Dear <<First Name>>
Our AGM is on 20th August; this is a great opportunity to meet up with CFB people and a chance to join us in saying thank you to all those lovely people who have done such a lot for CFB over the past year; we hope you will be able to join us. And the good news is that despite Wiltshire Council's retrograde wind turbine decision there is positive news about local, clean energy generation and, our 2050 sign ups are now way beyond the 600 mark - 700 here we come!
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1. AGM Monday 20th August
2. September monthly meeting - train travel in Europe
3. Thermal images now available
4. Proof of global warming - latest science
5. Help requested with fund raising
6. More help requested with Eco Trade Fair
7. Bargains for sale
8. Make the sun work for you
9. Food and drink group news
10. Free insulation
11. Stop Climate Chaos update
12. Kingston Mills hydro scheme
13. Biogas plant now producing
14. Hawaii rejects plastic bags
Annual General MeetingMonday 20th August 7.15 for 7.30 p.m., West Barn
Our AGM will be in two parts. Firstly, at 7.30 there will be a short, formal AGM of the Community Interest Company to which everyone is invited but only paid up members will be able to vote, if a vote is taken. The rest of the meeting will be much more informal, with a report of the year's work, outline of future plans and a chance to socialise. We will hear more about next winter's thermal imaging programme and hear updates from Kevin Sharpe about his ZeroCarbonWorld's electric car charging network and Harry Hilser on his work with endangered apes.
Please bring a finger food and/or drink contribution, to share with others. This will be a zero waste event, so please make sure to use only re-usable/recyclable containers.
September monthly meeting
Travel by Train - to Europe and Beyond
Monday, September 17th, 7.30 p.m. Quaker Meeting House, Whiteheads Lane, B o A
Our September meeting will be about the fun and environmental benefits of travelling by train. Hear from three of our members where they went and how they did it.
Thermal images now available
1,000 houses in Bradford, Holt, Winsley, Staverton, Westwood, Monkton Farleigh
To see the thermal images taken earlier this year together with our How to Guide to interpreting them click here.
If your house was part of the programme and you live in Bradford on Avon you can save or print your thermal image from the website. If you live in Holt - Little Parks and Great Parks; Winsley - Late Broads and Broomground; Staverton - Elm Close and School Lane; Westwood - Tynings Way and Lister Grove; Monkton Farleigh – Broadstones – then please email CFBLEAF@gmx.co.uk giving your street and house number and we will email you your thermal image and a copy of the How To Guide.
A thermal image shows the heat loss spots. With the help of the How To Guide it can be a useful tool in taking action to keep the heat in and so save on energy bills; photos were taken of streets of houses of similar construction, as if someone seems to have found a solution to heat loss it could be useful to share it with others.If you are interested in having your house thermal imaged next winter please email us at thermalimaging@climatefriendlybradfordonavon.co.uk giving your name and address to get further details.
Clear proof of global warming
Even climate sceptic scientists' minds have been changed by the latest research in California. The Earth's land has warmed by 1.5C over the past 250 years and "humans are almost entirely the cause", according to a scientific study set up to address climate change sceptics' concerns about whether human-induced global warming is occurring.
A bit more help needed
The Co-op have always been very generous in their funding of CFB. We were hoping they might be able to grant us some money for purchasing a much needed laptop, however they have offered us the possibility of providing a £50 hamper (or £50 of vouchers). We can run a stall or display at the Winsley Road store to sell tickets which could easily quadruple that in a weekend or a few evenings. We would need to check with the store manager that this is OK but if we have anyone who would be willing to organise it, and/or could offer to help sell tickets outside the Co-op we will go ahead and check. Please help if you can - it would be great to have our own laptop instead of having to depend on the good will of speakers or those arranging the meeting. Let us know at climatechampions@gmail.com. Thank you.
Eco Trade Fair - more help needed
On Saturday, March 16th 2013 CFB are planning to hold an 'Eco Trade Fair' in St Margaret's Hall . This will involve planning and preparation from September this year onward - contacting potential exhibitors, making decisions on pricing of stands, planning refreshments etc. Spread between a few people (and we already have two volunteers) this should not be too much work for anyone so it would be great to have a few more to join the planning group. It would not be necessary to be at the Trade Fair itself - your contribution could be beforehand. Please email climatechampions@gmail.com or ring 07507 782523 if you could help.
Bargains for sale - various useful items, all new
We still have a few items left from our Green Streets "small measures" all at very reduced and attractive prices - Eco kettles, electricity mini meters, reflective radiator panels, low energy bulbs and standby savers . If you're interested please e-mail us at climatechampions@gmail.com.
The sun is shining - put it to work!
As I write the sun is at last shining brightly so now is the time to think seriously about putting it to work for you, generating free electricity for which you will also be paid 16p for every kilowatt you generate through the feed in tariff (FIT) . The price of panels is coming down all the time so why not ask for a free, no hassle, no pressure, survey to see if your roof is suitable and to find out how much you can generate. Don't forget - Climate Friendly Bradford on Avon has an arrangement with Southern Solar that all who install through our scheme get a discount of £500 and so far we have a 100% satisfaction rate with those who have used the scheme. To arrange your survey and quote email phil.nelms@southernsolar.co.uk or ring 0845 456 1760.
Sustainable Food and Drink Group (SFADG)
The SFADG sub-groups (hubs) are gradually getting up and running. Our next general meeting will be on Monday 10th September, upstairs at The Dandy Lion at 7.30pm. All are welcome.
Exciting news, hot off the press, from the Wiltshire Farmers' Market, is that there will be a new, monthly Farmers' & Artisan Market for Bradford on Avon, in Lamb Yard, starting Sunday 26th August, 10.30 -2.30pm. CFB is delighted that this will make delicious locally produced and seasonal food more easily available, especially to those who cannot make BoA's Thursday markets. More direct contact with the producers enables people to ascertain how their food is produced. Click for more details or contact: WFMA, 07541 762497 or admin@wiltshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk.
Also, as part of the Bradford on Avon Fringe Festival, the West Wilts Green Party is showing the American film "Food Inc", which deals with US industrial farming methods. The film will be followed by the trailer of Simon Cunich's documentary film "Growing Change: A Journey Inside Venezuela's Food Revolution", which is the really positive answer to the problems posed by "Food Inc". There will then be time for discussion.
Tuesday 4th September 7.30pm in the Friends Meeting House, Whiteheads Lane, BoA. Admission free (though donations will be welcome).
Free cavity wall and loft insulation
The Wiltshire Warm and Well scheme is funded by Wiltshire Council and along with other grant funding from energy suppliers is offering grants to help insulate properties throughout the Wiltshire area. This funding is only available until September so get in touch now to avoid missing out! The Energy Saving Trust estimates a yearly saving of around £175 after loft insulation is installed and up to £135 after cavity wall insulation is installed (based on 3 bed semi-detached house).
Grants are now available for loft and cavity wall insulation! If your loft has no insulation or it hasn’t been topped up in several years, Wiltshire Warm and Well may be able to top it up for free* (the scheme is open to privately rented and owned properties only and is subject to survey and available funding.) If you have cavity walls these can also be insulated for free using a grant. You no longer need to be on a qualifying benefit or over 70 to get the work done for free!
If you have solid walls, there are also grants available for internal and external wall insulation. The level of grant funding is dependent on your circumstances, the size of the property and the main source of heating within the home. There are currently grants up to £14,995 so there has never been a better time to take advantage of the offer.
The grants will not be available indefinitely so please act now to arrange a free no obligation survey. To apply for a survey and for FREE independent, impartial & local advice on easier ways to keep warm and well: Freephone 0800 500 3076; Text WARM to 83010; Email: warm&well@swea.co.uk; Online at www.warmandwell.co.uk.
Stop Climate Chaos
AGM & Summer Gathering summary
Rowena Quantrill attended this event in London on behalf of CFB, which has been a member of Stop Climate Chaos for several years now. It was atttended by a good turnout of representatives of a wide range of organisations such as WWF, CAFOD, RSPB, the Humanist Society, the WI and smaller groups such as Swindon Climate Action Network and ourselves. The day began by taking stock of where we are now, and looking ahead to where we need to be by 2015 ..... more.
Kingston Mills hydro scheme progressing well
The foundations and groundworks for the hydro-electricity project, clearly visible from the far end of Kingston Road, are taking shape. The scheme is expected to be completed this Autumn and is projected to generate sufficient electricity for 100+ houses; another huge step towards carbon neutrality by 2050. We'll update progress next month.
Warminster biogas plant up and running
BoA based company Malaby Martin's biogas plant is now fully functional and producing genuinely sustainable energy, which is great news. You can find out more here.
Hawaii says "goodbye to the plastic bag"
In a first-of-its-kind move in the United States, the residents of Hawaii have collectively said “No!” to plastic bags. Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle penned the crowning achievement when he signed a bill banning the bags beginning July 1, 2015.
Or ... we could just charge £1 a bag and have "fast track" checkouts for people with their own bags! Listen to this from the BBC 'Today' programme.
Would you like to demonstrate your commitment to CFB's work and
become a member of CFB? It will only cost a one off £5 payment.
You can find out more and download an application form here.
