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News stories forNovember 2001 to January 2002 |
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HHP NEWS |
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Wind turbine turns project greener Hockerton Housing Project (HHP) has erected a wind turbine to meet its energy needs. It is one of very few examples in the UK of a community owned wind turbine, whereby the owners are supplied directly with the ‘clean’ renewable energy produced. The occupants of houses have set out to meet both personal and global responsibilities to live in a more sustainable way. Wind energy is the most cost-effective and appropriate for the locality. The use of renewable energies in the daily running of the Hockerton Housing Project, demonstrates that ordinary families and individuals can take responsibility for and significantly reduce the output of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. The grid linked 5kW (rated output) Proven wind turbine erected on a 26m tower is expected to produce around 12,000kWhrs annually with the wind conditions on site. The grid link will allow for both import of energy during periods of supply shortfall, and export for periods of excess energy production. The excess exported will offset most of the imported energy from the grid. The energy generated will not only be used to provide energy to the homes, but also to power the jointly own electric car – a wind-powered car! Due to the very low energy requirements of the homes at HHP (about 10% of an average UK home), it is expected that the energy generated by the wind turbine will offset the vast majority required by the occupants. Any remaining requirements will be met by planned use of Photovoltaics (solar energy). This means that the homes will hopefully not be responsible for any of the polluting ‘greenhouse gases’, notably CO2, identified as being responsible for global warming and climate change. This qualifies the HHP development as meeting a number of the highest environmental housing standards in the UK, namely, Zero CO2 and Autonomous. HHP was
awarded over £10,000 from ScottishPower’s Green Energy Fund towards the cost
of installing the wind turbine. Hammy Smillie, ScottishPower’s business and
community relations director, said: “Not only will this project be an
excellent example of how to make use of renewable energy in the home, it will
also give the families the opportunity to contribute towards helping the
environment. On a practical level, by using renewable technologies as a power
source, the Hockerton Housing Project will save money and set a leading
example in the UK.” For more information about this news story click here.
New Guide to Sustainable
Housing Since April 2000, the Hockerton Housing Project (HHP) has been managing a project called 'The Sustainable Community’. This has been partly funded for a two year period through the Government's Environmental Action Fund (managed initially by DETR, and more recently by DEFRA). The key aim has been to develop a toolkit of services to enable individuals and small groups to develop their own sustainable communities, based on the experience of HHP. To date HHP has developed customized tours of the project itself, workshops, and talks, as well as launching the Eco Matchmaking Service and producing a publication, ‘The Sustainable Community – A Practical Guide’ During an early phase of the project, over 100 individuals, small groups and organisations were asked the following question as part of a wider survey: "What services would you find most useful in developing your ideas of developing a sustainable community?" The service
that scored the highest was "A
guide to other sustainable projects with details of access." We have therefore been working on a new publication as a result of this need. It has been designed to be an easy to use guide taking the reader through a broad range of sustainable development projects from all over the UK, covering many aspects of sustainability. In the main section of key case studies a page is devoted per project with quick reference to a whole range of criteria, such as access arrangements and vacant positions (if relevant). The aim was to include a wide variety of projects to enable people to access many aspects of sustainable lifestyles and design: from single eco-homes such as The Autonomous House in Southwell to large sustainable developments like BedZED in London; from low impact settlements from Tinkers Bubble and Brithdir Mawr to green construction sites such as Millennium Green in Nottinghamshire; from single family homes to large community projects. Some bias was given to schemes that allowed some level of access to visitors, so that people can get a real feel for what it is like living in sustainable developments. We have also included a number of demonstration projects/ eco-centres, since they provide particularly good access to environmental technologies and different environmental building designs. A secondary section covers other projects, but in far less detail, where there is less information available or a similar example has already been covered as one of the key case studies. The examples show the wide diversity of options available and the different ways others are attempting to lead more sustainable lives. In total we have identified over 400 schemes in our research. This guide provides a selection of the best examples. Most of the additional schemes can be found by using the 'Key Resources' and other sources for further information If you would like to make an advance booking (due out in March) with a 10% discount and free postage and packing, please send a cheque made payable to 'HHP Trading Ltd.' for £9 (normal price will be at least £10). Please write on back of cheque ' Guide to sustainable housing - Advance booking' and send to: C/o Nick White, Hockerton Housing Project, The Watershed, Gables Drive, Hockerton, Southwell, Notts NG25 0QU
Radio 4 and the HHP wheelie bin Towards the end of November there was
quite a big news story about the UK in risk of being fined by EU for not
achieving recycling targets. HHP was contacted by Radio 4 and asked to contribute
to a news item covering this issue on the ‘Today’ programme. Project members,
Nick & Trudi White were interviewed briefly at HHP by a local reporter,
followed up by telephone interviews with Margaret Beckett (Minister for
DEFRA) and a EU spokesman. Nick & Trudi were asked about how they tried
to cut down on domestic waste and what difficulties even committed
environmentalists had to avoid waste. It was stressed however that the first
step should be to reduce about of potential waste and then reuse of
materials, with recycling as a last resort. By growing a large amount of our
own food and sharing equipment & materials are some ways we reduce waste.
All organic waste is composted on site, whilst glass, cans and plastic, if
not reused are taken locally for recycling. This means that our bins are
emptied less than once a month, rather than the norm of once a week.
Integration
of Renewable Energy into Buildings (INREB)
INREB has recently been set up to create a focus for research, technology transfer and training on the integration of new and renewable energy in buildings. INREB is a partnership between the Building Research Establishment academic institutions, and other interested organisations. HHP attended one of the inaugural meetings and has agreed to be part of the committee that will determine the direction of research and allocation of funding. This links well with the Autonomous, Zero CO2, Zero heating housing (AZZ) project (see previous news bulletin/item). To achieve the standards necessary to create this type of housing energy must be produced by renewable energy (RE) and at the autonomous level it should be produced locally to the house as well. The integration of RE is thus of relevance to AZZ housing. As part of the meeting two workshops were run: A) Planning & Legislation The theme of the workshop was the integration of RE into domestic housing w.r.t legislation and planning. Several areas where identified as requiring research or further work. These where: · Ways that building regulations can be used to motivate for the inclusion of RE. They are also generally taken as a minimum to work to and do not help people wanting to build to higher standards. · Within planning there seems to be: 1. a lack of understanding of RE and the policies promoting it 2. a lack of staff time devoted to discussing RE where there is the understanding 3. a lack of accessible ways for planning officers and council members to learn about RE.. Study tours to RE installations for planning officers and councilors, and mechanism to enable the sharing of Supplementary Planning Guides across regions where suggested. · Ways of improving the NETA. · Ways of improving energy management of renewables, especially in commissioning and on going maintenance. B)
Building Envelope
The theme of the workshop was the integration of RE into domestic housing w.r.t the building envelope. Several areas where identified as requiring research or further work. These included: · The clarification of the standards necessary to achieve AZZ housing. · Small scale energy storage systems. · Modular RE building elements could possible be a way of reducing cost by increasing production and achieving economies of scale If you would like further information on INREB visit www.inreb.org New website links
We
have recently added website links to a number of environmental organisations
– Why not check them out?
Self-build - We are Build It magazine and Build It exhibitions, catering for those who want to create their dream home from scratch or transform an existing property by renovating or converting. Featured on the site are case studies, self-build features and information, product listings and useful links.
UTOPIA BRITANNICA - The website to accompany the book of the same name - British utopian experiments 1325 - 1945 is now up and running. It includes extracts from the book, a county by county gazetteer of UK utopian sites, pieces of research that have come to light since the book was published and will continue to be updated as and when new information appears. Eurotopia – is the European directory for living in community. The 414 pages contain a listing of 336 intentional communities in 23 countries throughout Europe with their addresses and specific characteristics. In short texts the communities present themselves through their main areas of work and interest, along with their locations, goals and dreams. It provides a lively insight into a way of life, which is attracting more people every day. Dwell Well – A campaign for beautiful human habitats in harmony with nature The Roundhouse - dedicated to informing as many people as possible about our roundhouse and life in it, and endeavouring to get as many people as possible to support its continued existence with Tony Wrench and Jane its happy inhabitants. Pleas check it out and use your creative intelligence to spread knowledge of it near and far. Hope you enjoy the site! Other
Sustainable Community news
Tir Penrhos Isaf The Tir Penrhos Isaf appeal has been dismissed
basically because the application did not fit in with the conventional tests
for agricultural holdings. Income from our horse training was excluded
as the horse is not classed as an agricultural animal in Britain, although it
is on the continent. No mention was made of the educational resources
of the site or our teaching and sustainability issues were not discussed at
all. Tinkers Bubble Tinkers Bubble is running their annual coppicing
weekend to be held on the weekend of March 2nd and 3rd. “We always look
forward to this weekend as a way to get lots of essential coppicing work done
while we catch up with old friends and meet new ones. We hope that some of
you would like to come along to help us out and practice your coppicing
skills. We still do all of our coppicing work using hand tools and Brithdir Mawr The Brithdir Mawr eco-community welcomes you to join us for a midsummer week of music, sharing, dance and celebration. We are holding a small friendly camp (100 people), which embraces living simply on the earth. The location is beautiful, including field, forest and stream. There will be live acoustic music, circle dancing, singing, drumming, a ceilidh, craft workshops, a cafe, a market, guided walks, a wholefood shop, working horses, lots of nature and a big solstice celebration. There is a limited number of places available. Cost: £100 waged, £80 low waged, £60 unwaged, children 5-15 £30, littluns free. Please send SAE to Melissa, Brithdir Mawr, Trefdraeth, Pembs. SA42 0QJ for more details and booking form. Renewable
Energy Network
Energy 21, the UK branch of Eurosolar, is
coordinating the formation of a network of renewable energy grassroots
organisations.
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