This page reports news relevant to Sustainable Blewbury: what's happening in the project and items of general interest.
July 2010
Green Energy Initiative – group purchase of solar panels
The Blewbury Energy Initiative is coordinating a group order from Blewbury and Upton to obtain a discount on solar photovoltaic panels. Under the new feed-in tariff these have become an good investment, as well as contributing to a low-carbon future. Quotations have been obtained from local installation companies, and the planning situation looks hopeful. A well-attended information meeting about solar panels and the possible arrangements was held on 5 July. For more information contact John Richards: 01235 850218 or johnr.blewbury@gmail.com.
May 2010
Surplus Produce Stall
Our Saturday morning stall for selling surplus produce starts up on 22 May at 10 am and runs through the summer. See our food page for more information.
Community orchard
The Blewbury Village Gardens Association (otherwise known as Blewbury allotments) has started a community orchard, planting apple and greengage trees.
Orchard survey
As part of our Apple Day celebration in October, we are conducting a survey of apple orchards and other fruit trees in the village. There is a survey form and more information on our environment page.
Rubbish collection and recycling
There is more information about the new collection arrangements on our waste and recycling page, and full details on the Vale of White Horse website.
March 2010
Sustainable Blewbury Newsletter – issue 1
Full on-screen version or PDF (e.g. for printing, but please consider the environment)
Individual items:
- Organisational structure and communications
Core group; project groups; plenary meetings; newsletter; Blewbury Bulletin; links with other organisations
- Travel and transportation
- Energy and transport (technical issues)
- Food and farming
Blewbury produce exchange; exploration of permaculture; Apple Day - Waste and recycling
- Natural environment and heritage
Downland project; village fabric project; restoration of the Berkshire wagon
Meeting dates
The next plenary meeting, at which reports of progress will be given, will be at 19.30 on Monday 12th April in the Methodist Chapel.
February 2010
Rubbish collection and recycling
The Vale of White Horse has announced that starting on 4 October 2010 there will be a major change in rubbish and recycling collection. Each house will have a grey rubbish bin, a green recycling bin, and a smaller green bin for recycling food waste.
Battery recycling
On 1 February 2010 recycling used batteries became easier – you can now do it in many shops. For information on safe disposal, and why you should be using rechargeables wherever possible, see our batteries page.
January 2010
Feed-In Tariff
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has initiated a substantial programme of Feed-In Tariffs for small-scale electricity generation, starting in April 2010. This aims to encourage installation of renewable technologies: solar photovoltaic panels, small wind turbines, small-scale hydro, etc. by making them good investments as well as good for the environment. There is a summary of the scheme and tariffs on the Blewbury Energy Initiative website; the full document is available on the DECC website.
Renewable Heat Incentive
At the same time as the Feed-In Tariffs, DECC also proposed a Renewable Heat Incentive. This would help owners of solar hot water panels, ground and air source heat pumps, and various other renewable technologies. The plan is to finalise the proposals after a consultation that is now underway, and have it all running by April 2011. It looks like a big encouragement to install renewable heating systems. There is a summary of the scheme and proposed tariffs on the Blewbury Energy Initiative website; the full consultation document is available on the DECC website.
Thermal images
As a follow-up to last year's campaign of thermal imaging of houses in Blewbury, during the cold weather in late December and early January a thermal imaging camera was borrowed and used to image about 18 houses. The owners have been given the results so they can see and act on inadequate insulation and other possible problems.
December 2009
Boiler scrappage scheme
The scrappage scheme for inefficient old boilers, announced at the end of 2009, is run by the Energy Saving Trust. Don't delay if you might be interested – there are an estimated 4 million eligible boilers but only 125,000 grants, and they are reported to be going quickly. Note added 27 March 2010: All grants are now taken, and the scheme has been closed.