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H.E.A.T. (Hammerwich Energy Action Team)

HEAT is a small team intent on helping the community reduce its carbon dioxide emissions and save energy. In 2007 one in six homes signed a recommendation to look at 9 ways of achieving these aims. They were:

  • turn down high temperatures in the house using thermostats
  • use low-energy bulbs
  • avoid keeping appliances on stand-by mode
  • buy energy efficient appliances
  • use a water butt in the garden
  • wash clothes at a temperature below 40oC
  • insulate your roof space
  • keep car journeys to a minimum and use public transport more
  • and use a green energy supplier

These are all obvious and can all be justified simply because it reduces costs.

A successful "awareness day" was held in the Community Centre and was well attended. The idea has been copied and made an annual event by Whittington, Elford, and now north Lichfield. It could be repeated here.

HEAT now wants to extend this mission in ways acceptable to villagers and appropriate for the village. In this mission it will join with Wall, Stonnall and possibly Shenstone and Little Aston and together with Whittington, Elford and Lichfield circulate good ideas and feasible actions.

Possible ideas are: attach photovoltaic panels to the Community Centre roof and elsewhere, so that electricity can be produced cheaply for the Centre and the village.

Distribute electricity display meters which can easily be attached temporarily to your meter and show you how much electricity is used by various appliances in your home. If you would like to try a meter please email robert.sharp@hammerwicheg.co.uk and enter HEAT as the subject.

Support the return of a railway to reduce road traffic.

Change the road lighting by either dimming or installation of LED lighting.

Explore the demand for a village allotment.

If you have an idea, or want to join the group, please email the above. Remember we have five years to stop the rise in carbon dioxide in our atmosphere or the world for the next generation will be very different.

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