Winchester Action on Climate Change

Heating buildings using woodfuel could save you money whilst also reducing CO2 emissions and helping the UK meet its targets for renewable energy. Gillian Alker, formerly the Forestry Commission’s Woodfuels Officer for the South East, told WinACC's open meeting on 5th June, that there is over 2 million tonnes of wood available in the UK from under-managed woodland. Her presentation also emphasised that better management avoids cramped woodlands and maintains open spaces, thus benefiting native wildlife such as badgers and butterflies.

WinACC's just been told about a website that gives suggestions about how to cut the cost of your train tickets. It seems worth a look so here it is: cheap train tickets. Let us know what you think of it by emailing train@winacc.org.uk

How Parish and Town Councils can lead their communities in reducing carbon emissions and enjoying the benefits of lower carbon lifestyles

Guidance on parish and town councils: acting on climate change
This revised and updated report brings together the ideas of representatives of Winchester district town and parish councils from two seminars in April and October 2009, and a Defra/ACRE report published April 2010. Click here for a copy of the Winchester report.

Winchester Students' Union has won this year's Ecologist Communications Challenge Award. The full report is at http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_round_up/452266/charlie_chaplin_eco_spoof_wins_ecologist_film_award.html

The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) has allocated £3.8 million to green businesses throughout the region and established a £4 million sustainability loan fund.  The £3.8 million fund will enable 2,500 businesses to develop initiatives within a framework of six sustainability-led projects focusing primarily on waste reduction, sustainable procurement and the development of sustainable technologies. 

From 1 April 2010, the standard rate of landfill tax will rise from £40 to £48 per tonne (a 20% rise).  This rate applies for all disposals made (or treated as made) on or after 1 April.  The standard rate of the tax will also rise by a further £8 per tonne each April so that by 1April 2013, landfill tax will be £72 per tonne.  This makes it more and more important for businesses to ensure that the weight of material they send to landfill is reduced as much as possible.

The snowy weather is good for spotting who's insulated the roof - see the contrast between neigbouring roofs in our pictures of Winchester on 6 January.  If you still haven't got round to topping up your roof insulation, the Energy Saving Trust explains what to do and how to get a grant.

 In case you're wondering: insulating the roof means that the heat stays indoors, instead of leaking out and melting the snow.

A new £5000 Plug-in Car Grant will be distributed directly to the consumer at the point of purchase and will be available across the UK from January 2011. To support this, the Government will roll out a £30m trial network of electric vehicle charging points, called Plugged in Places.