Housing
Group, has picked up two
awards in less than a week.
The prestigious Public
Engagement & Communication
Initiative Award at the Retrofit
Awards in Birmingham was
followed just three days later
by the Community Involvement/
Engagement Award at the
UK-wide Sustainable Housing
Awards 2010.
MEA’s Richard Hammerton,
Accredited Training Project
Manager said, “Fit For the
Future is a very successful
project and has raised climate
and energy awareness for
housing association residents
MEA achieves West Midlands
Business Link Select
Supplier status
We are pleased to announce
that we have achieved
accredited supplier status with
West Midlands Business Link.
This is in recognition of our
highly qualified staff and proven
The legislation, due to come into
effect in 2012, will enable private
companies to make energy
efficiency measures available to
all at no upfront cost. The cost
will be paid back from the saving
across the West Midlands.
I am delighted it has won
these awards which are a fair
reflection of what has been
achieved so far ”.
The course has been running
since February and has so far
trained over 170 residents. Mike
Poppett, tenant and course
attendee said “I thoroughly
enjoyed this training session
and am now looking forward
to stage two. Many thanks to
Richard and Christina, you
came across as knowledgeable
and approachable trainers.”
satisfied clientele, with particular
reference to our Low Carbon
Enterprise team.
The accreditation will help us in
gaining additional business with
the private sector in the region.
2.
on future energy bills. Millions
of properties, whether owned
or rented, could benefit from
improved warmth and lower bills.
Both households and business
premises will qualify.
This will create new jobs and
business opportunities in
insulation, with the government
predicting employment in the
sector will rise from the present
27,000 to a peak of 250,000 in
the next decade.
Mr Huhne also says consumer
protection will be built into the
Green Deal with accreditation,
a quality mark and insurance-
backed warranties all included
in the legislation. He was critcal
of previous energy policy,
describing the UK’s record on
insulation as that of “a laggard”
and said improving the insulation
of the nation’s homes was “a no-
brainer.”
The Green Deal also includes
a requirement that private
landlords make reasonable
energy efficiency improvements
to their properties providing there
are no up-front costs to them.
Energy suppliers will provide
additional support for low income
vulnerable households and for
those whose homes are more
difficult or expensive to improve.
And energy companies will also
have to ensure that they provide
their customers with information
on their cheapest tariffs. The
Government say they would
prefer a vouluntary agreement to
acheive this but have not ruled
out introducing legislation if such
an agreement is not forthcoming.
 MEA News
Warm Front closed to new applications - but we’re
still Keeping Shropshire Warm
It has been announced that the
Warm Front scheme is currently
closed to new applications until
at least April 2011. Warm Front
provides financial assistance
for insulation and heating
measures It is vital for people
on certain disability or income-
related benefits, who would not
otherwise be able to make their
homes warmer, healthier and
more energy efficient.
Warm Front stress this is only
a temporary measure and new
applications will be accepted
again sometime after 1st
April 2011. However, existing
applications to the scheme will
be honoured and all outstanding
applications will be completed by
the end of March
Jo Meakin, Senior Project
Manager for the county’s
affordable warmth initiative
Keep Shropshire Warm says
“We would like to reassure
people that we can still provide
advice and support to help keep
warm in Shropshire despite
Eco Vehicles Top Trumps almost sold out
Our award winning Eco Vehicles
Top Trumps game is almost sold
out. We have made the last few
packs available on ebay - get
them at http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/
eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=
170577738221. This is a charity
auction, with 100% of the profits
going to MEA to further our work.
More than just a game, the pack
gives an overview of the many
low carbon transport options
the disappointing news.” There
are practical measures that
can be taken ranging from
loft and cavity wall insulation
(potentially free depending on
householders’ ages and personal
circumstances), draught-
proofing, lagging, double or
secondary glazing and heating
controls, through to renewables
such as solar PV and wood fuel
heating that could benefit from
the Feed-In Tariffs and the new
Renewable Heat Incentive due to
come into effect this April.
The news from Warm Front
came as figures from the Energy
Saving Trust show how much
Shropshire has improved home
energy efficiency. In the financial
years 2008-9 and 2009-10,
5,619 homes received cavity
wall insulation and 8,207 homes
loft insulation. This investment
in cavity wall insulation will save
householders at least £600,000
available. It is useful as a game
and stimulant for primary and
secondary school children. It is
also useful for Fleet Managers
and travel advisors as a way of
getting hold of key statistics such
as CO2 emissions and fuel cost
per kilometre. All alternatives are
covered in the pack including
biofuels, hybrids, hydrogen,
LPG, electric, motorbikes, vans,
buses, lorries and cars and even
bicycles.
3.
per year (probably more, as
many Shropshire homes are off
the gas grid). The savings from
loft insulation are likely to be at
least £900,000 each year.
These savings stay in the
local economy, helping sustain
businesses and jobs, and tackle
climate change by reducing
carbon dioxide emissions.
Together the measures will
reduce carbon emissions by at
least 7,700 tonnes every year.
The figures also show Shropshire
has achieved a higher level of
energy efficiency in its buildings
compared to neighbouring
counties. Jo Meakin says “We
are really pleased at contributing
to this excellent performance in
helping reduce heating costs for
so many Shropshire families.
By improving insulation we can
tackle fuel poverty and high bills
for thousands of householders.”
For further advice or assistance
please contact Keep Shropshire
Warm on 01743 277123 or email
info@keepshropshirewarm.org
 MEA Communities
Community groups gather to tackle climate change
More than 70 local people
gathered at a conference in
Mansfield last weekend to share
ideas and experience of how
communities can tackle climate
change. Living for Tomorrow was
a free event organised by Marches
Energy Agency on behalf of the
Nottinghamshire Climate Change
Partnership. It allowed community
group members from across the
city and county to share ideas and
meet with organisations which can
support them.
For some delegates the day began
with a guided cycle ride from
Mansifeld train station courtesy
of members of Pedals, the
Nottingham-based cycle group.
Once there, delegates attended
Wyre Forest volunteer training celebration
As part of the Bewdley and Wyre
Forest Low Carbon Community
project, four local residents have
completed a training course
in home energy efficiency and
renewable energy technology.
They can now offer a FREE
home energy check to anyone
living in the Wyre Forest area.
The volunteer energy champions
from Bewdley, Rock and Arley
committed fifteen hours of their
time, over several months. They
can now visit householders,
at their request and spend an
hour with them. During this time
they will calculate their carbon
workshops covering a range
of topics from how to set up a
community-owned renewable or a
community-run allotment to how to
help your town go plastic bag free
or organise local produce markets.
Many of the workshops were
provided by community group
members themselves.
Inspirational keynote speakers
came from community groups
further afield and included
Mike Kinghan, a member of
Whittington and Fisherwick
Environmental Group, which has
helped 15 people to install solar
thermal panels on their homes.
Helena Cooke and Nick Green
of Incredible Edible Todmorden
talked about their group’s efforts
to create community vegetable
patches in locations as diverse as
public parks and supermarket car
parks!
Kaye Brennan of Netherfield Eco
Action Team said: “It’s wonderful to
be recognised and invited to share
our experience with others at this
level. We hope we have inspired
footprint and tell them how it
compares to the UK average;
look into basic but effective ways
of helping them save money on
their energy bills; signpost them
towards energy conservation and
renewable technology schemes
such as Feed-in-Tariffs; and
demonstrate a real time energy
4.
others to try the same.” Hugh
Mclintock of Nottingham based
cycle group Pedals described the
day as “a very successful and
enjoyable event.” Rob Crowder of
Rural Community Action Network
Nottinghamshire, who chaired the
event and said that “People went
away inspired.”
Caroline Harmon of Marches
Energy Agency said “We’re really
pleased that so many people
were able to attend and to go
away feeling empowered to keep
acting to tackle climate change.
So many groups in the area are
taking initiative at community
level, it’s great to be able to bring
them all together to share their
experiences.”
monitor, if required. This free and
impartial service is managed by
Bewdley Development Trust.
Sylvia Le Flohic, Project
Manager said: “This training
has the double advantage of
building capacity in the local
community and providing a free
service to residents who wish
to reduce their energy bills. It is
about increasing local resilience
at all levels.” Any organisation
or community group wanting to
find out more about this training
package can contact the project
manager Sylvia@mea.org.uk or
phone 01743 277120
 MEA Communities
Community buildings save money and energy
This autumn and winter MEA is
working with seven groups who
manage community buildings
in targeted areas in and around
Market Drayton and Oswestry.
The work has been made
possible through grant aid by
Shropshire Council under the
Aggregates Levy Sustainability
Fund.
The groups are doing sustainable
energy audits to understand how
their buildings use energy and
lose heat. Using WeSave, the
free online energy saving tool we
MEA Enterprise
Farming holds the keys to a low carbon future
Agriculture consumes less than
3% of total UK energy, so it may
come as a surprise to learn
that it is the business sector
probably best placed to help the
UK reduce its carbon emissions!
This is because over 80% of our
land area is used for agriculture
or forestry, and how we manage
this land can have a massive
impact on our country’s energy
use.
The way in which land is used
affects how much carbon can
be ‘locked up’ in it. The CLA
has developed a system called
CALM (Carbon Accounting for
Land Managers) to help farmers
and landowners audit the
have developed, the groups then
come up with their own ideas
to improve the financial and
environmental sustainability of
their buildings.
These audits have uncovered
some startling results. For
example, Cheswardine Village
Hall recognised they needed to
change the way they use their
immersion heater. Simply by
putting it on for events, rather
than leaving it on all the time,
they stand to save hundreds of
pounds per year.
greenhouse gas emissions from
all their activities and understand
how they can be reduced. Help
to carry this out in the Shropshire
Hills area is available through
the Farm Carbon project (www.
farmcarbon.org or call 01588
630683)
Secondly, renewable energy
technologies such as mast
mounted wind turbines and PV
panels can be installed on farms
and although they may occupy
land, farming can continue
alongside them. In addition,
areas of existing forestry or
new planting on farmland could
also be managed to provide
renewable ‘biomass’ fuels for
5.
All the halls will receive
recommendations on improving
such things lighting, electrical
appliances, insulation, boilers,
and the installation renewable
energy technologies. The groups
have also been signposted
towards where funding for such
measures could come from.
heat, power or transport. In the
West Midlands region a network
of ‘Wood Fuel Champions’ can
provide advice on the potential
for wood fuel production to
existing woodland owners
through the ‘Heartwoods’ project
(www.heartwoods.co.uk).
Animal waste from intensive
livestock farms (usually in
combination with other wastes)
can also be used to generate
biogas for heat and power and
most suitable sites for generating
electricity from rivers are also
located on farmland.
For more information on
any of these schemes, or
impartial advice on reducing
energy consumption and
renewable energy technology
please contact MEA’s Low
Carbon Enterprise team on
01743 277120 or visit www.
lowcarbonenterprise.org.uk.
 MEA Technology
Shrewsbury Library takes part in energy saving trial
Shrewsbury’s historic library is
trying out an energy efficiency
product as part of a European
project taking place in the town.
The 3 storey stone building,
previously the original Shrewsbury
School where Charles Darwin
studied, dates back to 1630 and is
a Grade I listed building.
Under a project being coordinated
by MEA, a selection of the town’s
historic buildings are being audited
with a view to cutting their carbon
emissions. The project entitled
SECHURBA (Sustainable Energy
Communities in Historic Urban
Areas), is developing strategies
for historic urban communities
to tackle energy saving in hard
to treat buildings. MEA carried
out an energy audit on the library
and made recommendations to
cut carbon emissions from the
building.
Suggested improvements to the
lighting included replacing all
electromagnetic fluorescent lights
with low energy adapters. This
alone could result in electricity
savings of 30 – 40%. Replacing
halogen floodlights with CFL
lamps would also be a worthwhile
measure. Other suggested
improvements included replacing
the gas boilers with modern
condensing boilers; installing PV
solar panels on the roof of the
south and/or west wings of the
library to generate electricity;
looking at levels of insulation in the
roof, and possibly some internal
insulation. But one of the simplest
and least intrusive was to install
draught proofing around the many
windows.
In the stone built section of the
library, the windows are all single
glazed. Double glazing would
not be permitted because of the
listed building status, and would
be impractical because of the
construction of the windows. It
was decided to trial a gel-based
insulation that could be installed
around the windows to reduce air
leakage.
A deal was struck with a company
that produces a silicon gel draught
proofing system to install the
product at a reduced price and
use the project to monitor its
effectiveness. The gel dries clear,
so it doesn’t harm the visual
appearance of the windows, and
a special release agent enables
the windows to open fully but seal
tightly when closed.
The draught proofing was installed
in September, and the heating bills
6.
of the library will be monitored over
the winter period and compared to
the same period last year to see if
it has achieved a reduction in fuel
usage (in the absence of any other
energy efficiency improvements
and taking into account weather
fluctuations).
The project was carried out in
partnership with Shropshire
Council Sustainability Team
and Energy Officers and in
consultation with the Council’s
Historic Environment Team. If you
are considering any improvements
to a listed building, or a building
located within a conservation area,
consulting your local Conservation
Officer is strongly advised.
Further information on the Library
energy audit and other energy
saving products can be found at
www.sechurba.org.uk. For general
information on SECHURBA go to
www.sechurba.eu.
Marches Energy Agency
A registered charity
No 1070942
Main website:
www.mea.org.uk
MEA team websites:
www.carbonforum.org
www.rethinkenergy.org.uk
www.lowcarbon
community.org
www.keepshropshirewarm.org
Switchboard: 01743 246007
Email: info@mea.org.uk
The Pump House, Coton Hill,
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
SY1 2DP