BARCOMBE ENERGYTASTIC!
 
Barcombe Energy Group has won a bid for approximately £50k for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) Low Energy Efficiency Assessment Fund (LEAF)!! 

This is to carry out household energy efficiency assessments, a renewable energy assessment, community building energy assessments and a whole bunch of household retrofits. Its really exciting news for Barcombe we were just one of three communities within the South East to win this bid award.
 
The survey process has now finished and the Centre for Sustainable Energy is evaluating teh results.  

What's been happening!?

We are currenmtly undertaking some detailed home assessments in a range of housing types that are common in Barcombe so that we can publisise the recommendations for others to learn from and hopefully apply to their house. We will be creating lots of user friendly feedback and reference materials for community members to use and benefit.

We have also retrofitted numerous properties with insulation - some of which has been supplied for free by the District Council and the installation costs which have been covered by our funding. We are hoping to use a thermal imaging camera to see the effect the insulation has had before and after the installation.  

We are also undertaking some draft busting workshops, LED light retrofits and energy monitor installation - and those who have been chosen from the survey to have their retrofits will now have been contacted.

The Barcombe Energy Group bid was supported by Barcombe Parish Council and will be administered by the council with funded service support from Ovesco and Communities Matter and Community 21 / University of Brighton.

 
CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION
 
Ollie 01273 401700/ 07870 689978 email: olliepen@googlemail.com
Check this Webpage for more information and updates
Also see Barcombe facebook page for updates (go to facebook and search barcombe group)

The Barcombe Energy Club has come together to explore energy efficiency and the future of a sustainable Barcombe.  The Club wants to help gather and disseminate information to Barcombe residents on ways for individual households to cut down on the use of non-renewable energy sources and save themselves money and to help put Barcombe on the renewable map!

Barcombe Energy Fair

How fantastic to see so many Barcombe residents attend the Energy Fair last month at our Village Hall.  In total we had 250 people sign in on the door and some of the speakers had over 60 people attend their talks. Our Village Hall was used to its full potential and on the day over £400 was raised for the Village Hall ‘landscaping fund’ plus the PTA raised £128 from running the very successful ‘Energy Café’.

The day took a lot of organising and I would like to give a BIG thank-you to everyone involved from planning, to making phone calls, emailing, printing fliers and letter dropping, making the café such a hit, running the reception, setting up on the day, making case studies, making signs and solar cars (School Eco Team), preparing presentations, raffles, over spill car parking, cake making and so much more you all know who you are!

When organising the fair our aim was to provide the village with the information we need to help improve their energy efficiency, save money on our energy bills and consider what moves we may need to put in place for our future energy needs.

Since the fair we have seen the exhibitors vans all around the village and we have received messages from residents to say that they are having insulation work done, solar PV installed, woodburners and back boilers, energy efficient light bulbs, solar hot water systems and we are sure much more.

The Barcombe Energy Club are there to help as well as we can and I would like to recommend if you are considering installing energy efficient systems then please let us know so that we can track the progress of the village.  We may be able to help you if you are unsure about what systems you should install and we do have information on grants that you maybe entitled – *those of you installing Solar should all register with Ovesco who manage grants for Lewes District Council (don’t miss out) – there are also grants coming up for installing wood burners and over 60’s can benefit from free insulation.

We are being warned that electricity and oil bills will increase annually from now on – if you are unsure of what to do just start by monitoring your energy usage, get an insulation company to survey your house, minimise drafts and then consider alternative energy.

Whats next?
At the Fair the idea of a village wood hub was introduced as well as opportunities to sign up to an oil buying syndicate.  We also all felt that it is a good time for us to investigate opportunities for large solar and energy schemes such as the successful Harveys Brewery community solar project.

Our next 5 minute talks event on 16th of Novemebr in the Royal Oak will have village leads talking in quick fire sessiona about their initiatives; wood hub, daylight bulbs, water conservation, well-reinstatement and community solar sites amongst others.

Below are the stall holders info from the Energy Fair. It appears we have initiated a need in a number of neighbouring communities to do the same and Cuckfield, Ardingly and Wivelsfield apparently have Energy Fairs and clubs in plan.

Southern Solar 01273 479 647

Eco Hi Solar 01273 555 822

Southern Renewables

Solar & wind 01444 300121

Solar Advanced Systems 01342 871 616

Renewable Energy Incentives

Solar & heat pumps 01892 654386

Sustainables 4 u

Lightbulbs 01273 491610

Greener Alternative

Woodburners 01903 521 288

Woodstock Fires

Woodburners

01435 868 686

Bioenergy Technology

Biomass 01825 890 140 

The Greener Alternative

Biomass 01903 521 288

Downs Energy

Insulation 01444 460 111

Cavity Tech

Insulation 01323 483 377

Ovesco

Grants 01273 472405

BBM Architects

Retrofitting 01273 480533

Barcombe Nurseries

Vegetable Boxes 01273 400011

 

 

Barcombe Energy Club