TVEG has been successful in our grant bid for an energy advisor in the Citizens Advice Bureau Big Energy Savings Network.
This is fantastic news. Gary Cowell our local energy advisor is holding advice surgeries on Tuesdays at the Knighton Community Centre. He has a lot of information to help you pull down your energy bills. Come to the Community centre or contact him directly on 07816 236372 or by email on garydkcowell@yahoo.co.uk. Its free and personal. He wil be at occasional Community markets (2nd and 4th Saturday every month) and occasional drop in lunch events at the Community Centre in Knighton (on Thursdays 12 noon to 2 pm)
Your carbon foot print – we need to reduce emissions!
There are lots of places where you can explore how to judge your carbon foot print ‘ look on the internet!
footprintcalculator.org USA based but takes data from the UN ‘ enables cross country comparisons
carbonindependent.org Indepependent UK site ‘ best to use own current informatiion
zero.gigi.earth easy to use
calculator.carbonsavvy comprehensive with emailed tips if you sign up
There is a car sarving scheme based in Ludow and Shrewsbury
Join a national measuring process called imeasure. To sign up to imeasure, go to www.imeasure.org.uk and follow these instructions.
* Click on register
* Enter your details, click on create new user
* Log in with your user name and password
* Complete your profile with the details of your house
* Enter the date of your earliest reading
* Click on meter reading and “set up your meters” you need to know and enter details of your water, gas and electricity meter and what unit they measure in. Confused? See Appendix 1A on meter reading (opens in new page).
* First enter the details of one meter click “enter details”, the meter will appear below
* Add the other meter using the same method
* Add meter readings – go to meter readings section, read your meters and put the units in. If you get stuck see appendix 1A on meter reading
* Keep a weekly log, and watch the graphs change!
Tips on energy saving
- Buy energy saving lightbulbs
- Turn appliances off standby mode
- Turn down thermostats
- Don’t block radiators
- Turn lights off in unused rooms
- Clean lampshades
- Use a slow cooker
- Cook in batches
- Only fill the kettle with what you need
- Don’t pre heat the grill
- Wash clothes at a lower temperature
- Air dry rather than tumble dry
- Draught proof your home
- Insulate hot water pipes
- Have thick curtains
- Shower don’t bath
- Try dry shampoo
Past activities
When the Teme Valley Environment Group was formed in 2006 one of the first things was to look at the energy use in the town. A measure of the energy used in a selection of homes, public buildings and businesses was carried out to get an approximate carbon footprint of the town. This showed us how much energy was used and therefore how much money was leaving the town to pay for it! It was £4million from the Knighton area alone! This process was supported by the Environment Agency and Powys Environment partnership and was a format developed by the Wasteless Society in Bishop’s Castle.
The carbon footprint of Knighton was 25% higher than the national average due to old building stock, less mains gas and a higher than average use on transport. Action needed to be taken:
* Step 1: We ran two Affordable warmth days with 140 people attending; demonstrating a real need by the people of Knighton for information and advice on energy saving.
* Step 2: Saving energy can be quite simple and very cost effective. But it needs good quality advice delivered direct to the home to catalyse action. The Energy Efficiency arm of TVEG brought a Household Energy Service in to the valley. This was run by volunteer surveyors visiting clients who requested a Household Energy Survey. After carrying out the survey they sent the information to Lightfoot Enterprises, who run the service, where a qualified Energy Officer wrote a report for the client prioritising and suggesting action to reduce energy use and save money. Lightfoot Enterprises continue to support the client and are always available for advice and further information. This service is still available.
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