Think global - act local

As the big guns are gathering in Copenhagen to deliberate on the state of the planet, a dedicated group of people are holding vigil in Trafalgar Square in London where they are holding a climate camp. There is also an Ice Bear that is rapidly melting in the square - despite the cold. I happened to be in London over the weekend and saw this poignant symbol of the issues we face.

The Ice Bear seemed dwarfed at times by the grand surroundings and crowds and that for me reflected how it can feel when thinking about climate change. What is agreed to ( or not agreed to) globally over the next few days will potentially dictate our futures. The nations of the world are deciding what commitments they will make to lower their carbon emissions at the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Many fear that the leadership will not be strong enough to take the measures that many scientists say need to be taken to avert the worst impacts of climate change. It is easy to feel that we have little control in these world wide affairs but what is heartening is the commitment and effort being put in at a local level within many communities.

Last week saw the announcement of another round of Climate Challenge funded projects. It is inspirational to see what is happening at a community level. Many of the communities that the John Muir Trust works alongside have successfully applied to the Climate Challenge fund for support either through the Powerdown Initiative supported by Community Energy Scotland, or independently.

There are a couple of interesting intiatives being funded in this latest round. One is a bid by Comrie Development Trust in Perthshire to mirror the Governments Climate Change Delivery Plan at a local level. This entails intially carrying out feasibility studies to see what is possible in terms of looking at electricity, heat, transport, land use and waste. Comrie have also added in attiudes and behaviour change which interestingly is missing from the Governments plan.

Another interesting initiative is based in Glen Lyon. Here they are looking to see if it is possible to fuel houses in the future from locally sourced wood through expanding the current wood supply and investigating options for coppicing. The area met its own fuel needs some hundred or so years ago so learning from the past may give clues to the future. It is hoped the scheme will be able to revive traditional skills, promote wildlife, create employment, and save money.

If you have an idea in your community for reducing your carbon footprints need you need to get your ideas to grant administrators - Keep Scotland Beautiful- by 13th Jan 2010 for the next panel at the end of Feb. Be aware though. ....It can take quite some time from a panel decision to announcement by a minister if you are successful in gaining a grant. This can have implications for some projects will be even more crucial as the timescale for the fund decreases. It is due to finish in March 2011 and it is not yet clear if an initiative which has allowed many communities to act locally on a global issue will continue. Now that would be a good Christmas present from the Government.

Galson Estate Powering Down

Kirsty MacLennan is the Powerdown Project Officer for the Galson Estate, North Lewis. In this guest post she describes the work taking place on the estate to reduce carbon usage.

Community Energy Scotland (CES), Development Trust Association Scotland (DTAS) and 27 community groups came together to form the Community Powerdown consortium. The consortium was successful in a bid to secure £1.5 million from the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund for the first phase of a coordinated effort to achieve carbon reduction projects and behaviour change within the participating communities.

I (Kirsty Maclennan) am the Powerdown Project Officer for the Galson Estate Trust with the main aim to reduce carbon emission in the area, by increasing energy efficiency within the community. The average British household spends £620 on energy bills during the winter, about £200 more than an energy efficient home. Insulating your home is key to reducing your energy bills and carbon emissions, loft insulation acts as a blanket, trapping rising heat from the house below. If you currently have no insulation and you install the recommended 270mm depth you could save around £150 a year on your heating bills and around 800kg of CO2 per year. Also insulating cavity walls could save you around £115 a year on your fuel bills and 610 kg of CO 2.

The way people use and conserve energy in the home is set to be revolutionised in Scotland with the offer of free energy audits, advice on becoming more energy efficient and free or discounted loft and cavity insulations. This is great news as this service is now available to 8506 houses throughout Lewis and Harris, which should reduce fuel poverty which is a major concern for householders in the Galson Estate Trust area. Due to this scheme being announced a couple of months ago, we looked at the insulation scheme that we had planned and we are now thinking of different ways such as domestic renewable energy that can help reduce fuel poverty while still working with Energy Saving Trust on this new scheme.

As well as looking at insulation I am looking at developing the Community Market and increasing local food production, we have had several markets so far. They have been very successful showing interest from both producers and buyers which was very positive. We ran a Community Market every second Saturday until the end of October. We have looked at developing allotments however we believe it is not the lack of land that is stopping people from growing their own fruit and vegetables it is know-how, so we are at the moment looking for people who are willing to train and educate people on how to grow their own vegetable.

On Friday 30th October we helped to host a low carbon lunch in the local hall for 44 local senior citizens. The lunch was held as part of the CSV’s annual Make a Difference event and the Julie and Kirsty teamed up with the Local Volunteer Centre to organise and host the lunch. The lunch was designed to follow on from the success of the community markets and all the ingredients for the meals served were sourced from the estate area with donations of meat, fish and vegetables coming from local crofters. As well as the lunch a number of local agencies had information available about resources that may be available to help people make their homes more energy efficient as reduce their food waste in order to reduce their Carbon footprint.

Education is extremely important in all areas, the third area which I work on is educating people in energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, I have produced a leaflet that will be distributed to all the 900 houses within our estate this contain simple steps to saving money, saving energy and saving the environment such as turning your thermostat down by 1 degree could cut your energy bill by 10% and using energy saving light bulbs which lasts up to 12 times longer than an ordinary light bulb and can save £590 over the lifetime of all the bulbs.

We are also working with schools and have arranged for eco-drama to come up in November to do a couple of shows and workshops in the eco-schools in the estate, before this we are hoping to get the children thinking of renewable energy and energy efficient measure within the estate and afterwards as a follow up have a quiz with a energy efficient prize.

If you have any enquiries or helpful information don’t hesitate to get in touch:
Tel:01851810825 email: kirsty@uogltd.com

Diverse aims - managing woods for the future

Last year various communities associated with the John Muir Trust met at Sconser on the Isle of Skye and considered the resources available to sustain themselves into the future. Wood was identified as one resource that could support community energy needs in the future as it is carbon neutral.

Following up on this idea we met with residents from Strathaird and Torrin estates on Skye a few weeks ago. The Trust is considering its plan for the woodlands on the estates over the next 20 years. One possibility is to support a sustainable wood fuel supply for the future - in which case planting soon is essential.

Drafting up a plan presents opportunities for those with an interest in the woodlands to become involved. Although selling Trust land to the community or an individual is not an option - some form of joint management or partnerships could be considered.

Jake Willis from the Community Woodlands Association and an experienced forester, provided examples of how communities were able to meet diverse and multiple objectives in managing woodlands if they incorporated these at the outset. For instance it is possible to plant trees for wood fuel that also allows for a network of paths for leisure/recreation purposes and increased biodiversity in addition to providing local employment. Communities across Scotland have managed woodlands through a variety of approaches – sometimes owning wood, sometimes leasing it, sometimes in partnership with another organisation. On Knoydart, the Forest Trust there have been developing the woodlands with diverse aims in mind including managing the mixed woodlands around the Inverie village to provide locally useful timber, diversity of habit and access for the public. North Harris Trust have been experimenting with growing wood for biomass.

After some lively discussions we got maps out and people started plotting the ‘wish list’ for the future. Key themes (from two meetings) were:

• Increased leisure use of woodlands including: extending the path networks; incorporating walks that are child friendly with picnic benches and good in wet/wild weather; considering wooden sculptures and involving children in design of these
• Using woods for cycling, walking and recreation
• Planting for biodiversity and wildlife
• Interest in a continued wood fuel supply - with a move over time to hard wood
• An interest in fruit trees and orchards
• Using of woods for education and history (there is a deserted village and other historical artefacts in the area).

There were contrasting approaches about how crofters viewed trees planting. On the one hand we heard about examples of how crofters had grown trees successfully - supported through the Crofter Forestry Schemes. On the other hand there was strong opposition from some to planting any trees on any croft land. It is of course for crofters to decide whether to plant on croft land or not but I do feel it is possible to find some common ground between opposing views.

Timber!

Recently we have had discussions with residents on Strathaird and Torrin estates on Skye about the future of the John Muir Trust woodlands there. This included a visit by children at Elgol Primary to look at the woodlands and see how wood becomes fuel (there are options for looking at a sustainable supply for the future).
Here is what the children and staff thought of the trip - which included cutting down a tree and turning it into a log for fuel

Hello – Elgol Primary here!
From the children:

Thank you very much, John Muir Trust, for taking us for the walk in the woods. We really enjoyed learning about the wildlife in the woods – things like deer, frogs, worms and even hedgehogs in Torrin.

We found out about native trees like rowan, silver birch, holly, hazel & willow. The guessing game was great fun because we learned lots about animals. It was brilliant to be out of the classroom in the fresh air on such a lovely sunny afternoon. The midges didn’t bother us because we were having so much fun!
Molly & Kirsty P6

Hello! Thanks, JMT, for a lovely afternoon!
I thought it was fun when Ali cut down the tree because I have never seen a tree being cut down in real life, SO COOL!

From Lorna, the class room assistant:

As classroom assistant at Elgol Primary School, one of the “perks” of the job is that I am generally the member of staff who gets to accompany the pupils on outdoor visits. I’m always extremely happy to don my wellies and waterproof jacket and escape from the confines of the classroom and the office!

On Thursday 8 October, Miss McDougall and I had the opportunity to do just this. We accompanied Primary 4-7 on a visit to the John Muir Trust’s woodlands at Keppoch near Strathaird with Alasdair MacPherson and Mike Blunt. Mike talked to the children about wildlife, and played a guessing game with them.
We “weeded” seedling spruce trees, which the children insisted on taking home for their gardens.

One of the highlights of the visit was watching Ali expertly felling a tree.

We were all fascinated by the “Hi Ab” tractor and log bus (my 17 year old son, currently doing a Forestry Certificate at Inverness College, tells me this is what it’s called). The lucky ones helped Ali lift up huge logs with it – but unfortunately there wasn’t enough time for us all to have a go.

Next we watched the log splitter being operated. It was amazing to see how quickly tree trunks can be fed into the machine, sliced up, and fall off the end of the chute as……… logs for the fire. Naturally we all wanted a go of this too, but health and safety dictate otherwise. The children were quite happy to go home with a log for the fire, having had a healthy and interesting afternoon in the open air.


More from the children:
I also enjoyed playing the animal game. Cori P5

We went to the woods with Ali on the 8th of October - it was a nice day but the midges were really bad.

I thought the best bit about going to the woods was watching Ali cut down the tree.

The red machine cut the log and we got to take a log home. Katie P7

Hi! Finlay here! I’m P4.
We went to the Dun Ringill woods. It was really fun. Ali chopped a tree down.

The weather was sunny and midgy

I liked the trip to the wood because it was fun when we got to move the logs on the machine.

I felt a bit scared but I want to do it again. Archie, P4

Hi I’m Duncan, in P4. It was really fun when we went to the woods and we saw Ali chop down a tree, then most of us got to control the logger.

Next blog will report on what the adults think of the woodlands...........

Home loans for energy efficiency and conservation

OFGEM warned today that the price of gas and electricity bills could rise as much as 60% over the next few years as energy companies make the switch to more renewable sources of energy so it is welcome news that the Scottish Government is looking at what actions it will take around energy efficiency.

Yesterday it launched its consultation document on its energy efficiency action plan. At the same time it announced a new loans scheme for home owners wanting to take energy conservation measures such as loft and wall insulation. It is all on a pilot basis but at least it is moving in the right direction.

The Highlands and Islands have a disproportionate amount of hard to heat properties which coupled with the weather conditions means heat and electricity bills are on average higher. Conserving energy is the most efficient way to make it all go further.

The loan scheme includes money for solid wall insulation - an issue with many older properties that are hard to heat. This is an issue we have been raising as it has been missing from previous schemes as walls lose even more heat than lofts.

Loans are accessed through a number of ways including if you undertake a home energy report/ audit through the Energy Saving Trust. A number of communities are looking at this in the near future including: Assynt, North Harris and Galson Trust as part of their Climate Challenge projects.

Under the new loan scheme you can borrow money (from £500 to £10,000) to:

• Install cavity wall or solid wall insulation and/or loft insulation;
• Install renewable energy systems, such as wind turbines, solar water heating, heat pumps, small scale hydroelectric schemes and wood fuel heating systems;
• Replace old, inefficient boilers.

The energy efficiency or renewable measure funded by the loan must be recommended in one of the following documents:

• Energy Performance Certificate (within the home report completed when buying, renting or selling a home);

• Home energy report (produced on completion of an Energy Saving Trust Home Energy Check (HEC);

• Home report on renewables and energy efficiency (completed via a home visit from an Energy Saving Scotland home renewables advisor); or

• Energy Assistance Package (EAP) Stage Four managing agent letter detailing the work recommended.

You can find out more about all these documents and how to get them by calling your local Energy Saving Scotland advice centre on 0800 512 012.

For more information check out the Energy Savings Trust website.

Living in an old solid wall property, running on an ancient oil boiler this is something I'll be investigating for myself.

Good for the pocket, good for the planet

The nights are drawing in and across the country boilers and stoves are getting lit for the winter, so it’s not surprising that October 1st was Central Heating day. It’s not surprising either that this is the time of year when energy bills start to stack up.

Reducing heating costs is not only good for the pocket, it’s good for the planet, and there are lots of things you can do to keep warm without spending a fortune on fuel through the winter.

According to the Energy Savings Trust turning down the thermostat by one degree Celsius can shave eight per cent off heating costs.

If you are not brave enough to turn down the heating down a full degree or two in one go, try reducing the heat a small amount every day, you probably won’t notice the difference – at least until the utility bills come in. And if you have a timer, try setting it to come on half an hour later than last year.

Of course everyday energy efficiency is not just about central heating. Green Footsteps have a load of handy hints on how to keep your home cosy without impacting on your energy usage. For example, making use of thick curtains and soft furnishings for insulation, and some great ways to keep your kitchen nice and warm.

Reducing energy consumption is key to the future

The Government’s new energy adviser, David MacKay, has warned that unless new sources of energy are found the country will have a power shortage by 2016.

The suggestion that the United Kingdom will face blackouts less than a decade down the line should be enough motivation to persuade the government it is time to concentrate on energy conservation. Soon we will have to address the fact that we are living unsustainably.

As a country we have a choice - either live more efficiently, or live with less. By continuing to focus on energy production, the government is attempting to spend their way out of a crisis that has been caused by excessive consumption, rather than tackling the problem head on.

As the country’s leading wild land charity, the John Muir Trust is concerned that a reckless commitment to upping the build rate of energy projects will allow huge swathes of the country to be parcelled off for land hungry renewable energy schemes without proper assessment of each development.

The delivery of a secure, sustainable and affordable energy portfolio requires a commitment to protect the local and global environment from the effects of both energy production and consumption. The country urgently needs a national energy strategy that focuses on conserving energy and on energy efficiency, as well as producing it by more sustainable means. .

As John Muir said more than 100 years ago, “Not blind opposition to progress, but opposition to blind progress.”