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.
With rising energy costs and a desire for sustainable solutions, interest in community energy projects is increasing rapidly. Two great opportunities to build your knowledge are coming up soon: the SusSH Energy Focus Group Leaders’ Gathering, and the Community Energy Spring Gathering with Devon Community Energy Network (DCEN).
Happy New Year from the Sustainable South Hams team! To celebrate, we've put together a collection of some of our activities over the last year. Thank you so much to all of you who have supported SusSH, joined in our events and brought your own passion, drive and enthusiasm to sustainability in the South Hams.
Community Sustainability Groups recently met with engineers from National Grid Electricity Distribution to improve understanding about what is and isn’t feasible for community energy projects in the South Hams
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.
Providing tools to help people understand their own carbon footprint
Moor Imagination Collective intend to develop a community hub in Buckfastleigh
A joint project led by SMASH with speakers, stalls and networking opportunities