NOTES OF FIRST RENEWABLE ENERGY CLUB MEETING
SATURDAY 01/12/2007, HILLCLOSE GARDENS, WARWICK
The first meeting was well attended by 26 people including the Chairman of Warwick District Council, Cllr Les Caborn and 3 other District Councillors. Cllr Caborn expressed his support for Action 21 and the formation of the REC.
Members of the audience briefly introduced themselves and why they had come to the meeting.
Those that developed the idea of the REC to this point set out their idea of objectives and ways in which people might get actively involved as a starting point. It was emphasised that the objectives should be owned by those who were involved and so other ideas are welcomed.
OBJECTIVES
- Understanding the technologies, costs, benefits and pitfalls
- Increasing awareness and acceptance in the community
- Seeing many more installations across the District and County
GETTING INVOLVED
- Offering cases studies of existing installations
- Planning + doing your own project
- Encouraging others to do likewise
- other ways ............................?
Matthew Rhodes, Director of locally based Encraft Ltd gave us an overview of smaller scale renewable energy technologies, the order of likely carbon savings and the costs involved by way of setting the scene.
After Matthew's talk there was a lively round of questions + some discussion - and a sharing of thoughts as to what actions and direction such a club might take.
There was also discussion about the need to attend to the existing housing stock. Matthew said 80% of the houses that will be around in 2050 exist now.
Matthew mentioned the Oxford Environmental Change Institute Home Truths report. This can be found at http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/research/energy/downloads/boardman07-hometruths.pdf .
KEY DISCUSSION POINTS (summarised to link points together)
Re' the objectives ~ are we interested in creating or saving energy?
- It was reported that Action 21 did have other activities that will be focusing more on energy saving - with links to the REC. Important to be doing both
Renewable technologies / smart metering - don't think about them in isolation
Lot of contradictory information ‘out there' on energy yields and possible savings - leading to confusion as to what is ‘right' and ‘wrong'. Part of the REC function is to sort through that confusion / doubt to give greater confidence
We should focus on postive recommendations for suppliers, those who give good value service.Matthew Rhodes emphasised that yields and savings were unique to the location considered. Whilst there are rules of thumb it was dangerous to generalise.
People also have their personal priorities as to what they spend their money on - even if it does not seem financially a good deal
Reference was made the possibility of new hydro generation at existing sites, former mills and new locations
Suggested that the REC was about mutual + self help. Smaller groups of people might decide to focus on a type of installation, do the research, town planning if needed, grant applications and generally supporting each other through the process.
Important to encourage building developments to have southerly facing roofs to enable solar hot water (thermal) / and photovoltaic installations
- We were strongly encouraged to write to WDC which currently had its ‘Core' Planning Policy out to consultation - so that we could influence how development is undertaken in future.
- Web address: www.warwickdc.gov.uk
- Telephone No: 01926 450 000
The booklet "Planet Earth - We have a Problem" by Colin Challen MP (Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Climate Change Group) was referred to (e-copy to be made available) or for extracts go to ...
http://www.apollo-gaia.org/BaliandBeyond.htm
This refers to the need to make an 80% reduction in CO2 levels by 2050 (not 60%)
Communication within a group was raised - through the Action 21 website, free-papers, google sites, etc. A permanent place (physical location) to keep information was suggested - such as libraries
Producing guidance notes for the different stages to help build confidence.
Are there others already doing this? Can we avoid re-inventing the wheel?
- Energy Savings Trust - Energy Primer was referred to
A couple of offers of case studies were made.
ACTIONS
DK ~ those attending will be asked if they would give positive consent to contact details being shared with other members - thus enabling people to ‘talk' to one-another directly.
Matthew Rhodes offered an open day for Action 21 members in relation to wind turbines and may be other technologies - in the New Year.
A number of self assessment feasibility tools are available on the Encraft site for members to use. Go to http://www.encraft.co.uk/ws/homepage/homepage.html
JH to arrange for the case studies to be undertaken by members. Any more offers - please contact Jonathan directly
DK to send out note of meeting before Christmas
JA made the point that we should learn from other what other groups were doing.
We need a website accessible to all, a renewable energy club website.
RH said that Action21 would continue to support the group, ie pay for the next meeting. The core group offered to continue the development work until the group was established but welcomed contributions from anyone else.