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Issue 2 Autumn 2008

newsletter

in this issue

Free home energy surveys

pg. 2Shropshire businesses

going green pg.3

Light Fantastic launch

event pg 4

MEA birthday pg.5

Action Heat driving down

costs pg.6

Low Carbon Leadership

Workbook, pg. 7

Grants available for Community BuildingsMEA are now accredited consultants for the BIG Lotterys

Community Sustainable Energy Programme (CSEP). This scheme

enables not-for-prot community-based organisations to obtain upto 75% (or 5,000) of the cost of feasibility studies and up to 50%

(or 50,000) of the capital cost of installing renewable and micro-

generation technologies.

We have also negotiated some

great deals in reducing the

required match funding.

Our expertise in identifying the

potential for utilising renewable

energy and assisting with theimplementation of installations

means we are well placed

to advise groups how to tap

into this funding. For new

builds we can estimate energy

consumption through using

SBEM; providing a Part L

compliance certicate at the

same time!

So whether its a wind turbineat a local school or a ground

source heat pump powered by

solar panels in a new village

hall we can help!

MEA has appointed a Policy &European Funding Manager to

help steer the organisations,

regional policy and actors, on

delivering European and West

Midlands priorities on climate

change and sustainable energy.

The promotion and sharing of

best practice in these elds will

strengthen the inuence of the

West Midlands region in policyreview and development, and

encourage future project and

partnership development.

As a Project Manager for the

Agency since joining in 2004,Katherine Shepherd has a

good understanding of projects,

issues and challenges related

to the climate change agenda.

The role is founded on the

belief that the sharing of

knowledge, experience and

best practice, and cross-sector

cooperation, both within and

between regions, is essentialfor more rapid progress in

delivering a low carbon future

and for guiding policy makers at

all levels.

National Award

MEAs Eco Vehicles Top

Trumps game has won second

place for an award in the

category of Green Campaign

of the Year at this years Green

Fleet awards.

Not bad for an organisation

of less than 20 employees,especially considering that

we were up against transport

giants BMW, Citroen and the

NICE Car Company.

MEAs new Policy & European

Funding Manager

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MEA ACTION

Walking the Talk - our transport use

Here at MEA we like to walk the talk - literally - we try to use

sustainable transport wherever possible. To encourage us to do

this (and to shout about what we do) we record all our business

travel sources - and were rather proud of the result. The graph

to the right shows how weve been doing in terms of mileage per

vehicle type for the rst quarter of this year.

Our three company vehicles are led by the Honda Insight Electric

Hybrid (Registration BC02 LOW!). This is a category A vehicle

delivering some 83 mpg rated at 80g CO2

per km. The VW

Caddy has been converted to run on Pure Plant Oil. This is

100% pure rape seed oil purchased in reusable drums.

This doesnt show the number of miles we all travel by bikeduring the course of our work and we also try to do as many

meetings by phone as possible to avoid travel altogether

MEA is offering free home

energy surveys

MEAs Low Carbon Communities team is now

offering free and impartial home energy surveys

for residents living in Ellesmere, Cleobury

Mortimer and the Floodplains community.

As a result of a survey

carried out at the Dog Inn in

Whittington, Staffordshire,

in December 2007, MEA is

delighted to report that theDog has taken up many of its

recommendations and will be

saving over 1,000 a year in

heating and lighting costs.

This was just one of 120 such

surveys carried out by Simon

Ross of MEAs Low Carbon

Communities team using, for

the most part, his folding bike toget around.

Each home surveyed received

a bespoke report, energy

rating and Action Plan based

upon an Energy Performance

Certicate. There is enough

in each report to help each

householder make serious and

meaningful changes to their

lifestyle to reduce both theircarbon emissions and their

running costs, he said.

The project was reported on

BBC Midlands Today.

MEA helps village pub save over 1000

The survey will cover changes that can be made for free, insulation levels, lighting, heating controls,

boiler efciency and renewable technologies.

The resulting action plan, if implemented, will help householders save money.

MEAs Simon Ross, who is running the project, said: The service provides a great opportunity for

people to start to understand energy efciency in their homes and to make meaningful savings. This is

doubly important at a time when climate change is on the agenda and energy prices are soaring.

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For the past year Marches Energy

Agency has been assisting

businesses in Shropshire to access

grants and assistance to reduce

their fuel bills and generate their

own power and heat.

Now, seven more businesses

in Shropshire are set to make

nancial savings and lower

their carbon footprints following

successful bids to a local grant

funding scheme.

The diverse range of projects with

a total value of nearly 70,000 will

be 50% funded under Shropshire

County Councils Low CarbonCommunities for Business

programme.

Amongst the successful

applications:

An RSPCA Freedom Foods

accredited egg laying unit

in Cleobury Mortimer will be

providing its constant power

requirements using a building-

mounted wind turbine. Itsproprietor (and possibly the

chickens) will be showering in

water heated by the sun thanks to

a solar hot water system.

In Melverley the recently

refurbished Tontine Inn will

be providing its hot water

requirements through a solar hot

water system.

In a Thai restaurant in Ellesmere

a saving of nearly 3 tonnes ofCO2per annum and 600 worth

of electricity is to be made by

simply switching from electric

to gas for space and hot water

heating.

The funding, which is available until

April 2009, comes from AWM, the

Regional Development Agencys

key rural delivery mechanism, the

Rural Regeneration Zone (RRZ).

More Shropshire businesses going the extra (green) mile

In an idea originally conceived

by the Marches Energy Agency

and put to the Bishops by Dr

Isabel Carter of Amber Links,

the Bishops have agreed tosubstitute two or three short

car journeys each week for

a bicycle or to walk instead.

They hope that between them

they can cycle over 3,000

miles and save a tonne of

carbon dioxide in the process.

Bishops from New Zealand,

Tanzania, Canada, United

States and the UK wereamongst those taking the

pledge at the question and

answer session in Leominster.

Seven cycling churchmens climate change commitment

Seven Bishops from four continents have pledged to cycle

or walk 450 miles each this year rather than driving. This

public commitment for action on climate change was made on

Saturday, 12th July at Leominster Priory, Herefordshire.

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MEA EVENTS

Light Fantastic launch at

Shrewsbury Castle

Invited guests and members of the publicwatched the launch of MEAs latest project - Light

Fantastic - in Shrewsbury Castle grounds on

Thursday the 18th of September.

Light Fantastic is an interactive experience, which

aims to convert people from using standard

light bulbs to energy efcient ones. The energy

efciency message is effectively conveyed by

using practical demonstrations, fun games for

adults and children, and the distribution of free low

energy bulbs. With its experienced and friendlystaff, Light Fantastic provides the visitor with all

the advice and information they need to become

more energy efcient at home and in the work

place.

Entertainment for the event was provided by Chris

Ryder offering on the spot caricatures, with the

Town Crier also present. Visitors were challenged

to power standard inefcient bulbs with the

Energy Bike. To cool down afterwards the energy

bike could also be used to power a desk fan!

Shrewsbury based caravan and

leisure company Salop Leisure

have generously supplied

the Light Fantastic project

with essential items to get the

exhibition on the road.

Managing Director Mark Bebb

said: I am delighted to support

this local project, we have a

commitment to be energy efcient

at Salop Leisure and its good to

help others to do the same.

Project Manager Sarah Meredith

said: Weve given away over12,000 low energy bulbs so far.

Over their lifetime that will save

1,756 tonnes of CO2and nearly

750,000 off peoples electricity

bills and replacement lights.

Thats just a month of events, so

we are really making an impact

with the project.

Energy Company E.ON are

also supporting the project,

donating low energy bulbs from

leading manufacturer Megaman

and Powerdown units to help

householders reduce their energy

consumption.

A grant from Awards for All

has allowed completion of the

exhibition and the ShropshireAggregates Levy Sustainability

Fund has paid for a number

of events this summer at local

shows and venues.

Salop Leisure supports MEA roadshow

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Chorley ShowOn Sunday 17th August, MEAs Carbon Forum team took the Light Fantastic exhibition trailer to

the Chorley Show near Bridgnorth. The Chorley Show is a unique summer show in that it has

for many years endeavoured to promote local produce, arts and crafts and more recently really

take responsibility for its environmental impact. Last year we carbon foot-printed the whole show,

highlighting ways in which their footprint could be further reduced. They have taken many of our

recommendations on board, with displays and stall holders relying less on generators, the 70s

classic (gas guzzling) car show removed and an increased public transport provision for visitors to

the show.

Despite the weekend of rain and an angry looking sky, the show was very well attended with over

2000 visitors. Our visit to the show was funded by Defras Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund

co-ordinated by Shropshire County Council. We had over 1000 visitors, who took with them 1300

low energy light bulbs and 160 Powerdown units. This will result in CO2

savings of 187 tonnes and

MEA birthday!!MEA marked its 10th birthday on Thursday 18 September in a

number of ways:

Light Fantastic, a project that inspires communities to embrace

sustainable energy technologies including low energy lighting, was

launched in the Castle Grounds in Shrewsbury

MEA Open House at our ofces at The Pump House

Carbon Detox show at the Gateway Arts & Education Centre

Food and drinks in the evening at The Pump House

MEA played host to delegates from

throughout Europe this summer,

having secured funding to co-

ordinate an innovative European

project. The project - SECHURBA

(Sustainable Energy Communities

in Historic Urban Areas) - focuseson energy efciency and renewable

technologies in historic areas and

buildings.

Involving 13 partners from 7

countries (Greece, Denmark, Italy,

Bulgaria, Hungary, Ireland and UK)

the project aims to demonstrate

how our heritage can be used as

a cultural, social, economic and

environmental opportunity for usingsustainable technologies, rather

than as a barrier to a low carbon

future.

The inaugural meeting got the

project off to a successful start

when representatives (architects,

scientists and consultants) from all

13 partner organisations (energy

agencies and charities) attended

for two days here in Shrewsbury in

September.

Delegates learnt about each

others organisations and were

shown presentations on the

areas to be studied. These

ranged from a historic castle in

the Province of Piacenza, Italy, to

small communities along the black

sea coast of Bulgaria, and parts

of Szentendre near Budapest in

Hungary. They were also shown

presentations on the iconic

buildings of the National Theatre

of Rhodes and the City Hall inCopenhagen.

Partners were then given a tour

around historic Shrewsbury

town centre (lead by SABC

Conservation Ofcers), and visited

St Alkmunds Church to see the

PV panels installed on a Grade 1

listed building, plus timber framed

buildings in Shrewsbury and some

local residences which had agreed

to be studied for the project.

A SECHURBA project website will

be launched soon to track progress

of the project.

The majority of funding for the

project is coming from the Intelligent

Energy Europe programme, the

EUs tool for funding action to

encourage more efcient use of

energy throughout the European

Community.

Launch meeting for innovative European project

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MEA GRANTS

ActionHeat: driving down heating

costsThe ActionHeat team, responsible for the successful Keep

Shropshire Warm initiative, has continued to provide

affordable warmth help to both Shropshire and Herefordshire

over the summer months.

In what is normally a quiet period for the ght against fuel

poverty, ActionHeat has upped the stakes and provided

insulation measures, at a free or discounted rate, to 540

households since the middle of June. The team has also

provided advice about low and no cost, DIY, affordable warmth

measures and information about better energy tariffs to a

further 230 households.The hard work that the ActionHeat team has put in over the

summer to ensure households are more comfortable this

winter has seen the following benets:

103,500 retained economic benet

908.4t/CO2/annum saving

135 households potentially removed from fuel poverty.

1.5 million grants available to SMEs

Re:think Energy is a newlylaunched 1.5 million

renewable energy capital

grant scheme aimed at

Small and Medium Sized

Enterprises (SMEs), situated

in, or who are benetting the

Rural Regeneration Zone

(RRZ) areas of Shropshire,

Herefordshire and parts of

Worcestershire.The scheme will enable SMEs

to capitalise on opportunities

to install renewable energytechnologies as well as

provide openings for business

within the RRZ through the

manufacture, supply and

installation of renewable

technologies and services.

Kate Millbank the RE:think

Energy Manager has recently

started in post and is excited

about taking the projectforward. The opportunity for

businesses within the RRZ to

actively take control of theirenergy needs, reduce fuel

bills and carbon emissions

is fantastic and is becoming

increasingly more necessary

with escalating fuel costs,

energy insecurity and growing

concerns about global climate

change. RE:think Energy

provides businesses within

the RRZ a not to be missedopportunity to become more

energy independent as well

as partake in the growing

low carbon economy, rmly

establishing themselves and

the West Midlands in the UKs

low carbon future.

Funded via Advantage West

Midlands and managed by

Marches Energy Agency, RE:think Energy can offer grants

of up to 50% of the capital

cost investment of installing

renewable energy technologies.

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MEA PRODUCTS

Cartoon exhibition available for hire!

Our Climate Change Cartoon Exhibition is made up of 27 cartoons donated to us by UK and US

based artists. They range from the absurd and whimsical to the stark and thought provoking. In

the face of the climate change challenge, a sense of humour is vital.

The exhibition has been toured around Shropshire and is now available for hire or as a full set

of prints for your organisation as part of its climate change communications strategy.

Contact kris@mea.org.uk for more details, or give us a ring (contact details at end of

newsletter)

Reproduced by kind permission of the artist John G. Roberts mad-badger.com

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Low Carbon Leadership

WorkbookMEAs Carbon Forum team produced a Low

Carbon Leadership workbook in partnership with

the Energy Saving Trust and seeks to help allthat use it to move from low carbon aspiration

to planning practical action. With a spare hour

here and there (and internet access), the book

enables an elected member, ofcer, LSP partner or

interested community member to understand and

create a low carbon route map for their community.

The book will shortly be available for download and

Carbon Forum will be offering support sessions

for Local Authorities and their partners. Watch this

space!

Marches Energy Agency is a

registered charity, #1070942

Main website:www.mea.org.uk

MEA team websites:www.carbonforum.org

www.projectcarbon.org

www.lowcarboncommunity.org

www.keepshropshirewarm.org

switchboard: 01743 246 007email: info@mea.org.uk

The Pump House, Coton Hill,

Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 2DP

Our Carbon Forum team has

produced a Bioenergy guide for

the Bioenergy West Midlands

steering group with funding from

Advantage West Midlands.

The guide is an excellent

introduction to bioenergy,

focusing on biomass and

biogas (anaerobic digestion)

energy production. It provides

Bioenergy Guide goes digital

an accessible but detailedintroduction to the technologies,

outlines some of the key

considerations for developing a

bioenergy facility, and provides

contact details and internet

addresses for further information.

Bioenergy has tremendous

potential as a part of a renewable

energy strategy for the UK, and

we hope that this guide will playa part in achieving that potential

by raising awareness of these

technologies and what they have

to offer. The guide is available

to download from the Carbon

Forum website (see below).