The Project Carbon team has been rewarded for its commitment to climate change mitigation by being accepted into the European Commission’s Sustainable Energy Europe Partnership as an official partner. This Partnership is one of the main instruments within the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign – “A European campaign to raise awareness and change the landscape of energy”. It is designed to involve and support institutions and organisations, decision-makers and sustainable energy stakeholders across the European Union. The Campaign supports and promotes actions in the following five main campaigning areas: sustainable energy communities; market transformation; promotional, communication and educational actions; demonstration and dissemination projects; and cooperation programmes.

This success was announced on 7th November 2008. As a partner, Project Carbon will continue to raise awareness of key issues and demonstrating to others, throughout the EU Member States, how barriers have been overcome and problems solved. This transfer of know-how can convince and assist local populations and organisations when taking the first steps towards sustainable energy use.

Project Carbon is the first project in Shropshire and only second in the West Midlands to join the Partnership.

Sustainable Energy Europe 2005 – 2008                                                                     

A European Campaign to raise awareness and change the landscape of energy

An initiative of the European Commission, Directorate General for Energy and Transport

Chances are you will be building a bonfire this week. But if you're living or working in a rural property you could be using wood fuel to heat it instead of expensive heating oil. With rising heating costs now might be the time to make the switch to wood fuel!

That's the advice from MEA. We want to show residents of the Shropshire Hills area and beyond exactly how, this Thursday evening (6th November) at the Long Mynd Hotel, Church Stretton.

The "Autumn Bio-energy Fair" is being run as part of a European project called RADAR which welcomed over thirty international guests to visit renewable energy installations in Shropshire earlier in the year. Since then, research carried out as part of the project has indicated that the Shropshire Hills area could be self sufficient in energy from forestry and agricultural wastes. The results of this study will be briefly presented but the real focus will be on how this concept can go from being a theory to reality.

First hand advice from various organisations and installers will be available at the trade fair on 6^th November. There will also be the chance to discuss both supplying and using wood fuels.

Tristan Haynes, Technical Advisor at MEA said, "Of course wood pellets still cost money but heating the average rural home with them instead of oil could add up to a saving of over £400 per year with current oil prices. We want to help show people exactly how easy wood heating can be to use; everyone is welcome to pop in anytime between 5-8pm".

The hotel itself has even made the switch from heating with gas and oil to wood chip making it the perfect venue for such an event.

For more information on the event see flyer or please contact Joe Bentley, at Marches Energy Agency, on 01743 277108 or email: joe@mea.org.uk

Climate change expert Richard Hammerton of the Marches Energy Agency will be giving a free talk on ‘Peak Oil' at 7.30pm on November 5th at the Loggerheads Pub in Shrewsbury.

This is the new location for the Shropshire Green Drinks which has been running for six months. The short talk will explore what communities in Shropshire can do to be prepared for oil shortages, rising fuel costs and climate change. The talk will be the first of many, with bi-monthly talks at their new venue. In response to growing demand, Shropshire Green Drinks now has an extended session time starting at 6pm and going on throughout the evening.

In this first Green Drinks talk, Richard will look at some of the best community level solutions to the problems we face from peak oil and climate change, with a focus on the Transition Towns movement. We hope the talk will stimulate a lively discussion about what communities can do here in Shropshire. As well as the talk there will be plenty of time for the drinks, chat and networking that are the heart of Green Drinks. For anyone who has not been before, just look out for the Green Drinks sign on one of the tables or listen for the sound of animated discussion!

Following this talk in November, Shropshire Green Drinks will be holding short talks every other month as part of their usual evening get-togethers. The talks can be about anything with a green theme so if you fancy the chance to promote your group, business or just a great idea you've had then please contact Nancy Davies at the email address below to discuss doing a talk of your own.

For more information, please visit the Shropshire page on the Green Drinks website: http://www.greendrinks.org/.  To sign up for a monthly reminder for the sessions, please email nancy@mea.org.uk.

Marches Energy Agency will be taking their Light Fantastic exhibition to Shrewsbury's Tesco Extra Store on Wednesday 22^rd October 2008 from 10am until 4pm. Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council has sponsored the event as a part of Energy Efficiency Week and local residents will be able to collect free low energy light bulbs and PowerDowns donated by E.ON as well as information on insulation grants from Keep Shropshire Warm. 

Tesco Community Champion Andie Weller said, "We are very happy to welcome Light Fantastic to the store. Tesco aims to actively support our local communities and energy efficiency guidance is a really great way to help our customers."

Visitors to the Light Fantastic exhibition will also get details of the competition to win a full energy survey, lighting design, supply of Megaman energy saving light bulbs and a 32" HD ready TV for their home! Two runners up will also receive a 32" HD ready TV! click here for more information - entries need to be in by 30^th November 2008.

Light Fantastic Project Manager Sarah Meredith said, "It's really great to have Tesco's support during Energy Efficiency Week and we hope we'll be able to help the local community to reduce their fuel costs and carbon emissions."

So far the project has saved people across the West Midlands over £1.7million.

Last week we carbon foot-printed the World Social Marketing Conference in Brighton. It was the largest carbon footprint we've calculated for one event - 522 tonnes, and at 650 delegates, that's 0.65 tonnes per person or a third of their yearly allowance! The National Social Marketing Centre will be offsetting this footprint by funding several Light Fantastic events. Based on our work they are now considering running the next event with more emphasis on video conferencing - 34% of delegates flew to the event and generated 94% of the emissions.