THURSDAY 27 MARCH 2012
RUSTHALL GOING GREEN held its 5th meeting on Thursday March 20th 2012 with Greg Clark MP and Mike Grenville from Transition Forest Row. Thirty people attended including Sam Christie from the Courier.
Greg Clark talked about the government’s Renewable Heat ( an overall term for solar panels, photo voltaic cells, ground source heat pumps etc) Incentive which will support and encourage the installation of energy saving equipment. He also described his own proposal, the Green Deal, now in place, where the government will pay up front for individual and community energy saving schemes which will be paid out of the consumer’s early profits.
Mike Grenville inspired us with a lively presentation including a short video showing how Forest Row is putting a big effort into providing and selling its own fruit, meat and vegetables.. He encouraged us to do the same here Mike said It's so easy to tell the stories of climate change with a gloom and doom attitude. So his approach was to be positive and challenging. (face it or lose it - style)
To show how much water we are consuming, he said each Spanish tomato we buy in this country has taken 11 litres of water to grow, wash and prepare. Answer, buy local and in season.
He mentioned the Belsize Park Draught Busters who offer their services to people in their area to help insulate homes - another idea for Rusthall? (Training in London available).
The next RGG meeting will be on Thursday 4th October at 7 for 7.30 when Cllr.Paul Barrington-King, TWBC portfolio holder for Sustainability will speak, and Paul White, a Town and Country Housing Association Manager, who will talk about and show groups of 10 around the boiler house of Simmonds Court where the heating is provided by a Bio-Mass method, using prepared wood pellets.
Yours in green,
JANUARY 2012
Responses for RGG from the TWBC Leader, KCC and the Government - yes, the world comes to Rusthall!
1 Why are there so many plastic packagings labelled "Recyclable" which in TW go to landfill?
TWBC - Green Bin collections do not go to landfill but go to the "Energy from Waste" plant in Allington ( Maidstone) - Regular plastic packaging is not cost-effective to recycle unlike plastic bottles (PET and HDPE) for which there is a strong market.
2/3 Why are street lights kept on in the summer? Why can't some lights be turned off after midnight?
KCC - "In order to ensure that KCC utilises its limited resources in the best manner it is proposed to follow the agreed Street Lighting Strategy - agreed by POSC May 2010. This will reduce energy costs and protect the environment. The County Council should:-
- Ensure value is achieved by supplying lighting at the time of greatest demand or need.
- Manage energy sensibly thus reducing consumption for street lighting. This will help address the financial challenge to reduce costs of service delivery as outlined in Bold Steps for Kent.
- Reduce CO2 emission to help meet the challenge of climate change as set out in Bold Steps for Kent.
- Engage with Kent stakeholders to consult on ways to ensure an appropriate and effective level of street lighting."
4 Why do disabled people not get help with their winter fuel bills - as pensioners do?
HMG Greg Barker, Dept. of Energy.... "The Warm Home Discount Scheme requires energy suppliers to provide support with energy costs".
TONY - so all we need to do is to ask!
HMG Greg Barker - Energy companies have been asked (sic) to provide support to those with certain disabilities according to agreed criteria.
(I am still awaiting clarification on this - Tony)
5 Why can't all public buildings( in Rusthall) be entitled to grants for solar heating (etc)? NB Simmonds Court has bio-mass heating.
HMG Greg Barker - No legal requirement. It's up to each public sector organisation to decide whether to do so or not.
TONY: more public persuasion then!
TWBC - we work closely with Town and Country Housing and their new developments ( eg Cranwell Road flats) are subject to the Council's energy planning policy.
6 Can the TWBC lend money for start up costs to install energy saving devices?
TWBC - The Government's new Green Deal will provide this opportunity in the near future.
Tony - GOOD NEWS!
7 How can TWBC support local community groups to fund a local energy saving project?
TWBC - we have limited staff resources but are keen to work with local communities. If they come up with a project, we'll see what extra help we can give.
TONY - there are national developments to establish the training and function of Community Champions to do this local work.
NB Greg Barker's letter will be made available in full at the next Fair Trade Cafe.
NB 2 The next Rusthall Going Green meeting will be on Wednesday 20th March at 7 for 7.30 at St Paul's School Rusthall with Greg Clark MP, Mike Grenville,
Transistion Forest Row , news from local residents, stalls and a video. Turn off you telly for an evening and turn out to find out how to save EVEN MORE energy1
Tony Rutherford
