The first hair salon across all of the communities signed up to be a champion!  Redefine in Poundbury decided to ensure that the biscuits they give to their clients only have, and will always only have, sustainable palm oil as opposed to unsustainable palm oil.  Welcome Emma and the team!  It is amazing what brilliant companies we have here in Dorset.  Firepot Food, based in Broadoak near to Bridport, produce award winning dehydrated expedition food critical to staying healthy in the wild.  The range includes vegan, gluten-free meals, compostable packaging, and extra-large portions, and has been used in Antarctic expeditions as well as many many phenomenal adventures (cycling 18,000 miles around the world in 80 days anyone?). Now they will ensure that if there is palm oil in any of their products, that it will only be sustainable palm oil. We have continued to have great publicity thanks again to Emily and Lizzie of DSPOC Ambassador Warrior Agency following the press release about the ongoing impact of Dorset Sustainable Palm Oil Community (DSPOC).  The online Dorset View magazine, the Swanage and Wareham Advertiser and the Marshwood Vale magazine, reaching almost 60,000 people between them, all wrote about Dr Jane Goodall’s […]

The Dorset Declares website can be found at: http://www.dorsetdeclares.com Dorset Declares is a not-for-profit initiative created by local charitable organisations Sustainable Dorset and Community Alliances. This was developed to encourage Dorset businesses to declare a climate emergency and provide a platform for positive change. In making a declaration, businesses will have access to free guides, tools and resources designed to help business leaders understand their environmental impact, create an action plan to reduce carbon emissions and form part of a growing community of local businesses doing the same.

Colin Dewsnap (15.6.1935 to 01.10.2021) Colin’s concern for the wellbeing of the planet stemmed from the Rio Convention of 1992 one of the outcomes of which was Agenda 21 – a call for governments to address the issues of conservation and management of resources for development within their communities. As a committed ecologist he had the foresight to recognise that global warming and climate change were a real immediate threat to the eco-system that sustains all forms of life on our planet. Throughout the rest of his life, he became a passionate campaigner – tirelessly working across a broad spectrum of activities within Dorset communities – to mitigate the impact of climate change. He was a founder member of the Dorset Climate Change Coalition which brought together organisations across Dorset pledging to monitor and reduce our carbon footprint. He was dedicated to taking practical action, one example being his regular attendance of the Christchurch Energy Advice Centre providing guidance on energy saving measures that could be implemented in households. Colin ensured that he was very well informed on all aspects of the environmental problems we are facing and their potential solutions. He read extensively in the subject area, not only […]

Funding remains available for the ESFA Community Training Grants programme in London North and East boroughs of the LEAP, Dorset, and Thames Valley Berkshire LEP. The programme aims to support projects which will move unemployed and economically inactive people closer to the labour market and can support a very diverse range of activities (both formal and informal training).   The funding opportunities are also on Groundwork’s social media channels, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn. The next application deadline is 10am, 14th January 2022, with an opportunity to submit draft applications and have these reviewed in time for the final deadline by 10am, 4th January 2022. Ahead of this deadline, we will be hosting 2 online Zoom sessions to discuss the programme, provide application guidance and support, and explain how to apply (24/11 and 10/12), for which applicants can still register: You are invited to a Zoom meeting.When: Nov 24, 2021 02:00 PM LondonRegister in advance for this meeting:https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rcuGurTMiG9ZDsbCDQbFn5Bjut7EITP9J

It has been a great few weeks for the Dorset Sustainable Palm Oil Community.  We have had three new champions sign up in the last couple of weeks (the Prince of Wales First School in Dorchester, Arts University Bournemouth and Just 1 Swap, a zero-waste shop in Boscombe), joining Bournemouth University, St Osmund’s Middle School and others!  We have also been very busy talking to more potential champions (so hopefully watch this space!).  We were so delighted to see the Chester Sustainable Palm Oil City initiative as a finalist in the Earthshot Prize!  What a phenomenal achievement for all involved. I hear on the grapevine that more communities are joining including Lichfield – all good news for getting the message out to as many people as possible that sustainable palm oil is a solution to protecting and restoring nature. We have a brilliant 3 page article in the Marshwood Vale, a community magazine covering West Dorset, East Devon and South Somerset.  The article can be found here. Additionally, we have had a blog written about the initiative by the Dorchester BID (Business Improvement District) – read all about it here.  We are hoping that this will be taken up by […]

A Bill aimed at banning wet wipes which contain plastic has cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons on 2nd November after a Labour MP proposed the new law. This proposal came as world leaders met in Glasgow for the Climate Change Summit and is ‘about time’ according to Tops Day Nurseries. Dorset-based Tops Day Nurseries; a group of over 30-day nurseries across the South and South West, have been making their own baby wipes for years after finding out that the baby wipes available on the market at that time all contained one-use plastic. One of the biggest reasons Tops stopped buying baby wipes is down to the amount of pollution they cause. Around 93% of sewer pipe blockages in the UK are caused by baby wipes, which can ultimately cause widespread pollution. The eco-sustainable childcare provider also found several irritants and chemicals in the commercially bought baby wipes which can aggravate delicate skin, whereas more natural, organic products can do the same job without those factors, and without it costing as much. Cheryl Hadland, Managing Director at Tops Day Nurseries, said: “Our whole ethos at Tops is to be sustainable and we are always looking for […]

The issue of nitrate and phosphate pollution of rivers was raised at the CPRE Countryside Forum (Campaign for Protection of Rural England) Meeting on 17th September. Suzanne Keene has written an article highlighting the issue for our Autumn Magazine (due out week beginning 18th October) following a Farm Meeting on ‘Diversify your rotation’ hosted by Wessex Water. Of particular interest, are ways to control the pollution that is poisoning our streams and rivers.Nitrates are washed out of the soil during agricultural activities, and phosphates are mainly generated from domestic wastewater. The phosphates neutrality crisis is preventing planning permissions from being granted across much of the area in Somerset and could particularly impact smaller developments in Dorset that may not be able to afford an expensive system to deal with the issue. 

Our schools poetry competition results. During the autumn of 2019 we ran a poetry competition for children in Years 3-6 (aged 7-11) in Dorset schools on the theme of climate breakdown, the environment and sustainability.   We were delighted to learn that a number of the schools encouraged many of their classes to write something, and then they submitted the best.  In all we had 165 entries and our grateful thanks go to all the teachers who spent time educating these young people about such important issues.   The competition was judged by Anne Peterson of SOUTH poetry magazine and was partly sponsored by Wessex Water.  We were also most grateful to BCP Libraries for hosting the prize-giving event. Here are some of the Winning poems

  A Lottery win for Green Living. We have been awarded nearly £10,000 by the National Lottery Community Fund to support our exciting new Dorset Green Living Project.  The aim of this one-year pilot project will engage groups of neighbours to work together to reduce their carbon footprint whilst saving money on their bills and building stronger local communities.  The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund has enabled us to set up the Project and recruit a coordinator, Rachel Lamb, who began work September 2019.   Since the release of the IPCC report last September, when scientists warned that ‘the 1.5C goal will require a drastic cut in greenhouse emissions’ within 12 years to avoid runaway climate change, ‘eco-anxiety’ has been on the rise.  In Dorset people are becoming increasingly worried that failure to act will result in more flooding or wildfires ruining our precious countryside and causing severe food shortages and price rises.  With greater focus on climate change and its impacts along with a heightened awareness in plastic contaminating the plastic, people are looking at ways that they can reduce their own impact.   The project is designed to help people regain hope via positive actions to […]

A Great Loss to the Sustainability Community. It is with a deep sense of sadness that we all at Sustainable Dorset (Dorset Agenda 21) learnt of the all too premature death of Paul McIntosh. Paul was a dedicated and passionate believer in sustainable living and spent his working life supporting this cause in Dorset. During that time through a variety of contract jobs, research projects and committee work Paul gained extensive knowledge and depth of understanding of the subject area. This expertise, together with his IT skills, enabled him to make effective contributions to the development of sustainability programmes for 3rd sector voluntary organisations including Sustainable Dorset (Dorset Agenda 21). After graduating from the University of the South West in 2005 with a degree in Geography, Paul started as a volunteer with Dorset Agenda 21 (da21) working with Sally Cooke, its then manager, and soon afterwards joined the Board of Trustees of the Charity. Following the departure of Sally from da21 in 2007 Paul, assisted on a part time basis managing the day to day activities of the charity until 2016 including its new website which he had initiated and subsequently made a major contribution to its development. In addition […]

Organisations Recognised for going Above and Beyond. On Friday 6th July Avonbourne Trust held its annual Earth Charter Awards, at the Green House Hotel. The Trust located in Bournemouth comprises Avonbourne College, Harewood College and Avonwood Primary – the UK’s first Earth Charter school. The Earth Charter is an international declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society and these principles are incorporated into everyday school life. Students can win achievement points for demonstrating that they are following Earth Charter principles: RESPECT AND CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY OF LIFE ALL FORMS OF LIFE ARE INTERCONNECTED EVERYONE DESERVES EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROTECT FREEDOMS AND CREATE PEACE The awards ceremony is the culmination of a process in which Avonbourne and Harewood College students were asked to nominate, judge and award local businesses and organisations that go above and beyond in instilling green principles and human values. The Winners for 2018 were: Transition Bournemouth  Award for Most Environmentally Friendly Ethos Transition Bournemouth helps bring people together to create a better, more sustainable, resilient, and environmentally friendly place for us all to live. Bournemouth University Award for Engagement in Sustainability Students at BU have opportunities to develop their sustainability knowledge and skills through the […]

2050 – the year by which many areas of England could run out of water. The Background In its May 2018 report, the Environment Agency states that abstraction of water in this country is currently running at unsustainable levels in 20% of rivers, meaning we are living on resources ‘borrowed’ from the future. Of fresh water in the UK, 36% is used for electricity supply and other industries, which should prompt us to consider everything we buy or use in terms of how much water is required to create it. Anything that is produced by industry – and that includes the food and farming industries – uses huge amounts of water. One kilo of beef uses 15415 litres. One kilo of chocolate consumes 17196 litres. So whether we are eating bananas or cheese, buying prescription drugs, cotton clothes or new technology, unbelievably vast amounts of water are required to grow, process or produce them. Ways to save water We can save water by making things last longer, clothes being a prime example. Proctor and Gamble have found that washing in cooler water (30-40 degrees) extends the life of one 3kg basket of clothes by 4 times, saving 230k of Co2 […]

New ‘Green’ Village Hall secures £10K funding from Low Carbon Dorset. Charlton Marshall Village Hall has become the first beneficiary of Low Carbon Dorset, a new County Council led programme set-up to boost Dorset’s low carbon economy, and reduce its carbon footprint. The £10K grant from Low Carbon Dorset will contribute to a brand-new energy efficient building. This will replace the village’s current wooden hall, built in the mid 1930’s, which is becoming increasingly expensive to run, and no-longer fit for purpose. The funding will pay for a variety of renewable and energy efficiency measures. To include a hybrid air-source heat pump, powered by solar PV panels, and LED lighting throughout. Helping the hall excel energy efficiency standards and reduce future energy bills. Funding for these installations and construction of the new hall comes in part from Low Carbon Dorset through European Regional Development Funding (ERDF), with further funding secured by the community from other sources. Cllr Hilary Cox, the elected councillor for Winterbourne, said of the project “the development of a new village hall has been embraced by the whole village enthusiastically, and the award of the Low Carbon Dorset grant demonstrates the community’s awareness of their carbon footprint.” […]

Show your Support for the Natural World. A new crowdfunding campaign has gone live in Dorset to provide a copy of The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris to every Infant, Primary and Junior School in Dorset. Deadline 10th May 2018 Inspired by Jane Beaton’s wonderful campaign – to get a copy of The Lost Words into every primary school in Scotland – three local pioneers have decided to do something similar, and get a copy into every primary school in Dorset. The Lost Words was created by Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris in October 2017 to celebrate once-common “nature” words – from acorn and wren, to starling and dandelion – that were dropped from the Oxford Junior Dictionary some ten years before. The book takes twenty of the words that have been falling out of use amongst children – such as adder, kingfisher and bramble – and brings them back to life, through the magical paintings of Jackie Morris and the ‘spell poems’ of Robert Macfarlane They would love all primary age children in Dorset to have the opportunity to share in what this book has to offer. Depending on how you count them, there are about 180 schools in […]

Could you go a Year without a Car? Our Community Engagement Officer Angela Fendley decided to do just that – to live more sustainably and reduce her reliance on fossil fuels. Here she tells how she fared… A year ago I made the bold step to sell my car (and not replace it!) to make a concerted effort to travel more sustainably.   I’ve always cycled and regularly enjoyed getting out and about by bike. Bournemouth has some great corridors for cycling away from traffic (think Bournemouth Gardens, the Stour Valley, and not forgetting the seven miles of coastal promenade). However, my cycling was very much of a fair-weather variety. It was very convenient with a car parked outside my front door, and for me at least this was a huge barrier to choosing the bike over the car as my primary mode of transport. Even though I logically knew the advantages of cycling vs driving; better for my health, cheaper to run, less CO2 emissions, better for the planet, it was often the car that won out. The excuses I would come up with were endless. ‘I’ll go by car. It looks like it might rain.’ ‘I can’t go […]

Sustainable Dorset at Launch of Eco Hub. Sustainable Dorset were delighted to be at the launch event of the new Eco Hub in the Dolphin Shopping Centre on 7th April 2018. This exciting new hub is in the heart of the shopping centre in Poole in the recently vacated New Look premises. It is a dedicated space where shoppers can relax, create and learn. It is part of the shopping centre’s continued work to commit to sustainable best practice and will provide a place for local groups and organisations to connect with the public. There are plans for workshops, events, talks and exhibitions in the coming months. Angela Fendley our Community Engagement Officer says “This is a fantastic space for community groups to use for free to encourage more thoughtful and sustainable ways of living. It will allow the public to discover new and easy ways to care for our planet through their choices in what they buy, and what they do with their waste, helping tackle problems like plastic pollution.” Transition Town Poole were at the launch and would like to use the space later in the year to highlight their ongoing projects such as Turner’s Nursery Community Orchard, […]

Beach Hut Café wants to Clean Up our Coastline A New Year often heralds New Year’s resolutions and for Ron and Jo in Christchurch this is no exception. It’s been out with the old and in with the new as they had an environmental clean sweep on the takeaway packaging they give out to the customers of their much-loved café. The Beach Hut Café, situated at Friars Cliff decided to make the changes after being moved by the devastating scenes of plastic pollution that were shown on the BBC’s Blue Planet II. With the café being situated right on the beach they felt they couldn’t ignore the harm that is being done to our oceans. Jo Smith is proud of the fact that they have got rid of their plastic packaging and replaced with 100% compostable cups, beakers, carry out containers, wooden cutlery and paper straws. “We are also offering our customers a 20p discount if they bring their own cup for their coffee”. She says that she has had two people already come in with their own cups today and expects the trend to continue. They announced their move on Facebook and have had more likes and comments than […]

Damers students win National Young Enterprise Award. A group of young 5-8 year old students from Damers First School in Poundbury, Dorchester recently cleaned up during a visit to Clarence House! The visit was in recognition of their double award winning National Young Enterprise Fiver Challenge product. Spick ‘n’ Span is an eco friendly multipurpose cleaner, which has made a profit of £620. The children have put this money together with the £915 they made last year (from the award winning Garden Grenades – recycled paper pulp with added wildflower seeds) to buy the school a giant solar powered stop watch for the playground. They received their awards for Best Group and Most Profitable Product. The trip was really special as Clarence House is only open to the public during August. The day was organised by their teacher Edd Moore and Mark Jankovich CEO of Delphis Eco. The children got the chance to speak to Prince Charles’ Sustainability Officer who told them all about the Prince’s eco work, especially his new passion for protecting our oceans. They then had a tour of the house and the gardens. “I am so proud of the children in Damers Eco Crew,” said their […]

A Timely Reminder of how Nature Sustains Us. Recent news has been dominated by a phenomenon carving a 100 mile swathe across America. The total eclipse of the sun. This event created such interest that millions of people took the day off to find the best place within and along the path to witness it. It also created a deep emotional response; this was an event that proved there are great unfathomable forces in the world completely outside our understanding and control. It also reminds us that one of the purposes of our organisation, Sustainable Dorset, is to draw attention to the supremacy of the sustainability of life on Earth. The Sun – our Energy, our Lifeforce The eclipse literally shut off completely the energy for the area affected needed to sustain life, albeit for just over two minutes. It takes just a miniscule quantity of the energy provided by the Sun to power the process whereby organisms, especially green plants, synthesise carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water to produce their growth, the process of photosynthesis. In the process, Nature remarkably releases its only form of waste product, oxygen, ironically, the basis of life on earth. This process produces the […]

Travel the World of Solutions. If you watch just one film this year about what our future could look like, then this should be the one! The young DEMAIN film crew, backed by an amazing soundtrack, lead you on their journey that leaves you feeling positive and inspired, knowing that action is necessary and worthwhile. Tomorrow (Demain) has had a phenomenal impact on audiences in France and Belgium and the Transition Town Network has negotiated the rights to distribute it in the UK. It tells the story of the search for solutions to the crisis humanity faces. It is a hugely positive, affirming and inspirational film, exploring creative solutions in the fields of food, energy, transport, economics and education. It visits projects relating to permaculture farms, urban agriculture, community-owned renewable energy, local currencies, creative schools and ambitious recycling activity. It has been a huge boost to community-led projects. The project was launched by a crowdfunding campaign to raise 200,000 euros but in just 2 months the amount raised was 444,390 euros. The film premiered in Paris during C0P21 in December 2015, is currently on release in 29 other countries and began its UK rollout on 24 January with simultaneous screenings in the leading Transition Towns of Totnes, Todmorden, and Bristol. The recent screening by Transition Town Poole was […]

Ideas2Action Second Recycling Awards 2017. Following on from the success of the first Recycling Awards event last year Ideas2Action would once again like to recognise the people who love recycling and helping their local communities as well as reducing waste. Each year Ideas2Action meet and hear of so many people who go that extra mile when it comes to recycling, so if you know anyone and would like to nominate them (please get their agreement that they are happy to be nominated, they don’t want to choose a winner and find they are unhappy about it!), The categories are listed below. Adult recycler (over 18) A team of recyclers from a private/statutory/voluntary organisation A team of recycling volunteers (a group of individuals who come together to recycle) The No 1 recycler (someone who has really gone the extra mile) Young recycler (under 18) A private/statutory/voluntary organisation whose employees recycle (but not where its main business is recycling). The Awards Ceremony will take place on Friday 29 September, 7pm in the Cattistock Room, Poole Civic Centre. Closing date for nominations 18 August, 2017.

Powering Dorset Together Event. As part of community energy fortnight, Sustainable Dorset was delighted to attend this inspirational event on 29 June in Dorchester hosted by RegenSW, which showed just how much renewable energy there is in Dorset, and what the potential is for more communities to join the energy revolution. There was a good turnout of local residents, campaigners, council staff, and community energy groups from across the region coming together to celebrate and explore the future possibilities for renewables. We heard an excellent presentation from Jodie Giles, senior project manager for Regen, which highlighted that the South West topped the national league for installed renewable generation in 2016, but that Dorset only came 5th out of the five South West counties. Electricity generation from renewables in the region ranges from 25% in Christchurch down to just 1% in Bournemouth and Weymouth, which leaves plenty of room for improvement.    And more improvement will be needed if we are to reach our 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, or indeed meet the Paris target of no more than a 2 degrees Celsius rise in global temperatures. How this will be achieved when the UK Government has progressively decimated support […]

GET IT FROM THE SUN. Could Dorset be home to the first to have an all-renewable electricity supply? This would be a dream come true for Professor Keith Barnham, distinguished Research Fellow and Emeritus Professor of Physics Imperial College London. Prof Barnham came to give a talk in Dorset at the meeting of the Wessex Energy & Environmental Management Group in Blandford Forum, Dorset on 15th May. This was a follow-up talk to the one given at the Dorset Agenda 21 AGM in 2015. He demonstrated how public support for renewable energy remains high in the UK despite government cuts to investments and incentives. Solar energy is a firm favourite with over 80% of the public approval. This is closely followed by Offshore and Onshore wind. Nuclear power and fracking continue to be those least favoured. He highlighted the disparity of the renewable energy supply in the UK over that of Germany where government investment has continued and they now have a very affordable renewable electricity supply. As well as putting pressure on our representatives to ensure that renewable energy is not overlooked in the future there are ways that we can continue to act locally and increase take-up of these […]

Film Screening of A Plastic Ocean. Queen Elizabeth School in Wimborne was the venue for the latest screening of A Plastic Ocean – a film that has gained a huge following worldwide, and widespread publicity as it attempts to highlight the plight of our oceans, to educate and be part of the solution. The 200 strong audience gathered at the event hosted by Ecotainment to watch as images unfolded of the majesty of blue whales gracefully diving in the ocean. However, it was not long before scenes of destruction replaced these beautiful images as we saw dolphins caught up by tangled plastic cords and the seabed littered with discarded plastic bottles and debris. The plastic that doesn’t sink to the bottom gets broken down into tiny fragments of microplastics that then get mistaken for food by fish and eaten along with the plankton. This harmful ingested plastic then leeches chemicals into the stomachs of the fish and so it begins its infiltration into out food chain. The effects of this on humans are hormonal problems, reproductive problems, nervous system damage and kidney damage. As well as damage to us, the harm that we are doing to our oceans and wildlife […]

Time for a Taste of Crowdfunding. If you are looking for funds for a sustainable project you would like to run in the Bournemouth area, then read on. And if you would like to eat soup and support one such project then read on too….. In the past six years Soup events have been taking the world by storm, and now for the first time Soup is coming to Bournemouth! Starting in Detroit in the aftermath of the financial crash, Soup gathered people from around the city to eat food together, and crowd fund for local community projects. The idea took off, and has since found success in over 60 different locations in the UK alone. Now, on Saturday 29th April at the Wellspring Centre in Boscombe, the first Bournemouth Soup will welcome up to 150 people to eat soup together, and to hear from four community projects from around Bournemouth. With a suggested donation of £5 on the door, up to £750 will be raised for one project to take away at the end of the evening. Each community project gets four minutes to talk about what they do, and then the audience can ask each project four further questions about their work, […]

Students at Bournemouth University Celebrate Go Green Week! Last week Bournemouth University Students showed that they care about the environment by taking part in the national Go Green Week. The week’s events were organised by their very own Green Taskforce, which works on a variety of environmental issues on campus. The Go Green Week was organised with the aim of educating and getting students involved with environmental issues. They hosted a Green film night, showing the film Mission Blue and they learnt about our oceans and marine life. Eco-beauty was on student’s minds as they discovered how to make their own beauty products with fresh natural ingredients. They also whipped up smoothies using pedal power alone on our smoothie bike, learnt more about the fracking industry and the effects it will have on our planet and the students took part in an ever popular Beach Clean featuring Shark Eggs hunt in collaboration with local charity Shark Stuff. Transition Bournemouth took part with their Count On Me carbon counter signing up students to show how collectively our individual activities do make a difference locally, and to the planet. Student & staff carbon savings amounted to 58,660 bringing the current total to […]

Sustainability Champions In addition to our new Sustainable Dorset website we are launching ‘Sustainability Champions’. This new initiative gives us the ability to engage with the public in a very local and personal manner. It will help to provide place-specific, relevant and up-to-date advice and information to the public, attracting them into more sustainable ways of being. It creates a rich and vibrant countywide sustainability network of joined-up thinking and collaboration. How does it Work? If you are looking for local sustainable food, or want to know about community renewable energy, maybe you need something repaired, or want to start a Green Drinks. Whatever it is you’re looking for, our volunteer Sustainability Champions will be a great place to start. Drop them an email to make that connection and begin your sustainability journey. They will either know the answers to your questions straight away or will certainly know someone who will, or where to find out. Our Sustainability Champions are your link to all things Sustainable in Dorset. Do you want to be a Sustainability Champion? We are recruiting volunteer Sustainability Champions in your area. If you would like to be the go-to person for sustainability in your town, or would […]

Tesla Powerwall comes to Southbourne Soo Chapman and her son Richard kindly welcomed visitors to their home in Southbourne to view the many carbon-saving improvements they’ve made to this large Edwardian house since 2009 – including their brand new Tesla Powerwall. Anyone with an interest in climate change and energy use will be familiar with entrepreneur Elon Musk and his groundbreaking mega-scale Gigafactory and Tesla Motors companies, aiming to reduce global warming through sustainable energy production and consumption. The Powerwall is the latest innovation, developed to deal with the problem that solar panels only produce power when the sun shines. The Tesla Powerwall is a domestic-scale lithium ion battery that stores the energy generated by the sun so that it can be used at night or when cloudy. When the Powerwalls became available in the UK earlier this year, Soo’s son Richard did the research and ordered one (7kWh). It was installed in August at a cost of around £5000. The key technologies used in Soo’s all-electric house are: Their electricity supplier is Ecotricity which is 100% from renewable sources and profits are channelled back into building more solar farms and wind turbines. It will be interesting to see how the […]

Making Christmas Count Count on Me has had a busy year after its launch in June 2016. The year ended with a Christmas campaign to encourage people to think about how they could reduce their impact on the planet over the festive season, and make their Christmas count. The Count on Me team were out in Bournemouth Square on a busy shopping Saturday before Christmas to show how it is possible to enjoy the festivities and yet reduce emissions by up to 1500kgs CO2. They were giving advice on how to reduce spending and choose gifts wisely, encouraging people to think about reducing their waste of food and energy. Other tips, which can also be incorporated throughout the year, included choosing low carbon food, like meat-free options and buying locally sourced produce, limiting travel and using public transport. The campaign designed by Angela Fendley and run with the support of Transition Bournemouth and the BH green Group has already saved almost 400,000kgs of CO2 – that’s equivalent to filling the Bournemouth Balloon 40 times over! The carbon counter is an easy concept to grasp and offers an ideal opportunity to talk to people about our changing climate and how we […]