Saving Energy and Resources in Cheriton

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UPDATE OF FUNDING PROGRESS MARCH 2011

 

An informal group has been set up for Cheriton and Crockernwell, to learn about and promote ways of living sustainably.  We want to find ways of using less fossil fuel (and saving money!), to find out about the options and work together as a community.  We are concerned about the challenges of reducing supplies of cheap oil, and about the way food and energy prices spiked in 2007-8.  If this happens repeatedly, we think we can manage the change better by being prepared and working together.

 We hold film and discussion meetings in the village hall, and offer talks and activities to other groups in the village, including the school.  We helped the Youth Club participate in a National Bike Week event 2009 in Crediton to promote cycling.  We hope to continue involving young people – all that we are doing is worth it if it gives them a better life.

 

The Village Hall Energy Project

 

We are supporting the Cheriton Village Hall Committee in its fundraising for an Energy Project which will involve installing insulation and low energy lighting in the hall, and putting solar PV panels on the roof to generate electricity (the south-east facing side, that you can’t see in the picture). The project was put together with advice from DARE, Devon Association for Renewable Energy.

  The benefits of this project will be: 

·        Contributing renewable electricity to the national grid and reducing emissions of CO2 (saving about 5 ½ tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year);

·        Keeping the cost of heating the village hall down as fuel prices rise, so that it will remain affordable for all the groups who use it. The scheme may save us £1,000 per annum if we can raise enough funds;

·        The possibility of developing the system to provide electricity for the hall, as a backup in case UK energy demand outstrips supply and there are power cuts in future;

·        A demonstration project, showing the feasibility of local micro-renewable energy schemes;

·        If the scheme makes a modest profit there will be funds for the community to use for other projects;

·        An educational resource which can be used by the school and other groups.  There will be a meter in the hall showing how much electricity is being produced, and how much money is being earned or saved.

 

If you would like to help support the project financially please read on!

 

 

£10 a slice

Not a cake, this one!  It’s an appeal to buy a slice of the electricity generating project for the Village Hall that will demonstrate the effectiveness of solar power and cover the costs of heating and lighting the hall in years to come. 

Grant applications are being made for some of the costs, but we need to raise some funds locally and thus show our commitment to potential funders.  If we obtain funding for half the costs, half the benefits to us are free!

At £10 a slice, it’s a bargain offer and we hope everyone will buy one, or maybe a few, to bring us towards our target of £45,000.  If you’d like to help, please get in touch by phone or email to pledge £10 or more.  We will collect this when we know that the scheme can go ahead. 

Further information: contact Gill Westcott 01647 24789 or gillwestcott@gmail.com