1.

Present:

John Heseltine, Janet Holmshaw, Peter Boross, André James Howard, Carl Reynolds, Philip Watson, & Matthew Rose

Apologies: John Hamilton, Martina Havercroft, Guy (Sprout Design)

Action

2.

Who’s who

We each gave a brief intro explaining who we are, what interests us about PPC.

André James Howard: Has worked for not-for-profit organisation promoting renewables, his work included installing small scale renewable technology, training professionals to install solar thermal systems and project assistance in setting up renewable energy projects in schools etc. Also a self builder and lives in a self built house (built as part of  Fusion Jameen Selfbuild Housing Coop / Lewisham).

John Heseltine: Engineering background. Partly works as flash animator, programmer; also project manages building contracts. Interested in green technologies and particularly in solar thermal as he’s planning to self-install solar thermal in his house. Feels that people are disconnected from their physical environment – i.e. there’s a widening gap between people and the things around them. PPC and the solar thermal group could help narrow that gap and enable people to take charge of their personal environment.

Carl Reynolds: Mediation facilitator. Interested in the gap between the individual and the community and sees PPC as important local community vehicle for achieving more than individuals would on their own.

Peter Boross: Architectural background. Undertakes project management for a housing trust. This role involves producing initial designs right through to supervising builders. Committed to micro-generation; in favour of lessening the burden of transporting energy. Would like to install micro-generation systems in his own house & flats (owns 4 near Oval).

Janet Holmshaw: Senior lecturer in mental health at Middlesex University. With Peter, is interested in micro-generation and would like to lessen the carbon impact of their properties for generations to come.

Philip Watson: Secondary schoolteacher in Tulse Hill (St Martin in the Fields High School for Girls) and lives locally to Peckham. Is Head of Department for Design and Technology (or is it Science, Phillip?). Interested in self-sufficiency energy-wise and wants community involvement in the process. Interested less in educating ‘resistant’ people, more interested in working with the ‘converted’ and quickly creating action – egg putting a group grant application together.

Matthew Rose: Working as video Producer/Director in educational sector. Interested in Green issues generally, but specifically considering long-term change of career and feels this sector needs to grow fast. Committed to community approach.

3.

Intro to Peckham Power Company

MR briefly introduced Peckham Power Company. At present, PPC has 3 working groups (Energy Efficiency, PV and Solar Hot Water) plus a Services group which will identify grants available to each of the three groups.

We’ve got good links with Southwark Council (who funded our opening event) and are keen to explore opportunities with them. On the evening of our meeting, local councillor Gordon Nardell, who meets with us regularly, was submitting a motion to a meeting of the Council Assembly to commit the Council to support projects like ours as part of its overall climate change strategy.

We’re looking at funding sources such as The Community Sustainable Energy Programme and the Energy Savings Trust Green Neighbourhoods scheme.

The PPC website is currently being developed and will launch in February. It will have a blog and functionality to enable online discussions.

4.

PPC – lobbying role

PB suggested that PPC should get involved in lobbying government. CR – feels it’s too early; wait for PPC membership to increase and for us to become more established. Danger of spreading too thin. MR – At this stage we need to find quick wins, tangible evidence that we can make things happen.

5.

Funding sources

MR briefly mentioned PPCs aim to find funding sources and match appropriate projects to them. AJH – match-funding from the power companies is worth looking into, it’s an obligation for them to do this. (Thanks to AJH who subsequently emailed a link to Scottish Power’s Green Energy Trust: http://www.scottishpowergreentrust.co.uk ).

PB – we should use one successful application to develop a template for others to use. CR – PPC has contact with Energy Saving Trust through a local EST representative who spoke at the launch event. At the right time we will explore EST funding through them. AJH – Many local councils offer top-ups to renewable grants.

6.

Planning

CR – we need to be aware of planning and accreditation issues for later sale of a house which has had renewables installation. AJH – best when dealing with council for planning not to go direct to planning department. Best to contact energy dept and find someone who can put your case internally to the right person in the planning dept who might be sympathetic to your proposal.

7.

The range of needs – PPc’s framework

The group decided to frame its work by considering the range of needs in the community. This ranges from an individual who has the money and wants to buy an off the shelf system and have a 3rd party install it and apply for a grant; through to a DIY enthusiast who will install a bespoke system themselves using other local labour (voluntary from PPc or paid). We agreed that we should support people along this spectrum, but encourage the individual who wants to buy an off the shelf system to collaborate with others in the area and apply together, as this could create an economy of scale.

The PPc support could range from introducing people to others who want solar thermal; helping with the grant process; helping to negotiate discounts; helping to find voluntary labour; broad advice on types of system; regulatory requirements (building control, planning, HIPs etc); arranging visits to existing systems and so on.

We also agreed it would be good to provide some simple fact sheets (for the website and handouts?); research the regulatory requirements; and research current and upcoming grant opportunities.

8.

John Heseltine’s solar thermal proposal

JHes confirmed that he would like to install solar thermal in his house on Grove Hill Road. Presently John heats his water with an immersion heater solely, having disconnected his gas boiler from the hot water system, believing domestic gas burning to be an inefficient and wasteful source of energy. John is happy to use his solar installation as a case study to be shared with others through the PPc website etc.

Planning: John agreed to contact PB and AJH for advice to help him choose an appropriate set-up (which panels, layout of tank etc) to achieve his aim of using his existing water tank which has a spare coil through which the solar thermal system could heat the water.

AJH – the cost implication for an installation is such that payback generally needs to be over 20 years. Advised that Jhes plan to install a system that will be of a quality to last this long. Also pointed out that often the efficiency of the solar thermal installation has less to do with the differences between the various qualities of panel on the market, more to do with the quality of installation.

PB advised that installing an electricity sub-meter would enable Jhes to measure his current immersion heater electricity usage and keep records before and after the installation to measure it’s performance. PB would email Jhes with details of electricity sub-meter at approx £15.

The group agreed that MR would arrange the next Solar Thermal Group meeting at John Heseltine’s house approx one month from this meeting (w/c 23^rd Feb), ideally during daylight hours so we can focus meeting on setting a clear plan of action for Jhes’s solar installation. Areas discussed for PPc involvement were as follows:

• DIY group (approx 5) to assist in installation

• Associated workshop(s) focussing on key skills required (eg joining copper pipe) open to wider group.

• Invitation to PPcers to visit installation as example project

• Filming of the installation (MR and Jack Kelly)

• Documentation of the process (CR)

Jhes

PB

MR

9.

Good Energy

MR briefly outlined the Good Energy scheme in which Dual service Good Energy customers can be paid 4.5p / kWh of estimated output from a solar thermal system.

MR agreed to send out explanation of scheme as well as contract and terms and conditions doc. (see attachments with this email).

CR – There is a £40 pioneer payment to whoever recommends Green Energy successfully to a new customer. If each PPc member signed up in a chain of recommendation we could donate each £40 to PPc, & thereby fund local events.

MR

10.

Visits to existing local solar thermal installations

We agreed we will set up at least 2 visits to local installations before next meeting.

CR – agreed to contact Alison Crowther and Bridget Canavan to this end

AJH – agreed to look into whether we could visit a flat roof installation in Merton

CR

AJH

11.

Next meeting

MR to arrange at Jhes’s house approx one month from this meeting, probably at a weekend if most can make it as we’ll then be able to look at his proposed system more easily.

MR