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"WHY WE ARE REPLACING OUR BOILER WITH A FREEZER"
Rob Smith, TLG Supporter and local Councillor, shares his latest blog...
"Inside our freezer it’s a chilly -20C, but behind it, its quite warm. The freezer takes heat out of the food, and pumps it out as heat. This is all done with a clever system of compressing and expanding gasses. The same reason why aerosol cans get cold, and bike pumps get warm.
You can heat a home like this too. The system, called a heat pump. It’s the same technology as a freezer – but the other way round. It takes heat from outside and puts it inside. It works best with underfloor heating because it doesn’t have to pump the heat to as high a temperature. But with a well insulated house and efficient radiators, a heat pump will work ok. Heat pumps can pump heat from the ground (Ground Source Heat Pump), from nearby water (Water Source Heat Pump), or from the air (Air Source Heat Pump – ASHP). Air is the hardest source to pump heat from – but ASHP are the easiest to install. ASHP look like air conditioning units. You’ll be seeing a lot more of them. As they become more common, their prices will come down.
Pumping heat from somewhere else uses less energy than making heat. A heat pump using 1kWh of electricity is equivalent to over 3kWh of conventional heating. This makes heating your home with electricity competitive with gas.
So why are we going through the upheaval of a new heating system with replacement radiators? We’re cutting our use of fossil fuels and trying to power our home entirely on renewable electricity. Global warming can’t be stopped until we stop burning fossil fuels. Where boilers can’t be replaced, fossil fuel gas will be replaced with bio-gas, or hydrogen created with renewable electricity.
Our new air source heat pump won’t be very expensive to run but it is quite an expensive purchase. However, there is help available. We were successful in applying for a Green Homes Grant (GHG) which covers much of the cost up-front. If we hadn’t been successful, we could still receive the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) – a payment over a period of 7 years which should roughly cover the cost of the system.
In 8-10 weeks, we should have a something like a small air conditioning unit at the side of our house, and we’ll bid farewell to that caged pipe outside puffing hot CO2 into the atmosphere. And we’ll gain some extra cupboard space where the boiler once lived."
We look forward to hearing how Rob gets on with his heat pump. Below is a summary of sources for grants to help you save money with improvements to energy efficiency in your home
Green Homes Grant
We have been hearing about the Government's flagship programme for a green recovery for some months; but we have also been hearing that it falls well short of expectations in terms of making it simple for consumers and installers to obtain the Grant and proceed with the work. There is confusing news about the future of the Grant. The latest is that it has been extended until March 2022, but uncertainty on whether the £2bn funding will be rolled over into the new financial year. Hence, speed is of the essence and it would be a good idea to check if you meet the criteria for the Grant, and that the project you have in mind is suitable, ie. you will need to install what the Government calls a primary improvement as follows:
Insulation, including solid wall, cavity wall, underfloor, loft or roof insulation
Low-carbon heating, including air source, ground-source and hybrid heat pumps, solar thermal systems and biomass boilers, which provide renewable ways of heating your home.
For most recipients of the Grant, the vouchers will be worth about two-thirds of the cost of the project, up to a maximum of £5,000 per household. However, if you are on a low income or certain benefits you can receive vouchers of up to £10,000 to cover the entire cost.
There is lots of easy to follow information on Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert's guide "How the Green Homes Grant works in a nutshell" click here.
Here is a link to apply to the Government's Green Homes Grant Scheme, Click Here
Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)
This is another government financial scheme to promote the use of renewable heat which is administered by Ofgem. You pay upfront and you could receive quarterly cash payments over seven years if you install or have already installed an eligible renewable heating technology. The types of heating you can apply for are as follows: biomass boiler, solar water heating and certain heat pumps. A good starting point to explore this option is the Energy Savings Trust.
Healthy Homes Dorset
Ring Healthy Homes for free impartial energy advice - 0300 003 7023 - and to find out about their grants for free insulation for cavity walls and lofts and installation of new heating systems. Here's the link to the website.
Tenants, owner-occupiers and landlords can all apply and help is available for families on low incomes or benefits, and also if someone in your household meets any of the following criteria:
- has a cardiovascular or respiratory condition, or a mental health problem
- has a disability
- is pregnant
- over 65 years of age or has a child under 5 years
- is living with an addiction
- recently attended hospital due to a fall
- a recent immigrant or asylum seeker
- on a low income
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP TURN LYME GREEN?
Would you like to volunteer with the team at Turn Lyme Green and Plastic Free Lyme Regis? We need help with a range of projects involving residents and visitors, tackling litter and single use plastics, energy saving at home. We are optimistic that we will be attending various summer fetes and events and will need support at our stand. You will make new friends, have fun, use your expertise and help us to make a difference! Please get in touch with your ideas and hopefully as a new volunteer. Email or contact Polly Benfield for more information.
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Turn Lyme Green Subscriptions
A message from Grenville Barr, TLG Treasurer
Turn Lyme Green is a free open community organisation and welcomes anyone and everyone who has an interest in the environment. You do not have to pay a subscription to receive the newsletters or attend any of our meetings and events. However, if you would like to subscribe for the sum of £5 a year, it not only helps our finances but also gives weight to our applications for grant funding, or when we make representations on various environmental issues etc.
The easiest way to do this is through a bank transfer to our account
Turn Lyme Green HSBC Sort code 40 30 58 Account 800 08540
Please put your name as reference so we can identify you! I reiterate you are very welcome to be part of our vibrant local environmental community without paying anything; however, any funds are gratefully received!
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Call your MP to PIPE UP to
#EndSewagePollution
Sewage pollution plagues our rivers and ocean. In 2019 there were over 200,000 discharges of untreated sewage into UK rivers and almost 2,000 discharges into UK coastal bathing waters during the May-September bathing season alone. Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) have led a coalition working with Philip Dunne, MP who has drafted the Sewage (Inland Waters) Bill to place a duty on water companies to ensure untreated sewage is no long discharged into England’s lakes, rivers and coastal waters. There have been many incidents recorded in both Lyme and Charmouth during periods of excess rain fall. These spills are a health hazard to water users and also harm river and ocean wildlife, reducing biodiversity and damaging delicate ecosystems.
What can you do?
Let your MP know you care. Just send a message urging them be there and vote for this bill when it is debated in April. It is a private members’ bill and must get 100 votes to continue its path to become legislation. SAS writes, “Your MP represents YOU in Parliament and as a constituent, you have the power to demand they support the Bill.” Chris Loder for West Dorset and Neil Parish for East Devon. Follow the SAS tool to send your message.
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STOP Portland Waste Incinerator
A proposal has been made to put a large waste incinerator on Portland by the harbour. The local campaign objects to this development in a highly visible environmentally important location. The campaign is supported by Campaign for the Protection of Rural England. Find out more from the web site with short videos and follow the link to make comments to Dorset Council Planning. Comments are needed asap.
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 DORSET CLIMATE ACTION NETWORKDorsetCAN has got off to a strong start in the past few months putting in a well thought out response to the county council on their Climate Emergency Strategy and Action Plans. Many thanks to all of you who submitted individual responses and comments alongside those from Turn Lyme Green. TLG along with Plastic Free Lyme Regis is supporting the work of DorsetCAN and our representatives at main meetings are Paul Spearing and Vicky Whitworth. Thank you both! At this stage, DorsetCAN is setting up topic teams and we are invited to send representatives. The teams so far with co-ordinators are: Land Use (trees, food, agriculture etc), Transport, Energy, Newsletter, Social Events and Facilitation, Coordination & Events and Lobbying and Advocacy (putting views across at both national and local council level). If you are interested in joining any of these topic teams for TLG/PFLR, can you let Polly know. Paul and Vicky would also be able to fill you in on their experience so far, which has been very positive and enthusiastic.
The latest packed-full-of-information newsletter can be read here.
Monthly meetings are held on the 4th Wednesday of each month. If you are interested to find out more, why not attend the March meeting on the 24th. 7-9pm on Zoom.
The organisers write: “It will be a mass coming together of people from across Dorset who want to do something positive about the Climate & Ecological Emergency and help their communities to be more resilient and thrive in the future! Join us!
The Zoom link is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88482384651?pwd=NlVzNUxsVXZqajZlUndHWDJvSC8vdz09
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SUPPORT LOCAL FOOD PRODUCERS AND SUPPLIERS IN LYME REGIS AND SURROUNDING AREA
We are fortunate to live in a beautiful rural area with wonderful local food produce available through independent shops and delivery services to either a drop-off point nearby or straight to our doors. We want to support our local producers and suppliers, which are small businesses, and help them to thrive. Here is a round-up of just a few local businesses bringing environmentally friendly, zero waste produce to our neighbourhood:
IN MY BACK YARD
This is a friendly network of independent, small-scale ethical food producers, based in Branscombe, who believe in sustainability and providing food for the local area. The produce ranges from fresh mushrooms, kale, apples and local meats; to Lyme Bay fish, dry goods, honeys, chutneys and local sourdough bread. They make regular deliveries to Lyme Regis at a drop-off point at 15 Woodmead Road and they are now offering home deliveries as well. You can find out more by going to their website, click here. You can also telephone from 10am on Saturdays to 10pm on Wednesdays on 01297 680680 - for collection or delivery in Lyme Regis between 3.30pm - 6pm on Fridays.
GoGoEco
A range of goods, from rice and pasta to soap and household refills can be ordered online from this small business based in Bridport. The ethos is that all produce must be "eco-friendly and free from pointless plastics". At present, although there are deliveries to nearby Charmouth, they have not extended to Lyme Regis. However, there is a click and collect option from their base on the St Michael's Trading Estate on Friday mornings from 9.30-10.00am. You can find out more from the website, click here.
WASTE NOT WANT NOT
Due to Coronavirus this zero waste shop in Bridport is not doing home deliveries, but is doing a Click and Collect service from the shop, which must be booked two days in advance. There is a full range of pasta, lentils and rice available, plus household items such as detergent, scourers and kitchen towels. There is a range of wax wraps, coffee cups, water bottles, lunch boxes and many more items to reduce the use of single use plastic in our everyday lives. All information is available on their website, click here.
THE MONMOUTH PANTRY
Based in Lyme Regis, this flagship store is a Plastic Free Lyme Regis supporter and has recently been nominated for the Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) business champion award based on the following criteria: only paper bags used; milk refill machine; refill household cleaning products, loose sale of dried food products in customer's own containers or bags and due to install a community noticeboard! You can buy freshly baked Sourdough bread (Tues - Sat) and artisanal pastries (Fri - Sat), local cheeses, homemade dips and soups as well as Mark Hix's smoked salmon. If you want to find out more about their products, please click here. You can also telephone on 01297 443818
THE WORD FOREST
Trees Are The Key Awareness Week (15 - 21 March 2021)
We love supporting our local charity, The Word Forest, which fights against Climate Change by planting trees in Kenya, where they grow faster in the tropical conditions. Their project also supports the community working with the trees in numerous ways, such as education and empowering women's groups. They are launching their Trees Are the Key Awareness Week, running from 15-21 March, and the emphasis will be the impact that trees have on our mental health. They say "We're going to unlock the science and the secrets behind how our local parks, woodlands and forests can lift our disposition, make us feel better, chill us out, keep us more focused and get our mind, body and spirit back on track."
For more information about Trees Are the Key Awareness Week, click here
SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 1 - 5 MARCH 2021
Falmouth University student, Jake Causley, is a Lyme Regis local and environmental campaigner. He has put together a week of events to help us in our sustainable choices in all aspects of our lives. The 5 key themes are:
- Sustainable Lifestyles
- Energy & Resources
- Ecotherapy, Nature & Wellbeing
- Biodiversity & Conservation
- Future Thinking
Each day you can get involved in a host of online events, from interactive workshops on calculating your carbon footprint, to sessions covering themes such as rewilding and carbon capture technology. There is also a host of live screenings and documentaries. Follow this link to get involve. Click Here.
LYME REGIS COMMUNITY SUPPORT
A message from Cheryl Reynolds. " Greetings everyone. Our team of local Community Support Volunteers are here to help you with shopping, prescription collection and help of any kind.  We work closely with Food Bank, Lyme Forward and other groups in Lyme Regis to provide help and support in many areas. Please do contact me direct if you need help. We are happy to help everyone. 01297 443814 or 07796074849 or E Mail: cherylreynolds1947@gmail.com
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FOOD BANK
The Food Bank opens each Wednesday at the Hub in Church Street,
10am - 12 noon.
 Collection boxes for the Food Bank are at Uplyme garage, Co-op Lyme Regis and Morgans in Charmouth. If you need any more information or would like to volunteer, please call 01297 441224.
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CAR CLUB TRIAL - TRY IT OUT
Lyme Regis Council is supporting a car sharing scheme. Message from Belinda Bawden:
I'm talking to Co-Cars this week about the car club trial. We need 30 people to offer a £25 deposit for a six month trial with a Hybrid car based in the Woodmead Car Park.
Unfortunately, as my gmail no longer works, I might not have the details of those of you who have already offered to join us - please get in touch as soon as you can if you'd like to help us start a car-sharing club belinda.bawden@lymeregistowncouncil.gov.uk
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