Energy Sense: We all use energy every minute of the day. Some things are essential like eating, breathing and moving! Most uses of energy can be modified to reduce consumption, reduce wasted energy and importantly create energy in a sustainable way.
Energy: Buildings and Transport
Our houses could be more efficient with better insulation coupled with controlled ventilation giving more control over our usage. Our housing stock is one of the worst in Europe for leaky, badly insulated buildings. Government has recognised this and will provide, in many cases, grants to help cut energy waste, improve people’s comfort and save them money all at the same time. A well insulated property with solar panels and a heat pump will use very little precious energy with little of the pollution that fossil fuels emit. The earth is warming and the need to reverse this is now a matter of urgency.
In this category, we aim to provide links to some of the organisations and projects who are there to advise and help the public in this important field.
Check out our Resources for more information.
Sustainable South Hams are excited to be collaborating with South Hams District Council to assist in delivering their ambitious climate and biodiversity plans. With climate change and biodiversity issues high on the agenda for the new District Council administration, core funding has been pledged to assist Sustainable South Hams in our work inspiring, connecting and supporting local nature and climate action.
Input from your group is invited to help shape the Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (DCIoS) Climate Adaptation Strategy. This strategy aims to help communities and organisations understand the risks associated with climate change and to explore ways to mitigate them.
Developing a community energy project is not for the fainthearted and March’s Sustainable South Hams Monthly Gathering brought together a vanguard of community group leaders determined to find a way through the complex issues involved.
Our aim is to take action to address the climate emergency and to deliver the Devon Carbon Plan by creating a Devon that runs entirely on green energy. We believe that, rather than buying power from outside the country, we can produce clean, locally owned energy here in Devon. This will significantly boost our local economy, retaining approximately £1.76 billion in our county and creating a local industry and jobs across the region.
Habitat Review in progress, which has mapped the land owned or managed by the Parish Council, made suggestions for changes to the maintenance schedule and made suggestions for habitat enhancements. This will not only enhance the biodiversity of the area, but should also represent a year-on-year saving to maintenance costs. SusDit are members of DCEN - Devon Community Energy Network
The Society was established to take forward a medium size wind turbine project for the benefit of the community - the V27 wind turbine was installed in 2013. A photovoltaic array has also been installed on the local Recreation Association building. Surplus from these operations go towards the South Brent Community Energy Fund, which has awarded grants totalling almost £76,000 to energy saving projects in and around South Brent.
A joint project led by SMASH with speakers, stalls and networking opportunities