Renewable Energy Club Meeting 3rd September - Green Deal

Saturday 3 September 2011, 10.00 for 10.15 a.m. to 12 noon
Quaker Meeting House, 39 High Street Warwick, CV34 4AX

Hear presentations on the Government’s flagship ‘Green Deal’ policy to see the
energy performance of UK’s housing / non-domestic buildings vastly improved.
The Energy Bill, introduced to Parliament in December 2010, includes provision
for the new 'Green Deal', which is intended to revolutionise the energy efficiency
of British properties. The Government is establishing a framework to enable
private firms to offer consumers energy efficiency improvements to their homes,
community spaces and businesses at no upfront cost, and to recoup payments
through a charge in instalments on the energy bill.

REC-W is delighted to welcome 3 great speakers … with a busy year ahead to launch

David Jullien, CEO, Act on Energy
With summer drawing towards a close and energy costs on the rise again,
David will remind us about using less energy and speak about fuel poverty
in Warwickshire – a key group that ‘Green Deal’ plans to help

Chris White, Member of Parliament, Warwick and Leamington
Chris has shown a particular interest in energy issues since being elected,
and spoke in the 2nd Reading of the Energy Bill in May. He will overview
the Green Deal, it’s objectives, explain the ‘Golden Rule’ and the
challenges tackled and issues still being addressed

Tim Pollard, Head of Sustainability, Wolseley UK
Tim is well known for his passion in tackling climate change and energy
security issues through the building supply industry. He is closely involved
in work streams to deliver the Green Deal – and in particular trying to
ensure that local and smaller builders get a share of huge business
opportunities that will come.

Presentations will be followed by questions and a discussion facilitated by Roger Matthews –
Community Energy Warwickshire.

This meeting is open to REC-W Members and the general public
A DONATION OF £2 IS REQUESTED TOWARDS REC-W COSTS

To confirm attendance - or for further information please
e-mail membership@renewable-energy-club.org.uk or call 07581 085346

http://www.renewable-energy-club.org.uk/

New Opening Hours

The Action 21 Sustainability Centre at East Lodge will be open to the public until mid-Autumn EVERY SUNDAY from 2pm – 5pm, manned by Action 21 volunteers as well as our park ranger, who will all be happy to show you around and answer your questions about the project and building.  We welcome your ideas and suggestions about what you’d like to see at the Sustainability Centre and you can register your interest for future events and training such as willow weaving, sustainability courses, recycled craft, nest box making, bicycle maintenance and more.

Summer Update on the East Lodge Permaculture Garden

It is now high summer – and the East Lodge Permaculture Garden is looking great! 

We did not attempt to finish it all this year (as if a garden is ever finished…).  The herb garden in front of the Lodge was planted up last year, and is now stuffed full of herbs: please pick a sprig whenever you are passing. 

And this summer we have focused first on the biggest bed inside, to turn this into a mini ‘forest garden’ with perennial food plants. The Sunday working group dug this over and constructed swales and berms (to slow down and hold water run-off), before planting fruit trees and bushes and self-renewing vegetables such as Jerusalem artichokes. There are also some extremely happy looking annual veg – potatoes, brassicas, cucumbers and more.

There are more annual vegetables in one raised and one lower bed. The path is fully wheelchair accessible – and we’re making sitting spaces for the suntrap along the Lodge. Next to go in are bullrushes (really!), now we have learned that these natives were a major source of calories before wheat-based agriculture reached Britain. The point of this garden is to demonstrate new ideas – techniques for low maintenance food production, unusual plants, things that help us understand food history and food cycles. 

In the autumn we’ll be planting more fruit trees and a hip-bearing rose hedge, concentrating on local, pest resistant and wild-life friendly varieties. We’re also working on our wildlife corridor on the banks of the river, with assistance from Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

For now the hard digging is over (though weeding remains a pleasant Sunday activity). Why not come along – if only to sit in the sun and admire the work so far!

Ruth

Working group every Sunday 11am – 4pm.  PS East Lodge itself will be also open every Sunday afternoon 2-5pm from now on until mid-Autumn, so there is no excuse not to drop by!

The Recycle Races - with Prizes and Giveaways

Children’s Summer Recycling Activities with Prizes and Giveaways

Starting on Wednesday 27th July there are five fantastic fun-packed events.

Each event runs from 10am until 2pm and there is a free limited edition bag available for the first 100 people each day.

• Find out how clothes and textiles are recycled

• Bring along any unwanted/outgrown clothes - even your old school uniform for recycling!

• Quiz sheets

• Colouring-in

• Litter-picking games

• Recycling relay races

• Paper potting (fill the paper pop with compost, pop in a seed and take it home to grow!)

• Paper making (beware this gets messy!), weather permitting

On Tuesday 9th August and Tuesday 16th August The Recylce Races features Dr Bike and is hosted in Jephson Gardens by the new Action21 Sustainability Centre at East Lodge!

• Pump Rooms Gardens (by the bandstand)  -  Wednesday 27 July, 10am - 2pm

• Abbey Fields (play area)  -  Wednesday 3 August, 10am - 2pm

• Jephson Gardens by Action 21 Sustainability Centre at East Lodge

SPECIAL EVENT Tuesday 9 August, 10am - 2pm

  - "DR. BIKE" bicycle MOT performed by the dedicated volunteers from the Action 21 Bicycle Workshop.  Dr. Bike welcomes the public to bring their bikes for a full check-over including minor repairs and adjustments in exchange for a donation to support Action 21.

  - £3 Prize Vouchers for the Action 21 Re-Useful Centre

 - Free Organic Apple Squash (in re-usable sports cups)

• St Nicholas Park (play area)  -  Wednesday 10 August, 10am - 2pm

 • Jephson Gardens by Action 21 Sustainability Centre at East Lodge

SPECIAL EVENT  Tuesday 16 August, 10am - 2pm

  - "DR. BIKE" bicycle MOT performed by the dedicated volunteers from the Action 21 Bicycle Workshop.  Dr. Bike welcomes the public to bring their bikes for a full check-over including minor repairs and adjustments in exchange for a donation to support Action 21.

  - £3 Prize Vouchers for the Action 21 Re-Useful Centre

 - Free Organic Apple Squash (in re-usable sports cups)

About the Action 21 Bicycle Workshop

 Here are 5 good reasons why Action 21's  Bicycle Workshop, based at the Re-Useful Centre, is so exciting:

     1. We make it possible for people to cycle, thereby reducing their carbon footprint and transport costs, by providing cheap quality bikes to members of the public.  Prices for good adult bikes start at £30, roughly 20% of their original price.  This doesn't reflect the quality of the bikes on sale - which have all been thoroughly checked by properly trained mechanics who give their time voluntarily for Action 21.

     2. On top of the environmental benefits, riding a bike is a fantastic way of improving personal fitness.

     3. We're taking a stand against a throw-away culture by encouraging re-use.  All of our bikes have been donated to us by and would otherwise have been thrown away.  Our fully-trained volunteer mechanics give them a thorough overhaul and a new lease of life.

     4. Our volunteer programme provides training and gives people a skill.  Volunteers have included those on work placements, wanting to learn a skill and give their time to charity, and retired mechanics wanting to give something back.

     5. The money generated from bike sales helps sustain the other charitable activities of

Action 21.

Green Drinks...Friday 12th August

Green Drinks is a great opportunity to get together with like-minded people.

On the 2nd Friday of each month at 5pm at The New Inn on Leam Terrace, enjoy the lovely garden and good company.


****NEXT DRINKS Friday 12th August****


Hope to see you there...

...the Action 21 Team and Trustees

Volunteering Opportunities - On-line Sales

Project Overview

Action 21’s Re-Use shops accept and sell donated goods to reduce the number of useful items going to landfill and to raise money for sustainability projects in the local community.  Last year we diverted over 100 tonnes of reusable goods from landfill!  

We sell some higher value items online as the larger customer base available through the internet means we can increase the turnover of goods we sell.

Volunteer tasks

·         Assisting with the smooth running of the project from the moment an item arrives until the time it leaves

·         Researching the value of items on the internet

·         Posting items for sale on internet shopping sites, including writing creative descriptions

·         Responding to customer queries

·         Recording and posting out items and receiving payments

Skills/previous experience sought

·         A basic level of computer literacy is required, although you do not need prior knowledge of selling items online as full training and support will be provided. 

·         We ask individuals to be enthusiastic about the role and willing to learn to work using their initiative.

Benefits of volunteering:

·         Expenses: We believe that volunteers should not be out of pocket for donating their time and effort and so we pay back all volunteers’ reasonable travel expenses & there’s tea, coffee & biscuits on tap.

·         On the job training and support is provided, including review sessions to check you’re enjoying your volunteering placement and that your needs are being met.

·         You’ll be part of the wider network of Action 21 volunteers, receiving regular updates and information on our projects and invites to our well attended volunteer socials.

·         Excellent work experience, especially for people pursuing any career which needs administrative and organisational skills.