Heating and hot water for UK buildings make up 40% of our energy consumption and 20% of our greenhouse gas emissions. So fixing our leaky homes with improved insulation and moisture control, and moving away from gas boilers to use heat pumps, is one of the biggest steps we can take to reduce our carbon footprint.

Community Energy

Renewable energy projects within the community are of great interest to NailsworthCAN, and particularly in settings such as schools, council properties, churches and other civic centres. Our Treasurer, Matt Partridge, introduces this great film celebrating the success of a solar energy project at Minchinhamption Primary school.

(Media credit: Limestone Media)

You can learn more about this project in this Renewable Energy Installer & Specifier article.

You can hear more on our thoughts on Community Energy in our blog New Community Energy Initiative.

Now let’s consider the needs of individual householders, who are trying to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and create a healthy environment.

Getting Started With Retrofit

We have lots of useful resources to help you on topics such as insulation and retrofit.

What can you do?

• When your light bulbs next need changing, switch to LEDs.

• When you next need to change a fridge or other device, choose the most efficient you can afford.

• Think about ways to not waste water such as shorter showers.

• Check your thermostat and timer and utility bills to understand how much energy you are using.

• Try turning the thermostat down by 1⁰C and see if anyone notices? (but don’t go cold in winter - stay comfortable).

• That small 0.5kW electric heater in the damp corner left on for long periods can consume a lot of electricity.

• Are there some draughts that are easy to fix? Try draught excluders or other solutions for doors and windows.

• Use a water butt to store water for use in the garden during droughts.

• Are there ways to reduce water run-off around buildings you live or work in, to help reduce town flooding.