March 2011	February 2011	January 2011	October 2010
June 2010	May 2010	March 2010	February 2010	January 2010	June/July2009	May 2009
April 2009	September 2008	July 2008	April 2008	November 2007	October 2007	September 2007

 

Forum 21 Climate Change articles which have appeared in the News Trader

March 2011

Get on with Photo Voltaic 

St John's Church in Cutcombe lies in the highest parish on Exmoor. It is a small 12^th Century 2 Star listed Church serving a parish of under 500. Following a major review the church has had to embark on a major restoration programme lasting over 10 years. These demands drew down reserves as well as tapping the amount of funding which could be raised locally. Research began in March 2008 to examine how best to reduce running costs, if possible to produce a source of income to help fund future maintenance, and set an example of the church's responsibility to the environment.

 

In considering the various options for micro generation of power: ground and air source heat pumps together with solar power heating panels only produce heat. The options quickly narrowed to Photo Voltaic panels which could also benefit from the southerly facing slopes of the church roofs.

 

At that time we were meeting the challenge of getting a firm application ready and submitted in time to meet the Government's scheme to provide a grant of up to 50 per cent by the deadline of June 2009.  Planning approval would be needed from 3 authorities: the Exmoor National Park, the Diocese of Bath and Wells, and English Heritage which had not dealt with this type of structural adjustment previously. We just made the deadline and were successful in obtaining a grant of 8,930 pounds.

 

A second headache was the Government's insistence that only its approved fitters could be used and in our case there were only 3 in the whole of England.  In order to obtain the grant the energy produced had to meet minimum criteria.  In our case the two practical limits were the size of available matched funding and the dimensions of the non visible roof area.  This enabled us to identify that the capacity required would be of the order of 3.5kWp.  We invited tender responses from all 3 authorised fitters and, of the two responses, the lowest was for 17,860 pounds with an indicative output of 2890kWhpa.

 

The business case was calculated on an annual electricity usage of 1678 units which, given the indicative production, should leave about 1000 units available to feed back into the grid. At that stage we were hoping to benefit from the Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC) scheme which applied prior to the more recent introduction of FITS which we then assumed would be granted.  But we fell in the middle of two schemes and there was a transition dispute as to whether or not we would have to pay back the grant in order to get the benefit of FITs. This dispute was not settled until earlier this year, luckily to our benefit.

 

Such projects never run according to the best laid plans. As example - first our contractor insisted on a roof survey by a structural engineer who charged a further 1000 pounds and his recommendation of supporting ties to the beams a further 1000 pounds. Secondly we looked at ways of reducing electricity used and discovered that by changing the system to Halide we could make further major savings and so a supplementary project was initiated.

 

Being the first church in the South West, as well as only the third in England, leads to further requests for advice on installing Photo Voltaic panels which we are happy to give. We have been given the Eco Congregation Award. But our reward is not merely financial; the PCC is pleased to demonstrate its commitment to a greener, low carbon environment.  

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February 2011

Anaerobic Digestion: West Somersets Potential to Make Money from Waste

For the past three years Forum 21 has been working in partnership with local businesses and other organisations to establish the feasibility of building an Anaerobic Digester to produce energy from our waste. We have raised 10,000 pounds from the local organisations and from the Local Action for Rural Communities Fund to undertake a feasibility study.

 

Generating heat and power from food waste and other organic waste is now well established.The principal is very simple. Waste is put in to a container without any oxygen and the microbes (bacteria) consume (eat) the waste which in turn produce methane gas. This is a natural process that goes on in peat bogs which is why methane is also known as marsh gas. The methane gas can be used to heat homes and other buildings, or even be sold to Butlins to heat their swimming pool. Alternatively the gas could be burned to drive a generator and produce electricity. 

 

Clearly the anaerobic digestion of waste makes great sense. Not only does the process generate income from the sale of heat or electricity, it can also produce fertilizer from the digestate. Digestate is the sterile organic material left after the anaerobic digestion process. It looks and feels like compost.

 

Clearly anaerobic digestion makes economic sense but it is also good for the environment. Currently a lot of our waste goes to land fill. When disposed of in this way it produces greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change. Hence the benefits are two fold: it makes economic sense and produces an environmental good.

 

West Somerset Council will begin collecting household organic waste in the next year, so it makes great sense to convert this waste into a local resource. The large number of visitors to Minehead generate lots of food waste in addition to that produced by local households; add to this all the food waste from local supermarkets and other shops and we have a 'small mountain' of feedstock for the anaerobic  digester.The digester can also take some farm waste along with grass clippings and even recycled paper waste.

 

Other economic benefits include the creation of sustainable local jobs through waste collection and processing to the eventual sale of heat or electricity and of course the maintenance and servicing of the plant.

 

The feasibility study is been undertaken by Aardvark, a local company that specialises in anaerobic digestion. The whole project is managed on behalf of Forum 21 by Climate Action West which is a community interest company based in West Somerset.

If the feasibility study looks favourable the steering committee will have to decide how best to move the project forward. One option is to develop it as a community owned project. Some members of the steering committee have visited a community based anaerobic digester in another part of the country and were shown how this community had raised over one million pounds to develop a plant.

 

For more information contact Graham Boswell on 01643 703 520.

 

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January 2011

It's time for renewables

 

After the coldest December on record, and with energy prices soaring, now might be a good time to consider renewable energy systems for your home.  In this brief guide we'll take a quick look at solar, wind and water power.

 

For any solar installation, ideally you'll have an area of sloping roof that's not shaded by trees, buildings etc, facing somewhere between south-east and south-west for good results.

 

Solar water heaters can be a good investment, typically providing more than half your hot water needs.  They will not provide central heating, and installation involves plumbing alterations which might prove difficult.

 

Solar photo voltaic (PV) systems for generating electricity can be a very smart investment. Under the recently introduced Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme, you are paid for all the power you produce whether you use it yourself or export it to the grid. Some might say if you've got a suitable roof, and you can afford the cost, you'd be daft not to get a solar PV installation. Beware however, there are suppliers who will install a system for nothing, but take all the FiT payments, and pay you what amounts to a minimal rent for the use of your roof.

 

Wind power is not for everyone. You need a clear and open windy location for a start. Any useful wind turbine costs a small fortune, so if you have mains electricity, there are probably better investments you could make. If you are in a rural "off-grid" situation, talk to your local planners. A medium-sized turbine as part of a mixed-technology system could be for you, but get some good advice on your site. Getting planning permission for a turbine doesn't prove the site is a good one, quite possibly the opposite as planners have been known to insist that turbines are tucked away out of sight, down the hill and behind the trees where the wind doesn't blow!

 

When we think of water mills, we might think of a Constable painting or maybe a local mill such as Dunster. A big old building with a large wheel, lots of water flowing over it and falling through a short distance of a few feet. The way water mills were built from ancient times.

 

However, the power developed by a mill is a product of the water flow rate and the distance through which it falls. In other words, useful power may be obtained from a small flow of water piped down from a greater height. Power is extracted using a small turbine spinning rapidly, rather than a large wheel turning slowly. While still not being cheap, the size and cost of such systems are not in the same league as restoring and running an old water mill with all the problems such projects entail. A 'FiT' feed-in tariff scheme is in place for these so called 'pico-hydro' systems, not as generous as the one for solar PV, but still worthy of consideration.

 

A stream tumbling down a steep valley. Sites that fit this description on Exmoor and the Quantocks could be providing power to one or more homes. The Exmoor National Park Authority recently granted planning permission for one such scheme to power one "off-grid" home near Porlock. This will power the home continuously, except in the driest of summers, and largely replace an expensive to run diesel generator.

 

If you know of a site that might be suitable, or if you want to know more about the topics raised, please ask the author, Jon Freeman, 01984 639399.

 

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October 2010

THERE'S MONEY IN YOUR ROOF

Do you have perfect pitch and a sunny disposition?

The number of householders installing solar panels is rapidly increasing, according to energy regulator Ofgem; however this may be due as much to interest in the financial rewards as to concerns about green issues.  Not only do you save on your electricity bill, the Government's feed-in tariffs scheme will actually pay you for all the electricity you generate, plus you can sell any surplus electricity to the National Grid. Dunster resident Daphne Wilbraham is enthusiastic about her experience. 'I've installed both solar thermal panels, for hot water, and photovoltaic panels, which generate electricity,' explains Daphne.  'My electricity bills are much lower and I'm gaining around 1000 a year from a combination of the feed-in tariff and selling my surplus to the grid. Since the cost of installing all the panels was around 13,000 pounds, my gain on the investment is almost 10 per cent, and it's tax free.' The slim black panels on Daphne's slate roof are unobtrusive, and didn't require planning permission. Although you don't need full sunlight, a south-facing roof is best. 'The installers said I had the ideal roof, actually they told me I had perfect pitch and a sunny disposition! They were quick and efficient, and the process of installation was very easy,' says Daphne. 

Landowners may be interested in renewable energy generation as a new agricultural initiative.  Alert to impending energy shortages, price rises, and CO2 targets, Mole Valley Farmers have been researching the potentials of 'farming energy in terms of the benefits both environmentally and as an agricultural income generator.  They have launched a new division: Mole Valley Renewables, to help you to explore the options, including solar power and small wind turbines.

Meanwhile local group Transition Minehead and Alcombe are promoting an Energy Challenge during Energy Saving Week, October 25^th to 31^st. Supported by Minehead Chamber of Trade and working with environmental group Forum 21, the Energy Challenge will increase awareness of energy use and renewable technologies and share ideas to help save energy, save money and reduce carbon emissions.  There'll be a street stall near the Red Cross charity shop in Minehead on October 30th,between 10am and 2pm, where you can find out about the financial help available for renewable energy technologies, book a free energy survey for your home, and take the opportunity to meet people who have installed renewable technology systems.  For more information contact Forum 21: www.forum21.org.uk (website) or e-mail mail@forum21.org.uk or telephone 01984 634 242

Facts Solar thermal panels use the sun's energy to heat hot water. Solar photovoltaic panels convert the sun's energy into electricity The system works even on cloudy days Harnessing the power of the sun is clean, safe and sustainable and benefits the planet as well as your pocket a typical photovoltaic system can generate around half your electricity, greatly reducing your bills You receive money fromt he feed-in tariff scheme for all the electricity you generate You will also be paid for any surplus you sell to the grid

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June 2010

Eat local, save money
Do you want fresh local food at affordable prices? Do you want to support the local farming economy? Then you may be interested in a scheme to set up a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project in West Somerset.

A CSA scheme helps to combat some of the problems we are all aware of: low farm incomes, obesity, rising food prices and future food security. Community Supported Agriculture takes many forms, but all are a partnership between farmers and consumers in which the risks and rewards of food production are shared. Consumers and producers make a contract to grow the vegetables, meat or diary produce that they know they want over the coming year and agree on the level of payment. This takes the guesswork and risk out of the situation for the farmer. The environment also benefits as it can increase the diversity of local crops and provides an alternative to repeatedly growing large acreage of the same crop. If the CSA is organic it will overcome the problem of rising prices for fuel and oil based fertilisers, which is one of the threats to our future food supply.

Benefits for the consumers are that they can eat fresh local, seasonal produce for which they pay a fair price. CSA also involves learning about food growing through Open Days and, in some cases, working on the land, so members are able to connect with the source of their food and with each other.

The farmer receives a reliable source of income and can develop a secure market. He or she can grow food which is wanted by the local community and become part of a local community based around food which will value the farmer's role in their lives.

The CSA movement started in the 60's in the USA in response to the massive industrialisation of food production and there are now thousands of them in the country of every size and configuration. In Vermont, a new village is being developed on a former dairy farm with low energy housing, with small farms on site and a built-in CSA system. In the UK no two CSAs are the same: they can be farmer driven, a farmer-consumer cooperative, a community based scheme or any combination that works for the people involved. A successful example of a CSA in the UK is Stroud Food Hub which is jointly owned by both producer and consumer. For more information and examples go to www.soilassociation.org/csa.aspx

Local groups Forum 21, Transition Minehead and Alcombe and the West Somerset Organic Group are all working to promote a future which is community based, resilient, healthy and fun! They are holding a meeting to discuss the potential for a local Community Supported Agriculture project on Thursday

1st July at the Methodist Hall, The Avenue, Minehead at 7.30 pm. There will be a presentation on CSA and a speaker from Agrarian Renaissance, a group promoting environmentally friendly community food production.. For more information email tma2009@hotmail.co.uk or phone 01643 709 478

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May 2010

 

Biocharcoal - can it save the planet? 

If charcoal (or biochar as it is commonly known) is buried in the soil, it can help retain nutrients and water, increase fertility and fix carbon in the soil for hundreds or thousands of years; thus removing up to 25% of the world's carbon from the atmosphere. Or so it is claimed.

 

The idea originated in the knowledge that in Amazonia, dark soils dating from pre-Columbian times are extremely fertile and nutrient bearing. They were created in a long period between 450BC - 950AD by a lengthy, labour intensive process, which involved incorporating charcoal, animal and plant residues, including bones, and manure, over more that twice the land area of Great Britain. It's thought they resulted from a process of slash and char rather than slash and burn which produces ash.

 

More recently a large number of trials have shown that a variety of sources of biomass can be used to produce charcoal. Forestry and animal wastes, wood coppicing and other plant material can all be processed using pyrolysis, which burns slowly without oxygen and produces charcoal and gas which can be used for heat. If sewage is used for biochar it radically cuts the fuel costs and carbon emissions from treating the sewage. Some studies around the world claim remarkable results in poor soils, sometimes almost doubling plant growth. In the United States a trial showed that biochar doubled the capacity of the soil to store organic carbon. So it can save water, increase crop yields, reduce the need for carbon intensive fertilisers and remove CO2 from the atmosphere - magic!

 

But like everything else in this climate changing world we inhabit, not everyone agrees. The dark soils, some say, took many, many years (and lots of hard work) to reach their current fertile condition. Just digging biochar into our fields may not achieve quite the same result. Others claim that the biochar isn't stable in the soil, losing its effectiveness in a much shorter period of time. And there is a familiar argument, similar to that used about biofuels, that biochar production will remove land from growing food, or involve throwing people off land that isn't economically productive, or adding to the destruction of rain forest. On the other hand, it's claimed that there are six billion tons of forestry, agricultural and animal wastes available every year. At the moment, the world's financial systems reward energy production from waste and other sources, not the production of biochar. This may change, since there is a strong lobby for a massive scaling up of biochar production.

 

Locally however it could work. We could produce stoves that use biomass for cooking that also produce charcoal for our soil, reducing air pollution at the same time. We could use the organic waste from farms and homes in local pyrolysis burners for biochar to be put back onto the land. Doing this would avoid the ethical issues which query whether large-scale, intensive biomass cultivation is consistent with moves to a more sustainable zero-carbon future.

 

To find out more about biochar, a good place to start would be the Schumacher Briefing  written by James Bruges, an ex-architect and environmental writer. Or come to our next Forum 21 meeting on May 27th when he will be talking about it. It will be at the Methodist Hall in Minehead at 7.30pm. All welcome.

 

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March 2010

 

Produce your own electricity - and be paid for it!

We have long complained that the government wasn't doing enough to promote renewables. Well, now it's doing a bit more. In February the government announced the details of the feed-in tariff (FIT).

From April 1st, householders will be paid for every kilowatt of electricity they produce from renewables: that's photovoltaic panels (PV), heat pumps, wind turbines, hydro, anaerobic digestion and micro CHP (combined heat and power). And a little more will be paid for every kw exported to the grid.

There are different rates of payment for the different technologies. PV will pay the most - 41.3p per kilowatt produced; wind will pay 34.5p; and less for other types. Clearly, the government is keen to encourage PV installations.

 

This means that householders installing PV could be paid 41.3p for every kw they produce and use themselves, and another 3p per kw if there is spare to feed back into the grid. They will also be saving the money they would normally be spending on their electricity bills. It's reliably estimated that a return of 6-8% could be made on the investment. This could be between 900 and 1200 pounds a year.

There are catches, of course. You won't get the feed-in tariff if you have already installed renewables before July 15th 2009, when the initial announcement was made (although you may be eligible for a smaller payment). You will need a large enough roof; and you will only get the maximum return if your roof faces directly south. Then there's the cost. PV starts at around 10,000 pounds to provide around a 1.5 - 1.8kw system, suitable for a 3 bed semi, for instance. If you want to get the FIT, an accredited installer must be used to fit the system. So fitting the panels yourself, which could be considerably cheaper, won't get the cash! Although the PV tariff will continue to be paid for 25 years, the amount will reduce slightly year by year after year two.

 

From February, the grants available for solar electricity ceased. But the government realises that paying for these technologies is expensive, so it has unveiled plans to offer homeowners 20 year loans of up to 15,000 pounds to pay for them, with the safeguard that it would be taken over by the purchaser if the house is sold before the loan is paid off. So it would act like a mortgage. Unfortunately this scheme would need legislation, not possible before the election; and there is no guarantee a different government would pursue it.

 

And what about renewable heat? There are currently more solar water heating systems installed than PV, producing hot water for the home. They cost less than PV, around 3000-4,000 pounds for a typical system. From April 1st next year, payments will be made under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for new solar hot water installations. The government is consulting on the RHI at the moment, and will announce the RHI rate later. Meanwhile, grants are still available for installing solar thermal systems. West Somerset Council is currently offering grants totalling 900 pounds (ring 0800 096 6356 or visit www.eco-exmoor.com for information).

 

The FIT is clearly a step in the right direction. But critics maintain that many households still won't be able to afford it, even with the potential loan, so it will only benefit more affluent people. Some say the money would be more effectively spent on building large renewable projects like offshore wind, which would supply very large numbers of homes. But everyone agrees that making our existing housing stock more energy efficient is the really urgent task. The FIT is just a step on the way.

For more information on FIT and ways to increase the energy efficiency of your home, visit the Energy Saving Trust website www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

 

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February 2010

New EcoSchools Initiative for Exmoor

Thanks to funding from the Exmoor National Park Authority Sustainable Development Fund and from Forum 21, a group of local environmental organisations are in the process of provided a series of workshops and tailored support that will enable all schools within the Park boundaries to achieve EcoSchools 'Green Flag' status by September 2011.

 

EcoSchools is a national scheme run by the environmental campaigns charity ENCAMS (website: www.eco-schools.org.uk), which is designed to involve the whole school and its wider community in making their school as 'green' and environmentally aware as possible. It encourages bottom up involvement from pupils, as well as teachers, support staff and parents. There are three levels to the award: bronze and silver which can be self-assessed by the school and Green Flag status that is awarded by trained assessors. The award must be renewed every two years.

 

Until recently only those schools with particularly 'green' and motivated teachers have tended to apply for the award. However in the last few years, with increased national awareness of climate change and wider environmental issues and also with the launch of the Government's Sustainable Schools policy more schools have registered for the award, including several schools from the Exmoor area. Minehead Middle School was awarded its Green Flag last year. 

 

Many schools still need support and encouragement to build their confidence in applying for Green Flag status. Barriers include lack of staff time, lack of expertise in environmental issues and also the small size of some Exmoor schools. This initiative will help remove these barriers by offering training and support and by encouraging the sharing of good practice through meetings and a dedicated website. The project will be co-ordinated by education staff from the Field Studies Council at Nettlecombe Court and from the National Park, working closely with local partners from across the environment sector.

 

The initiative also links into the National Park's carbon neutral strategy, which requires the 'buy in' of major energy consumers (such as schools) and of the younger generation of Exmoor residents.

 

Sustainability is a key aim of the National Park and schools are important routes into the delivery of this aim. EcoSchool actions will be much better integrated into wider and existing community projects and strategies than they might be if schools entered the EcoSchool scheme on their own and in isolation.

We hope that over the coming months, we will be able to report further on some of the successes of this exciting initiative, as Exmoor Schools work on their action plans and achieve Green Flag status.

 

If you require more information on local support available for EcoSchools contact Mark Ward at Nettlecombe Court Field Centre (01984 640320).

 

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January 2010

Why "Hinkley C" is unsustainable
When Electricite de France (EDF) announced plans to build a large new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in West Somerset there were stories in the local press about the thousands of jobs that would be created and the economic opportunities it would bring to the area. In fact there is a lot more to the EDF proposal than these headlines suggest.

Local communities have already discovered that a project of this size will bring major changes to the area, including traffic disruption over up to ten years and an influx of workers from outside the area. Forum 21 is equally concerned about the broader implications. This would be the first nuclear power station to be built in the UK for more than 20 years. A new nuclear plant would pose serious risks for future generations, potentially burden taxpayers with an uneconomic white elephant and push this country's energy policy away from a sustainable path based on clean, renewable energy sources.Forum 21 believes that the "Hinkley C" proposal is in conflict with our aim to encourage a sustainable future for West Somerset for these reasons:

Radioactive waste
Nuclear is the only power generation option to leave such a long trail of hazardous material to be cared for over periods well beyond our lifetimes. We still have a major legacy of radioactive waste from the first two generations of UK nuclear power stations.There is as yet no operating disposal site which could securely contain this material, let alone that from any new power stations, over the long time periods required to protect the environment and public health.
A viable alternative
The UK electricity system can be transformed into a low carbon network without relying on nuclear power. This would require a major commitment to energy saving measures as well as a much stronger effort to increase the range of renewable energy sources available. The Sustainable Development Commission, which advises the government on sustainability, has concluded that "there is a range of different ways for the UK to meet its carbon dioxide and energy security objectives without relying on a new generation of nuclear power plants".
The energy network
Nuclear power does not work well with an energy supply model in which renewable energy sources will play an increasing role. Such large, inflexible centralised power stations are at odds with a distributed network of small to medium-sized generating options, some powered by variable renewable sources such as wind energy. There is also no intention to use the waste heat generated by the power station's operation, as would happen in an efficient Combined Heat and Power plant.
Economics
The economics remain untested. Capital costs for nuclear are higher than other generating technologies, however, and on recent experience liable to unforeseen increases. In Finland, the first European Pressurised Reactor (the type proposed at Hinkley) is over three years behind its construction schedule and the cost has increased from 3 to 5.3 billion euros.
Although the government has said it will not subsidise new nuclear power stations, there is a risk that, if EdF cannot make the economics of a new power station work, it will have to be bailed out by the British taxpayer.

For these reasons Forum 21 believes that there are better ways to address our local and national energy needs than with a Hinkley C nuclear power station. An accelerated programme of renewable energy and energy saving would not only help the UK to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions but avoid the clear risks of the nuclear route, including a potentially catastrophic accident and a legacy of long-lived radioactive waste.

To encourage more debate about the Hinkley C proposal, Forum 21 has organised a public meeting on Thursday 21st January in the Methodist Church Hall, The Avenue, Minehead, starting at 7.30 pm. The speakers will be Crispin Aubrey, member of the Forum 21 steering group and journalist,and Jon Freeman, West Somerset District Councillor. Admission is free and refreshments will be provided.

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June/July 2009
The weather forecast for the 2080s?

Average summer temperatures in the 40s? Maybe forty per cent less rainfall? These are figures just published in a report produced by the Met Office for the government. It shows that temperatures in the southwest will probably be higher than other parts of the country and rainfall decrease more. And we are going to be among the more fortunate parts of the globe; other areas will suffer even more.

What will this look like? If Spain and Italy will be like the Sahara, what will it be like in north Africa? We are faced with some pretty disagreeable consequences of climate change, even in the UK. Effects on wildlife, new pests and diseases and extra deaths because of the heat may be the least of them. Sea level rises will hit us hard, even in this country - and especially in Somerset. With global shortages of water, global food production will suffer - no more out of season veg from Kenya. Indeed probably no more food from anywhere else at all. And there will be population movements as climate refugees try to find places where food is still available.

But these changes are not inevitable. They are the worst case scenarios, if we do nothing to reduce our carbon emissions. Certainly we are not doing enough right now but some recent signs are more encouraging. China, with the world's highest emissions (though much lower per person than ours) is now taking massive steps to use solar power to reduce its reliance on dirty coal. The USA is about to pass climate change legislation that will overturn the inertia of recent years. All this means that the Copenhagen climate change summit in the autumn has a much greater chance of agreeing some realistic global targets to reduce CO2.

Of course, we all know that there's not enough being done in this country. Government targets, though praiseworthy, have little chance of being met unless more urgent measures are taken. What about making sure that every home in the UK is fully insulated, which some estimates say will reduce household emissions by 40%? What about decent grants to install renewables instead of the pathetic amounts currently available? What about building low carbon homes now instead of in 2016? Some of these desirable actions might happen if government spending were to be switched from some less popular - and les vital - projects. It's hard to find a sense of real urgency in national debate.

In West Somerset, the Carbon Reduction committee set up by Forum 21 is planning action to cut our local emissions. But we need to think about what to do if all else fails. All new buildings should be designed for shade and water saving. Shade will be essential, so we'll need plenty of tree planting in populated areas. If we will eventually need to rely on producing our own food, we need to start planning for it now - more allotments, more community supported agriculture, maybe get used to eating less meat and with less reliance on food stuffs from abroad. Forum 21 is working with five Exmoor communities to produce sustainable energy plans, and the new Minehead and Alcombe Transition group has already set up local food projects to encourage more home growing.

We're sure that there will soon be more of our local communities that decide to start planning for the future in a warming world, whether they call themselves Transition groups or not. Forum 21 looks forward to working together with them all. Get in touch with Forum 21 if you'd like to help; on 01984 634 242 or mail@forum21.org.uk

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May 2009
Save Energy and Save Money
Book a free energy survey for your home

Forum 21 has a team of volunteers trained to City and Guilds standards waiting to carry out free home energy surveys for householders in West Somerset.  You can get free, independent information on grants and discounts and other suggestions on how to make your home warmer and cheaper to run, all for the cost of a phone call.

 

Lorna Scott of Forum 21 said,

 "The service is quick, easy and professional.  A friendly, knowledgeable volunteer can survey your home in less than an hour and provide you with guidance and suggestions tailored to your specific needs.

"The surveyors can give you information about grants for insulation, heating and other improvements. For some people these can be carried out free of charge. We are hoping that people will come forward and take advantage of the free surveys, especially with the recent fluctuations in fuel prices and the uncertain economic climate."

 

The volunteers gained their qualifications last autumn with training grants from West Somerset District Council and the West Somerset Strategic Partnership (WSSP). They are now members of Forum 21's energy saving team which carries out carbon reducing projects in West Somerset. With a grant from the district council, the team will have a presence at local events during the year - look out for us at village fetes and at the Dunster Show. It will carry out house to house visits in areas where fuel bills are least affordable, aiming to improve home insulation and reduce heat loss from homes.

 

West Somerset has one of the highest levels of fuel poverty in the country. This means people who have to spend more than 10% of their income on home heating, and it's no surprise that the levels are high locally. 60% of West Somerset homes are built with solid walls which leak heat and are very expensive to insulate. And 60% of homes are 'off gas' (still the cheapest fuel, believe it or not) which means the householders have to use more expensive forms of heating - oil or electricity - to keep themselves warm. We want to do what we can to get local homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to live in.

 

Two other projects are under way: carrying out surveys of tourism businesses in Exmoor, funded by the National Park; and working on energy saving with three local schools, funded by the WSSP. In each case, the potential saving from more energy efficient buildings and activities is considerable.

 

The Forum team of volunteers have all passed police checks, have identity cards and are ready and waiting to get to work. They can bring you information on:

 

Grant funding or discounts

*  Loft and cavity wall insulation

*  New or replacement boilers

*   Installing or repairing central heating systems

*  Solar panels for heating domestic hot water

*  Other green energy grant funding

*  Draught proofing

 

Money saving tips

*  Tips on actions that cost little and save lots

*   Changing energy suppliers for lower fuel bills

*  How to make your central heating more efficient

*   Low energy-consuming electrical appliances

*   Meter reading and help understanding fuel bills

 

All this and free low energy lightbulbs too!

 

To book your free survey call 01643 703161 or email vireva@yahoo.co.uk

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April 2009
The end of the oil-rich era?

Huge and rapid increases in the price of oil last July may well have marked the "peak" of oil supplies and are part of the financial crisis we are now experiencing. This was the context set out by Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition Towns movement when he spoke before an audience of more than 200 at the Regal Theatre in Minehead on 2nd April.

The talk could not have been more topical and relevant as the G20 nations met in London. Action the G20 agreed was based mainly on 'business as usual' despite the approaching crises of Peak oil and Climate change, said Mr Hopkins. A teacher of permaculture and natural building for many years, he has been involved in practical responses to environmental changes and is a leader in the task of identifying and addressing the effects of these changes on communities. He set up the Transition Network to enable communities to develop resilience to the shocks to come (see www.transitionculture.org and www.transitionnetwork.org).

Rob Hopkins went on to say that we cannot expect infinite growth when we have finite resources. The prospect of scarce, expensive oil in the future is daunting, but Somerset as a county is leading the way in dealing with this and climate change. Transition groups are forming across the county, as well as nationally, to raise awareness of the challenges and to support organisations which are helping to make the changes needed for communities to thrive in the future.

He gave examples of projects from his native Totnes and from abroad. Totnes introduce their own Totnes Pound each year for a limited period. It is accepted in local shops and keeps money local by encouraging shopping in locally owned businesses. This prevents wealth seeping away and means that money spent locally is of greater value to the community than that spent in chain stores where the profits go out of the area. This novel idea has led to tourists taking the "pounds" away as souvenirs!

Rob emphasised that crises can have positive results and gave as an example Cuba, which lost cheap oil when the USSR collapsed in 1989. The loss of petroleum based fertilizer and transport could have been catastrophic for food supplies, but instead the population turned over any available land to organic food production and Havana now produces 60% of the food for its community. A film "The power of Community" is about this event and will be shown at West Somerset Community College on June 25th.

It is necessary to rethink many of the basic assumptions that underpin our planning for the future and why the end of the age of cheap oil and of economic growth present a huge opportunity for redesigning our towns and cities, so that they become more self reliant, more diverse and more resilient. An example from the past was the thriving local food production that existed in towns and cities right up to the sixties before the land was usually made into car parks. A photo of Bristol market gardeners from the late 1890s showed a group of prosperous businessmen who owned some of the better houses in the city.

In conclusion, Rob Hopkins said our resources are fast depleting, but the resourcefulness of the human race, which has enabled us to get to this point, can also help us to meet the challenges of the future. The oil age will be seen to have been a short period in human history.

The evening was jointly hosted by Forum 21(www.west-somerset-forum21.org.uk and Transition Minehead and Alcombe. (Tma2009@hotmail.co.uk 01643 709478).

A follow-up 'Open Forum' for all interested residents and supporters to have their say is being held at St Michael Archangel Church Hall, Church Road, Alcombe on Thursday 7th May at 7.30pm.

For more information contact Maureen Smith on 01643 709 478 or 07802 247 761 or tma2009@hotmail.co.uk

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September 2008
What do we do with plastic?
We are in an era in which we are all being asked to live our lives in as ecological and environmentally friendly a way as possible. Part of this approach involves minimising waste as well as reusing and recycling materials. This all comes at a time when we face the prospect of having less frequent waste collection services and may be asked to pay additionally for the disposal of rubbish by pay as you throw'.

A lot of the contents of our waste bin is plastic. When you look around, you start to realise just how widely used plastics are. Just within your home you most likely have containers, bowls and buckets, wiring, pipe-work, tanks, guttering and window frames, furniture, furnishings and flooring, electrical goods, toys, tools, computers, shoes and clothes that involve plastics in part or all of their construction.

Until the 1950's, the use of plastic in the home was relatively rare and largely restricted to Bakelite, which was used for handles, plugs and radio casings and to Linoleum for flooring. Neither of these early plastics involved crude oil in their manufacture. Modern plastics however, whilst being wonderfully versatile and adaptive to many uses, are particularly environmentally sensitive materials. Firstly they involve the use of precious crude oil in their manufacture and secondly, most degrade only extremely slowly in the environment. It is surprising that for all the debate on declining oil supplies and the need to reduce our carbon footprint, each year seems to bring more and more plastic into our world and with it the challenge of what to do with it when we no longer need it.

On the basis that you already recycle paper, metal and glass, it is likely that a large part of your weekly rubbish bag consists of plastic containers, wrapping and bags. When you buy plastic products, buy sturdy goods which will have a long life. When you no longer need them, try to sell or give them away, rather than just throwing them away. If you look on the internet, there are firms selling a very wide range of recycled plastic products. Recycled bin bags are widely available from many shops. Buy goods with minimal or no plastic packaging and use reusable plastic carrier bags, or those made from fabric, which can be composted when worn out.

Currently, there is no local kerbside collection of plastic. But you can recycle some plastics at the local recycling centres, which will accept any plastic which is marked with a '1', '2' or '3' within a triangle stamped somewhere on the container.

Containers marked '1-3' will constitute a fair proportion of the plastic coming into your home each week and are often used to hold milk, water, soft drinks, shampoo, fabric conditioner, fruit, vegetables and the like. If you wash and crush these containers, they can be taken to the recycling centre when you or a friend, are passing. Eventually, your plastic will be taken to a factory where it will be processed into useful products like fabrics, garden furniture and compost bins.

Although we can all 'do our bit' by recycling some plastics and reusing others with a little ingenuity, the fact of the matter is that a lot is still not currently recycled and ends up being buried or burnt. The good news is that it is possible to turn plastics back into oil, petrol and gas, minimising residues for landfill. Up to half the weight of plastic can be turned back into oil. There are functioning reclaiming plants in operation abroad; some will even turn tyres into oil and the metal can be recovered.

Although there are no plastic to oil units working in this country that I know of, perhaps one day Government and business will see the benefit in having regional reprocessing plants and then perhaps, scrap plastic will enjoy the current popularity of scrap metal.Forum 21 is working to tackle climate change in West Somerset.

Contact us on 01984 634 242 or mail@forum21.org.uk

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July 2008
Save food, save money, save energy

Every time we go shopping there is another rise in the price of food. According to the World Bank food prices have risen 75% globally. And Gordon Brown has launched a campaign to stop us wasting food. A national report says that we throw away over 4 million tonnes of food every year, costing each household at least 420 (and 610 for households with children).

The figures are staggering.

Nearly one quarter of the food waste is thrown away whole, untouched or unopened. Of this, at least 340,000 tonnes is still in date when thrown away. A further 1.2 million tonnes is simply left on our plates. Every day we throw away:

5.1 million whole potatoes
4.4 million whole apples
2.8 million whole tomatoes
7 million whole slices of bread
1.3 million unopened yoghurts and yoghurt drink
1.2 million sausages
1 million slices of ham
0.7 million whole eggs
0.7 million whole bars of chocolate and unwrapped sweets
0.3 million unopened meat-based ready meals or takeaway
0.3 million unopened packets of crisps

Financially this is appalling. Not only does it cost us personally to throw away food we have spent money to buy. It also costs the country another billion pounds to collect the waste and dispose of it - mostly to landfill. But we are not just wasting food and money. We are wasting energy too. Everything we eat has had some energy used to produce it. Farmers use tractors to spread fertilisers and pesticides - all energy users. Fuel is used in transporting it, often by air. Much of it is processed before we buy it, using still more energy. And more is refrigerated during storage. Then we store it and cook it. If it is then thrown away, all this energy is wasted, amounting to the equivalent of 18 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year, that's the same as the CO2 emitted by one in every five cars on UK roads.

This is all bad news for the environment. When we know that we have to reduce our carbon footprint - the amount of carbon we emit - to avoid disastrous climate change, it is shocking that we waste so much. And it's a moral issue too. When millions of people in the world don't have enough to eat, how can we justify being so wasteful about our own food?

Of course, food is also wasted before it reaches us. Supermarkets reject up to 60 per cent of fresh produce because they do not fit their shape and quality standards and remove from the shelves food that is near its sell by date - still perfectly edible.

There are some things we can do. We can buy local food instead of food that has travelled miles to get here. We can buy less processed food. We can be smart about only buying what we need. And we can be imaginative about using what's in the fridge or the store cupboard. All skills that will be essential in a climate changing world.

To find out more about Forum 21's climate change campaign, ring 01984 634 242 or email mail@forum21.org.uk

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April 2008
Renewable Energy Is All Around Us
Let's use it.
Forum 21 is charged with supporting a raft of sustainable activities in West Somerset. It has reported before on many of the support groups who are contributing to various initiative, including campaigns on bio fuels, energy efficiency, plastic bags, waste, deep ecology, food, transport, communications and others. A group of interested parties from Porlock, including several engineers and a district councillor took on the Renewable Energy section.

'Porlock Power' has recently formed from a group of individuals already committed to some sustainable activity with wider interests than just the brief of renewable energy. Their aim is to build a bank of know-how on a wide range of matters of sustainability and eventually offering it on a voluntary basis to local people interested in doing their own thing but wondering where to start. That work is ongoing and a number of studies have been carried out relating to projects in public and community buildings in and around Porlock, which it is hoped will lead to an exemplar project in due course.
As far as renewable energy is concerned, it was the realisation of the sheer volume of water tumbling down our steep coastal drops that led to the formation of 'Porlock Power'. A large part of electrical power for Porlock used to be generated by the water mill up Hawkcombe and one near the High Street, so what is stopping us learning from history and gaining self-sufficiency and security of power supply for at least a significant part of our need? If we could achieve this, we could be insulated from some of the enormous price rises and power cuts that could be commonplace when the oil shortage becomes more acute. Not to mention the benefits to the local and global economy if others replicated the idea.
At a recent seminar on micro-hydro generation at the Somerset County Cricket Ground, run by the three counties, Somerset, Dorset and Devon, many local mill owners as well as council officers, suppliers and consultants to the industry and social bankers exchanged views and experiences. Some of the points arising are worth noting here.

The Somerset County target set in 2006 for electricity from renewable sources is 75MW, mostly from wind. The hydro target within this was only 0.2MW, which has already been exceeded by enthusiastic mill owners. So where are the incentives?

It seems essential for site owners to form groups in order to obtain significant grant funding support. South Somerset Micro-Hydro Group have been quite successful in this and Exmoor Renewable Energy Group and others are working with promise of success currently.

Micro-hydro is hardly rated as a carbon saver, yet it is the greenest and most efficient potential source of electricity as well as being the most available and reliable one. Electricity accounts for one third of all energy consumed in the UK, and as a nation we have managed to install just 1.5% renewable generation against the EU requirement of 15% by 2020, with only Luxemburg and Malta faring worse than us.
Major regulatory barriers have to be overcome, with planning and the Environment Authority among them. In a place like Porlock, where several large land owners are involved, extra permissions and bureaucracy are involved, so it is only the very most persistent, committed and hardy individuals who get anywhere. It is clear that, though there are some such people, the 'bottom up' pressure will never be enough to make a major impact and it depends on government to follow lip service with positive action and real support if this most eco-friendly and generous source of energy is to be tapped.
Finally, it is worth reflecting that wind power relies infinitesimally on refurbished windmills. So why not think also 'outside the box' on hydro-power and in addition to converted water mills, look at all the water spill from reservoirs all over the country or developing a modular set of standard low impact generator stations for suitable river locations not yet exploited?

For more information contact Tony Pinnington, Porlock Power, on 01643 862 002 or tony@pinnington.org.uk. You can contact Forum 21 on 01984 634 242 or mail@forum21.org.uk

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November 2007
Get local!

Had your 5 a day today? Ate your combination of red, green and yellow fruit and veg? Had a healthy whole grain free range chicken sandwich washed down with some fruit flavoured spring water? Excellent. Recycled all the plastic bags and bottles that all that fruit and veg came in? Fantastic! You're a winner, a star on the way to a long and healthy life. As you're munching your way through this healthy lifestyle option, your pepper salad and whole meal pasta, have you thought how easy it would be to buy it all locally? Not locally as in from your local supermarket, or even locally from your local green grocer, but locally as in grown locally in your local area, by people who send their children to the local school and use the same doctor as you? Now that's a bit of a problem for most of us, isn't it?

In my greengrocer's today (and I know I'm lucky to have a greengrocer in my town), I could buy Spanish onions, Italian squashes, Polish tomatoes, Kenyan beans and Egyptian potatoes. I could not buy West Somerset beans, carrots, onions or tomatoes. I couldn't even find Somerset grown vegetables. The nice girl I asked said that it's all sourced locally: "We get it from the supplier in Taunton . . ." and I wanted to cry. I wanted to cry because it's such a waste. Not having locally grown produce in our shops wastes time, money and fuel bringing food in from other areas. It leaves us at risk of rising prices and food shortages. Imagine how irritating it would be if all the shops had problems sourcing food because there was a fuel shortage or worse, a food shortage.

As December 25th approaches, there are lots of opportunities to buy our Christmas fare locally. Look for suppliers of local meat, poultry, puddings and cakes instead of heading for the supermarket. As well as supporting local producers we will be eating healthier, less processed food that hasn't travelled half way across the world.

West Somerset should be able to produce a huge quantity of our own food. We have good soil, good climate, and lots of agricultural land and machinery. We also have a rural and agricultural skills base, with the West Somerset Community College farm and just slightly out of our area the old Cannington college and Brymore school, should we find that we need more specialist horticultural skills. Small growers need customers right through the year to maintain their income and keep on their staff, even when all they can grow is boring old cabbages. So find your local suppliers, join a veg box scheme which allows the grower to plan what he produces, encourage farmers to diversify into horticultural crops, insist on British in the grocers, and explain why you want to eat local food. Because one day through climate change, rising prices or fuel shortages we will need to be able to produce more of our own food, and if we can't do it now when it's easy, we will really struggle when times are more difficult.

Contact Forum 21 on 01984 634 242 or email mail@forum21.org.uk

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October 2007
Climate Change, Biodiversity and Landscape

Climate change is altering the landscape of West Somerset

In recent months Forum 21 has been keeping you up to date on climate change and how it will alter the way we do things in West Somerset. In this issue we are concentrating on how climate change will make a difference to the landscape and biodiversity in our area.

We already know that the distribution pattern of many plants and animals in West Somerset has changed in recent years. The Dartford Warbler continues to increase and we are seeing more and more sitings of Cattle Egrets as they spread north due to climate change. On the down side the Wheatear, Whinchat and Curlew are in decline in this region. At the landscape level bluebell woodlands and beech woodlands are also on the decline.

We need to understand what aspects of the climate are changing. Firstly summer temperatures are increasing which will lead to drought and a greater risk of fire. Species at the southern edge of their distribution limit will become extinct, while others at the northern limits will increase.

Summer rainfall is decreasing (but not this year!) which may mean the end of wet heath and bog on Exmoor. Winter temperatures are on the increase, which has been a major factor in rendering the Red Grouse extinct on Exmoor. Winter rainfall is increasing; such a change in regional precipitation could change the crop regime from autumn to spring sowing which would have knock-on effects for wildlife.

Other major changes are going to include a longer growing season and a reduction in the number of frosts. We are likely to see an increase in the incidence of flooding and the increased potential for more storms and stronger winds. And of course we all know that sea levels will rise.

The most important thing to remember about climate change is that we cannot do anything to prevent it in the short term, we can only adapt to it. Our adaptation strategy must include taking advantage of the opportunities, for example taking advantage of the extended growing season. Such an opportunity can hold benefits for farmers and growers and could also extend the tourist season in West Somerset.

Climate change is caused by the burning of fossil fuels. In order to reduce fossil combustion landowners may be encouraged to develop wind farms or plant bio fuels instead of the more conventional food crops. Foresters may also be encouraged to change their planting regimes to include bio fuels as well. With summer water in short supply we may be asked to allow some valleys to be flooded for reservoir construction. All such land use changes will need careful consideration by the community of West Somerset.

Forum 21 is working with a large number of organisations to mitigate climate change and adapt to it. Together with West Somerset Council, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Somerset Environmental Records Centre, Exmoor National Park and the long term records from the Exmoor Natural History Society, a Biodiversity Action Plan for West Somerset has been produced. West Somerset Council is fully committed to the actions in the plan to protect the wildlife and landscape of West Somerset.

The forthcoming Climate Change Strategy being produced by West Somerset Council and Forum 21 will consider the actions necessary to manage the impacts on biodiversity and landscape so that all aspects of mitigation and adaptation are considered.

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September 2007
Transport and climate change

How are we to go about our normal lives in West Somerset while using only a tenth of the fossil fuels? If climate chaos is to be avoided we will need to reduce our carbon emissions from transport by four per cent every year from now through to 2030.

Most carbon emissions from transport come from cars and planes.

For cars, electric or biofuels look to be the most promising technologies for reducing emissions. Battery technology for electric cars is improving and there is likely to be an affordable model with a reasonable range available within a few years. While pollution from the exhaust disappears the issue then becomes how the electricity is produced in the first place - if by fossil fuels then carbon emissions are just as high. Electricity from renewable sources would be the solution, but we have problems at present producing enough of that for other electricity needs. Perhaps in the 2020s electric cars will be a big part of the answer.

Biodiesel from processed vegetable oil after catering use is already available and can make a useful contribution. Bioethanol is more of a problem, because growing crops to produce it is already driving up food costs and causing loss of rainforests.

The most effective solution must therefore be to reduce the use of cars. Forum 21 believes one of the best ways to reduce car miles is to set up Car Clubs. These will allow people to use a car when they really need one without actually owning one. The local community club owns, taxes, insures and maintains the car - members drive it. The environmental benefit is that members tend to use alternatives much more often than car owners.

The really sustainable transport options are buses, trains, coaches, walking and cycling. The Minehead-Taunton service has increased to half hourly recently, and more passengers would allow higher frequency. The new Slinky Bus - a pre-booked bus-taxi hybrid that calls at your door in rural areas - is an interesting innovation. We encourage drivers to give buses a try, they could be pleasantly surprised.

Apart from our wonderful steam heritage railway, train travel for local people means the national network. The long awaited Taunton link from Minehead deserves support following its revival this summer. A full trial, hopefully leading to a commuter service into Taunton within a few years, could do much to reduce traffic on the A39.

Cycling and walking are the zero carbon options that also offer great health benefits. Many people leave their bikes unused through worry about risk from vehicles. Forum 21 sees a solution, at least in the Minehead-Williton coastal strip, as the creation of a network of mostly off-road safe cycle routes. The Cycle West Somerset project should provide an attractive boost for local tourism as well as a great way to help local people to get back on their bikes.

Electric bikes are already here, and, using only a tenth of the energy of cars, can help cyclists get up our hills.

Carbon emissions from flying have been much in the news recently with the climate action camp protests at Heathrow. Planes have the highest emissions per passenger mile of any form of transport, made worse by the altitude of the pollution. The rapid rise in the number of flights each year make plane travel completely in conflict with the need to cut carbon emissions.

Frequent flyers could think about a personal goal of reducing air miles by a proportion each year, and set themselves a target date for stopping flying altogether. The West Somerset economy can only benefit from a shift of habits back to UK holidays.

The future of low carbon transport therefore looks like being a mixture - walking, cycling and bus for short to medium journeys, coach and train mainly for longer journeys. Cars, probably through the community car club and biofuel or electric driven, will only be used where journeys can't be done in any other way. We believe that, with these solutions, West Somerset would become an even more pleasant place to live. The change will be challenging, but surely better than climate chaos.

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