newsletter
Issue 6 Autumn 2009
Social Enterprise Winner
MEA has
been
rewarded
for its
progress
and
‘honest-
broker’ approach as a social
enterprise through selection
as one of only five ‘Flagship’
examples for the West
Midlands.
The Flagships were formerly
announced by Social Enterprise
West Midlands during its second
birthday celebrations in Coventry
on the 22nd July.
As part of the Trading Know-
how project, MEA will benefit
from promotional support whilst
working with the Network for the
next two years to support and
mentor enterprises elsewhere in
Morgan Foundation Awards Shortlist
in this issue
the Region. MEA Technology:
p2 Community Energy
Network Director of Social
Enterprise West Midlands, Kevin Advice
Maton said: “Congratulations must MEA Community:
go to all five organisations as well p3 Community
as all those who were shortlisted. Volunteers
They are all exceptional
enterprises who encapsulate MEA Training:
the fundamental principles of p4 Energy Workshops for
achieving difficult social goals N. Shropshire
through sound commercial work. Schools
“A great deal has been achieved in
this region over the last two years MEA Events:
p6 Light Fantastic Tops
but if the social enterprise sector
is to win the business it needs to 8,000,000kg Target
grow, we need more examples MEA Media:
that have real meaning to people p8 Modelling Uganda’s
in the West Midlands. future
“We have ambitious goals and
believe that the Flagship Social
Enterprises have the potential to
become well-known names that
can join the likes of The Big Issue
and Fifteen as examples of social
enterprise.”
MEA’s Director Richard Davies has been recognised for
his entrepreneurial skills by being shortlisted for the
Morgan Foundation Awards’ Best Individual Entrepreneur
(working in a Charity or Social Enterprise).
The Morgan Foundation Awards recognise entrepreneurial
excellence in a geographical area comprising of North
Wales, Shropshire, Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales.
Richard’s place as a finalist is recognition of the work done
by him and MEA to combat climate change, and the forward
thinking team structure which has been adapted by MEA.
1.
 MEA Technology

Community Energy Advice in South Shropshire

A thriving bustling community
centre and two schools in
South Shropshire received
free energy audits.
The resulting reports assessed
current energy usage and
looked at the feasibility (both
technically and financially)
of the use of sustainable
energies.
This project was funded by
the Southern Shropshire
Partnership through support
from Shropshire Council,
Bridgnorth District Council
and South Shropshire District
Council.
At the busy Mayfair Community
and Healthy Living Centre in
Church Stretton, photovoltaics
and solar thermal technologies
were identified as viable
technologies. A PV array could
save £236 per year from the
annual electricity bill and an
extra £250 saving from the
annual gas bill by the use of
solar thermal for heating hot
water. These technologies
could save an estimated 2.7
tonnes CO2/yr.
Church Preen and Bitterley
Primary Schools have also
been provided with a report
that identifies sustainable
energy opportunities.
Technologies that were
found to be viable include
photovoltaics, heating using a
biomass boiler and use of heat
pumps.
All building managers will
be ‘hand held’ through the
capital application process that
could see these technologies
installed and fitted with 100%
grant funding. Installation
of any energy efficiency
or sustainable energy
measures on any building
will help in being a catalyst
for communities in South
Shropshire to identify with
climate change and hopefully
join in in taking action.
For further information as to
how your community building
can save money, please
contact joe@mea.org.uk or call
01743 277110.

Historic Buildings Conference

Around 50 people attended a
public event at the Gateway
Centre, Shrewsbury on 21st
September to discuss issues
surrounding integrating
renewable energy technologies
into historic buildings.
The event was part of the
European-funded SECHURBA
project (Sustainable Energy
Communities in Historic Urban
Areas) which is looking into
the issue of how to make older
buildings more energy efficient
Organised by MEA with
support from teams at
Shropshire Council, there
were representatives from
the council’s Planning &
Sustainability Departments as
well as advice stands from the areas), and a local green
Waste & Recycling teams and architect described how she
Cycle Shrewsbury. renovated her Victorian home
Other stands at the event using sustainable materials.
included local renewable For more information on
energy installers, Friends of the the project contact Nicole
Earth and the newly launched Solomons at
Transition Town Shrewsbury. nicole.solomons@mea.org.uk
Marches Energy Agency staff
were on hand to carrying out
carbon footprinting and give
away free light bulbs.
Nicole Solomons, Project
Coordinator explained the
issues surrounding the project
and there were talks from a
council Conservation Officer
(discussing issues surrounding
renovations to listed buildings
and those in conservation

2.
 MEA Community

Training for ‘Sustainable Wenlock’ Volunteers

In September MEA’s ‘Low
Carbon Communities’ team
completed their first training
course for volunteers from
community environmental
group Sustainable Wenlock.
The training will allow the
volunteers to carry out a one-
to-one Home Energy Check for
home owners in Much Wenlock
and the surrounding area.
The whole process has been
designed to give interested
householders the tools and
information to start reducing
their energy use. However it
has also been structured to
engage people over a period of
time by making available smart
meters, providing an on-line
monitoring facility and bringing
together householders on a
regular basis.
Sustainable Wenlock will
also be planting a community
orchard over the winter and
is planning a third series of
film showings and eco driving
events over the winter. It is
hoped that a combination of all
these activities will start to help
people move positively towards
a lower carbon future.
Simon Ross from MEA who
delivered the training said ‘The
friends and neighbours to build
energy check is based broadly
their confidence in the reporting
on the Energy Performance
procedure before a formal
Certificate structure, but
launch of the service in Much
reduced to a question and
Wenlock, Shropshire, towards
answer exchange with the
the end of October.
householder. It also includes
a bespoke CO2 footprint an ‘I certainly enjoyed the training,
energy usage section. The which was run over 4 evenings,
report covers all the major and the volunteers did too. It
energy efficiency headings was a very positive experience’,
from draught proofing to Simon Ross concluded.
renewable technologies, and
More information about the
gives websites to allow the
group can be found on their
householder to follow up on the
website:
recommendations.
www.sustainablewenlock.org.uk
Each volunteer will now
undertake five trial checks with

Leek is invited to join Low Carbon Community

On the 25th of June, members of
the public in Leek, Staffordshire
Moorlands were invited to
an inspiring event organised
by a local community group,
Transition Leek.
The event, which aimed to raise
awareness of the Transition
Town movement and get people
involved, included a presentation
from Tessa Clark - Project
Manager for MEA’s Staffordshire
Moorlands Project Carbon
(SMPC). Tessa explained about
how people could get involved
with the emerging Low Carbon
Community in Leek.
The audience of around seventy
five people living in or around
Leek were invited to upcoming
‘energy efficiency workshops’
where attendees calculate their
own carbon footprint and explore
ideas to reduce energy usage in
their home. Around fifteen people
signed up for workshops and a
number of businesses signed up
for energy audits.
3.
Those attending the workshops
will be invited to join the online
monitoring website and to update
sessions throughout the year.
As part of the SMPC project,
MEA is working with Transition
Leek to help the town tackle the
challenges of climate change
and peak oil. This includes
working with households,
local businesses, schools and
community groups.
 MEA Training

Energy Workshops for North

Shropshire Schools
MEA have been awarded
a grant by the North
Shropshire Partnership to
run workshops and provide
learning resources for five
Shropshire Schools.
The workshops will give year
6-7 students a chance to find
out more about how they
can save energy and help
hold back climate change. A
range of activities, games and
technology demonstrations will
make for a fun day for all.
Schools will also be left with
two series of posters from
MEA’s new Climate Change
Museum Exhibition, which
they can display at the school
allowing everyone to find out
more. Staff will also receive a
teacher’s pack, letting them
explore the subject further in
the classroom.
The workshops are being
offered on a first come first
served basis.
For more information about
this project, or to recommend
a school that might like to take
part, please contact the project
manager Nancy Lowe
nancy@mea.org.uk
01743 277113

Free Renewable Installation Training

With many industries still in the
grip of the downturn, ‘green’
technology is seeing a marked
expansion. £20,000 funding
for training to expand the
renewable energy installation
industry has been allocated
locally.
Plumbers, electricians and
central heating engineers in
Shropshire, Herefordshire and
Worcestershire have received
funding to re-train as renewable
technology installers.
RE:think Energy, a renewable
technology initiative, has
provided grants for up to twenty
businesses. This round of
4.
funding has now ended, but
further funds may be made
available in 2010. Keep an eye
on the RE:think Energy website
www.rethinkenergy.org.uk for
more information.
Successful applicants attend
fully accredited training courses
which enable them to install
technologies such as solar
panels, ground source heat
pumps, and biomass heating
systems.
RE:think Energy was
established last year with
funding from Advantage West
Midlands.
 MEA Events

Energy Expo, West Bridgford

carbon footprinting
• Visitors: over 100
• Footprints completed: 20
• Highest footprint: 33,680kg
• Lowest footprint: 5,468kg
• Average footprint: 12,374kg
MEA ran a carbon footprinting stall at the Energy Expo in West Bridgford. During a quiet
period at the beginning of the day, we visited all the other stallholders and left them each
with a carbon footprinting form. Several returned these towards the end of the day. One
man in particular was rather shocked at his large footprint, but explained it was mostly
due to his high mileage travelling the country selling renewable energy products!
Many more people took away footprinting forms to complete at home, and factsheets on
renewable energy were also flying off the shelves. With both Rushcliffe Borough Council
and the Energy Saving Trust at the event, we were able to signpost people for more local
information and advice on grant funding and insulation.

Bassetlaw District Council Offices

• Visitors: approx 25
• Footprints calculated: 18
• Highest footprint: 35,233kg
• Lowest footprint: 7,269kg
• Average footprint: 12,203kg
MEA had a relatively quiet footprinting day at
the Council Offices, but we had a reasonable
flow of visitors and lots of interesting in-depth
conversations about climate change and
carbon emissions. Most footprints calculated
Jane Stevens (lowest footprint) recieving her prize
of a local food hamper from the Bassetlaw District
Council Chief Executive, David Hunter
were for staff at the Council, though we did also
catch up with a few visiting members of the
public.
Several people who found that they had higher
than average footprints seemed to be quite
deeply shocked and concerned about their high
emissions. Many visitors found that despite
insulating their homes and switching off lights,
their footprints were huge as a result of flights
or high car mileage. They were then faced with
a very difficult dilemma about giving up holidays
and travel to reduce their carbon emissions.
Another key issue raised during the day was the
difficulty of making quick changes to lifestyles
or properties. On a positive note, a number of
people explained that they had plans to install
new boilers, cavity wall insulation or more
efficient appliances as soon as they had the cash
available or other building work completed.
As well as calculating footprints, we gave out
some free lightbulbs and certificates, plus advice
and information about insulation, renewable
energy and recycling. The carbon footprinting
stall was well supported by a display on
sustainability, and awareness raising amongst
council staff during the week, through emails
and the intranet. The council employee with
the lowest footprint was genuinely delighted to
win a prize of a local food hamper at the end
of the day.
5.
 Light Fantastic at The Big Wheel, Nottingham
light fantastic • Visitors: approx 1200
• Bulbs distributed: 2520
• PowerDown Units
distributed: 160
• CO2 saved (lifetime):
361,157 kg
• Retained economic benefit
(lifetime): £131,326

There was a massive turn

out to The Big Wheel event
will all cross-sections of the
community attending. MEA
managed to secure a great
location for their Light Fantastic
exhibition trailer near the
entrance, and this had an
instant impact, leaving staff
busy from the word go!
Staff were able to help a
number of people who had
changed all but their halogen
and dimmer switch bulbs, but
largely most people had not got
to this stage yet.
In the afternoon, staff were able
to give more in depth feedback
and assistance to visitors,
promote energy monitors and
deal with some tricky questions
about LED light bulbs.

Light Fantastic Tops 8,000,000kg Target

Our Light Fantastic project

tops the 8 million kg of CO2
target. So far the project
has given away bulbs and
Powerdowns which have
equivalent lifetime savings
of 8,437,000 kg and an
impressive £3,750,001 for its
visitors.

6.
Light Fantastic at the Keyworth Show
computer powerdowns when it was explained
how they worked. Many were shocked to
discover how many bikes would be needed to
power games consoles (three).
As usual we visited all the stall holders as well
and had a quick chat with them. One chap,
Peter, is a steam engine enthusiast who visits
all the country shows in the area. He uses a
light bulb display along with an ammeter and
voltmeter to display the output of his engines.
• Visitors: approx 600 He had six 40 Watt bulbs in his display and
• Bulbs distributed: 1500 was complaining about the amount of diesel he
• Powerdown Units distributed: 220 has to put in his engines to keep them alight.
• CO2 saved (over bulb lifetime): 215,910kg We gave him an 11 Watt and 15 Watt bulb to
• Retained economic benefit (bulb lifetime): replace two of them. He was very pleased to
£99,380 see the instant change in fuel demand, and said
he would change the rest of the bulbs to cut
Saturday 11th July at Keyworth Show was
back on costs.
overcast, giving a slow start to the day. But
people got braver and realised that the rain was
not coming and the stall eventually got very busy
in the afternoon. We had Rushcliffe Borough
Council next to us giving away TV powerdowns
and general advice, so Light Fantastic staff were
able to focus on low energy lighting and more
technical renewables questions. In particular,
there were a lot of enquiries about solar thermal
systems, which seem very popular in the area.
The children (and some dads) loved the energy
bike and many were really interested in the

MEA Media and Publications

Low Carbon Leadership Workbook - now available

to download
Our Low Carbon Leadership
workbook is available as a pdf
to download.

This workbook for district and

borough scale climate change
action is now available from
the resources area of MEA’s
website www.mea.org.uk. Our
website also now has copies of
slides used in presentations and
workshops, along with all of our
videos and publications.
7.
MEA to build model of future for Ugandan
Parliament
A few months ago our Carbon
Forum team produced a climate
change exhibition for the National
Museum of Uganda This included
a model diorama (main image)
showing a ‘Ugandan village of the
future’ which was built by Richard
Hammerton.
The model generated a lot of interest
and positive feedback, and Richard
has been asked to go to Uganda to
create a similar model for the Ugandan
Parliament. He will be in Uganda for
a month working on the project and
hopes to maintain a blog during the
visit – we wait with interest to see what
happens next!

Marches Energy Agency is a

registered charity #1070942

Main website:
www.mea.org.uk

MEA team websites:

www.carbonforum.org
www.projectcarbon.org
www.lowcarboncommunity.org
www.keepshropshirewarm.org
Switchboard: 01743 246 007
Email: info@mea.org.uk
The Pump House, Coton Hill,
Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 2DP

8.