Winchester Action on Climate ChangeClimate change represents an opportunity as well as a threat. Winchester Action on Climate Change (WinACC) was formed in autumn 2007 as a coalition of organisations and citizens seeking to engage every household and every organisation in Winchester district in meeting the challenge of climate change and realising the benefits of low carbon living.
WinACC will be holding its next Open Meeting on Saturday 2 August from 10.30am-12 noon at the Friends Meeting House, 16 Colebrook Street, Winchester. Come along and find out how to get involved in one of our action groups and find out about plans for the launch of our membership scheme.
The WinACC Training Group is currently preparing to hold its first training for low carbon champions on Saturday 20 September, from around 9.30am-4pm. A low carbon champion is an individual who facilitates group discussions on climate change and the benefits of low carbon living in their local community with a view to motivating others to reduce their carbon footprint.
If you think you’d like to pioneer low carbon living by becoming a low carbon champion, sign up now as places are limited.
To sign up or/ and for further information, please contact Catrina Pickering, catrina.pickering@winacc.org.uk, 01962 827083.
Alan Lovell, Chief Executive of the Renewable Energy Company “Infinis” will be giving a lecture at Intech Science Centre and Planetarium, Telegraph Way, Morn Hill, Winchester on Friday 1 August from 7.00-9.45pm. The lecture will be based on the film ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, bringing out the implications for the UK. It will be followed by drinks and a presentation in the planetarium dome about environmental issues. Tickets £5 per person. Places limited so early booking advisable. Click here for further information or telephone 01962 891904.
Hampshire County Council is preparing to change 90,000 street lights, lit signs and bollards across the county in autumn 2009 and is soliciting comments on street lighting from Hampshire residents. While WinACC recognises that street lighting may help to reduce crime, it also makes a significant contribution to carbon emissions and every effort therefore should be made to keep it to a minimum where possible. If you would like to make comments or suggestions on the level of street lighting you would like to see in your neighbourhood, email street.lighting@hants.gov.uk. Click here to go to the council’s website for further information.
WinACC has recently launched its 10 Top Tips for reducing your carbon footprint. The tips which range from food to waste, from transport to keeping warm are available here.
New Carbon Reduction Grants
Winchester City Council has launched a new carbon reduction grant scheme providing grants of up to £500 for projects that help promote or support carbon reduction initiatives such as installing renewable energy or taking energy efficiency measures. For further information see: www.winchester.gov.uk/AdviceAndBenefits/Grants/CarbonReductionGrants/
Guardian Green Living Awards
The Guardian’s Green Living Awards scheme is giving away cash awards to individuals who want to run innovative environmental projects in their local communities or on a larger scale. Amounts range from up to £5,000 to help start projects to £20,000 to expand existing projects. The seven themes for the green living awards are: improving urban green spaces; recycling; green transport; local food initiatives; campaigning; alternative energy; and the ‘lightbulb’ category, for exceptional ideas that don’t fit any of the other categories. For further information, see: www.guardian.co.uk/environment/greenlivingawards
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