Newsletter 13 July 2009

You may be wondering where we’re at. Well…

Working Groups Started

We formed some working groups – solar thermal (hot water from sunlight), energy efficiency, photovoltaics (electricity from sunlight) – that were initially enthusiastic but ended up feeling more than a bit overwhelmed at the scale and complexity of how to make our own buildings low-carbon as individual projects. 

Energy Workshop

We ran an Energy Workshop in the Bussey Building on Saturday 2 May. This was based on David Mackay’s Sustainable Energy Without the Hot Air, which works out where our current energy is used, and what the possible sustainable sources are, so that our energy expenditure is not greater than our energy supply. Download it for free here:

http://www.withouthotair.com

Many thanks to Michael Carnuccio of Southwark Council Planning Team for the supportive funding, Mickey Smith of Chronic Love Foundation for hosting the event and David Mackay for his book. Some people expressed interest in the event but were unable to make that date – let us know if you’d be interested in a repeat.

Stall at Dulwich Fayre

On Sunday 10 May, we had a stall at the Dulwich Fayre on Goose Green and talked to lots of people about their energy needs, and in particular draught-busting and insulation. Many thanks to Karen at Karavan Eco-store on Lordship Lane for her financial support for this event.

Meeting Energy Companies

We were invited by Roger Young and Jessica Binks of Southwark Council to meet several middle managers from energy companies (British Gas, EDF, E.On) who want to invest in community projects – it was good to hear about their experiences; they liked hearing about Peckham Power and our ideas. We’re waiting to hear if any funding for energy projects in Peckham and Nunhead will result.

Draught-busting

Hyde Farm CAN have been meeting up once a month to install draught-proofing in each others’ homes at cost. This works really well, so we’ve just had our initial training with the draught-proofing manufacturer (GTI) they use. We’d like to have a further practice session to improve our skills, before spending the £750 Peckham Rye and Nunhead Community Council Fund recently awarded us for draught-busting sessions in resident’s homes. Let us know if you’re interested in either training or receiving draught-busting. 

Meeting at Dept of Energy and Climate Change

We were invited to a meeting with Harriet Festing of DECC (Dept of Energy and Climate Change) on Friday 3 July. It was really interesting to hear her ideas for the “Big Energy Shift” and communities, and to share experiences. 

Feasibility Study

We’re in the process of commissioning a feasibility study. Why? Well, although some groups formed after the launch event, it soon became clear that in order to be most effective at tackling energy consumption and production in our buildings, working as individuals on our own buildings is going to be very slow and not very effective. Firstly, we need to consider buildings as part of an energy system at a street-wide or neighbourhood-wide level. (This echoes increasing recognition of this approach elsewhere – see for instance, the London Mayor’s Low Carbon Zones project). 

http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=17673

Secondly, this then requires professional engineering and consultancy advice on the best ways to achieve this, both in technical and community engagement terms, in the context of specific, long-term goals for significant carbon reductions. In other words, a feasibility study. Thirdly, a feasibility study will also show what is really possible by planning and acting strategically and at scale. The draft wording for the feasibility study is attached below:

Let us know what you think. Do you want your street or block of flats included?

Real-time energy meters

We’ve been awarded £20,000 via the Cleaner, Greener, Safer fund for a real-time energy meter project for approximately 160 homes in Peckham and Nunhead, so that people can see at a glance how much energy they’re using at home. Many thanks to Cllr Gordon Nardell for his active support of this application; we look forward to working with Jessica Binks of Southwark Council on this project.

AGM

We’ll be holding an AGM in late summer. More info nearer the time…

Best wishes,

Peckham Power Company