Local Agenda 21
News
LA21 Newsletter Winter/Spring 2007/08
In This Edition:
- The Carbon Diet
- The Going Green Event
- Go Green Woking
- Woking Solar Frontier
- Gardening for Life Project Update
- LA21 Energy Meter Loans Scheme
- Woking Chamberīs Environmental Programme
- Be Waterwise!
- LA21's Affiliated Groups
- Get involved with Woking LA21
1 The Carbon Diet - food for thought!
Nearly everything we do at home, work, school or in our leisure time, uses energy obtained from fossil fuels - oil, gas and coal. Burning these fuels releases Carbon Dioxide gas (CO2) into the atmosphere, which adds to the Greenhouse Effect and contributes towards the problem of global warming. To help slow down global temperature rises, it's vital we urgently reduce the amount of CO2 we generate. But how much CO2 are we individually responsible for and where does it come from? A Carbon Footprint calculation provides the starting point, giving the total weight of CO2 emitted by an individual or household, with a breakdown by source.
Woking Local Agenda 21 (LA21), plans to launch an Internet based Carbon Calculator to help you measure your Carbon Footprint and start reducing CO2 emissions. The Carbon Diet is a new website that can help you to reduce your personal contribution to climate change by tracking your Carbon Footprint on a day-to-day basis. The site is easy to use and by entering your utility meter readings as often as you wish, and entering the amount of fuel you buy when you fill your car with petrol, the site can calculate your exact Carbon Footprint. It will enable you to see how your daily lifestyle decisions affect your Carbon Footprint. Woking LA21 is encouraging Woking residents to test out the Carbon Diet.
You can register and enter data on the site by visiting www.carbondiet.org . An LA21 sub-group has been set up to enable residents to share experiences and exchange information and you can join this programme through the Carbon Diet web site.
2 The Going Green Event
Going Green:
Living and the built environment
Saturday 27 October 2007
Mercia Walk, Woking Town Centre, Surrey.
Woking Local Agenda 21 (LA21) will be supporting the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Surrey Centre, to host a public event in Woking town centre, on Saturday 27 October 2007. The purpose of the event is to stimulate interest in environmentally friendly solutions, particularly within the home - focusing on construction practices, the way we live and our built environment. An exhibition will include stands by CIOB, Woking Borough Council, LA21, the Energy Centre for Sustainable Communities, Surrey Waste Management and a range of trade organisations specialising in renewable energy, sustainable refurbishments, and environmentally friendly buildings and construction.
For more information, visit the web site at www.ciob.org.uk/regions/eastwestsurrey
Contact Paula Hazell, CIOB Surrey Centre Administrator on Tel: 0845 0706095 or email: phazell@ciob.org.uk
3 Go Green Woking
The Woking News and Mail newspaper set up the `Go Green Woking' campaign to raise awareness of environmental issues, and actions that members of the community, as groups or individuals, can take to do their bit for a more sustainable Woking. News articles have featured a diverse range of environmental issues. LA21 is very supportive of the campaign. Rob Brown, Woking News & Mail reporter, is co-ordinating the campaign and would like to hear from anyone who has ideas for future articles. Contact Rob at reporter@woking.co.uk or Tel: 01483 755755.
4 Woking Solar Frontier
Over the last year Woking LA21 has assisted the Energy Centre for Sustainable Communities (ECSC) by running the Woking Solar Frontier Project in partnership with Woking Borough Council.
The project involves ECSC providing impartial free advice to Woking residents on a range of energy related topics but focuses particularly on solar water heating. The aim is to encourage more residents to look at ways of reducing their energy costs and adopt this simple water heating technology as a way of achieving it.
ECSC has set up a list of approved installers of renewable energy systems for the home. Several LA21 members, who have installed solar water heating systems in their homes, have been participating in `Open Home' days. Interested residents are able to view solar water heating systems in operation and have the opportunity to discuss their performance with the users. For more information about the project visit the website at www.wokingsolar.org.uk or telephone ECSC on 020 7922 0262.
5 Gardening For Life Project Update
At the Gardening For Life public event in March 2007, Steve Berry from Natural England gave an illustrated talk about the importance of gardens for wildlife - and Richard Bisgrove, from Reading University, spoke on the impact of accelerating climate change on gardens. The new Woking Garden Wildlife Watch survey was announced at this meeting. Forms were published in the Woking Magazine; these are available in libraries and ccould also be completed on line at the Window on Woking LA21 website.
The results from the gardening practices section of this survey make very interesting reading when compared with the first GFL survey, which was published in the Woking Magazine in 1999. There are significant positive changes. For example, rain and grey-water is being collected much more and there is a greater use of wormeries. Concern about the environment has also led to a reduction in the use of peat-based composts and similarly, regular weed killer and pesticide use has been greatly reduced due to a growing awareness of the effect they have on biodiversity and our health.
Visit the website: www.windowonwoking.org.uk/sites/la21/gfl for further information about the survey.
The Woking Wildlife Flowerbed in Commercial Way continues to attract interest and compliments from passers by. If you are able to help occasionally with the maintenance of the flowerbed, please contact Woking LA21. Your help would be much appreciated.
6 Woking Energy Meters Loans Scheme
Woking LA21 has recently carried out trials with several portable Energy Meters for measuring electricity consumption of household plugged-in appliances. One particular energy meter was considered to be more useful and better value than the some of the other meters used. The trial was helpful in identifying inefficient electrical equipment in several homes. Additionally, some equipment (PC's, microwaves, washing machines and televisions) was shown to be consuming power when apparently switched off. 20 energy meters have been purchased, and Woking LA21 plans to set up a pilot trial for residents to use the meters in their homes. Users will be asked to submit their results to Woking LA21 for analysis. It is hoped that further borough-wide initiatives can be identified to encourage domestic energy saving and carbon footprint reduction. If you are interested in this pilot trial please contact Woking LA21.
7 Woking Chamberīs Environmental Programme
Woking LA21 has worked with Woking Chamber of Trade and Commerce to develop a programme to raise awareness of sustainability and environmental management issues amongst local businesses during 2007. The programme has involved Business Breakfast Meetings covering Environmental Management Systems, Waste and Recycling, and Utilities Management. The work culminated with the recent launch of the guide `Making Woking A Better Place to do Business'.
Woking Borough Council, Surrey County Council and Envirowise supported the programme. To read the guide and to find out more, visit the web site at www.wokingchamber.org.uk or contact Sue Granville on Tel: 01483 729922, or email sue.granville@wokingchamber.org.uk
8 Be Waterwise!
At the public meeting in July 2007, which followed Woking LA21's AGM, Brian Hooper from `Waterwise', which was set up by the water companies, gave an interesting presentation which described how water usage has increased over the last 30 years or so, from 110 litres per person per day to 155 litres. In this area of the country it is significantly higher with an average rate of 178 litres. The aim of Waterwise is to demonstrate how we could reverse this upward trend. When meters have been installed in homes, the average usage has been reduced by around 10%.
The other speakers at the public meeting were Ted Casey and Dave Chandler from Three Valleys Education Centre. They spoke of the many practical ways in which we can reduce our water use - by repairing leaks, using washing machines and dishwashers only when full, and choosing water efficient models when replacing old appliances. In dry conditions, up to 50% of water supplied is used on the garden, which can be countered by mulching and planting drought resistant plants and shrubs. We would like to thank the speakers for an interesting and informative evening and all those of you who attended the meeting.
Byfleet Primary School Water Project
This exciting project involved a link-up with the EU pilot project Change LAB, which aimed to bring together the work of schools, residents and businesses. The Byfleet partners were Three Valleys Water, Woking Borough Council, Surrey County Council, Woking LA21 and Byfleet Primary School. The children in year five, with the support of their class teacher, headmistress and Three Valleys Water set up a programme to raise awareness of the importance of water conservation. Over a period, the children set up a number of experiments to measure water usage and produced positive ways of conserving water in the school, home and community. The school, together with Three Valleys Water and Woking LA21 held an open day that allowed parents, Councillors and local residents to see the work the children had done. The day was a huge success, largely due to the enthusiasm of the children and their teachers. Thanks also go to the partners who made it all possible. A CD ROM was produced to document this project; if you would like to view it, please contact Woking LA21.
9 LA21's Affiliated Groups
Woking Cycle Users Group
The Local Committee of Surrey County Council recently approved not only a Walking and Cycling Strategy but also a Road Safety Strategy. Together they should provide some sort of framework for improvements for both pedestrians and cyclists. Interesting projects on the horizon include improvements to the Basingstoke Canal. We are delighted that Sustrans the renowned sustainable travel charity is to project manage this work. There is also a plan to link National Cycle Network route 4 (London to Bristol) to route 22 (London to Portsmouth/Isle of Wight) via Woking.
Can you park your bike securely at a dedicated cycle stand at your local destination e.g. the doctors or dentists or the shops? If not let us know and we will bring the matter to the Local Transport Service in Woking. Or alternatively come along to the next Woking Cycle Forum. More details on our website at www.wokingcycle.org.uk
Woking Fairtrade Action Network (WFAN)
WFAN hope that many of you will have seen the colourful banner that has been suspended in the covered walkway between The Peacocks and Wolsey Place in Woking town centre. Children from 17 local schools created this during Fairtrade Fortnight. Each school decorated a single letter printed on Fairtrade cotton and, together, their letters spell out this years' campaign slogan "Change Today, Choose Fairtrade".
WFAN are also delighted to see that more local shops are stocking fairly traded products - and Sainsbury's and M&S should be congratulated for the progress they have made in this area over the past 12 months. There are still numerous products not available in our shops, two of which are fairly traded Palestinian olive oil and greetings cards produced by orphaned young people in Rwanda. Contact Becca Rowland if you are interested in purchasing either of these items: Email rebecca.rowland@ntlworld.com or Tel: 01483 472304.
Woking Freecycle Network
As reported in the last edition of LA21 Action, an option that is becoming increasingly popular for passing on unwanted items is that of Internet based forums, such as `Freecycle' which can be accessed from the www.freecycle.org web page. There is now a Woking Freecycle Network with more than 1600 members. Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wokingfreecycle/ to join the Woking Freecycle Network.
With a single e-mail, anyone can join a Freecycle group and begin posting donations or requests. A match is made when someone replies, then giver and taker privately arrange the exchange. Anything from appliances, beds and settees to egg cartons are acceptable! Contact Jon Holyfield: Email: jonholyfield@dsl.pipex.com
10 LA21 in Woking - Get Involved
If you are interested in local environment and sustainability issues, and have a small amount of time to give, there may be a LA21 project group that you would like to join. Contact us to find out more. For more information on the work of Woking's Local Agenda 21 Group, or if you have any ideas for projects or comments about this newsletter, contact Woking LA21 Chairman, Rod Brans. Rod can be reached through the Business Improvement Team at Woking Borough Council using the following contact details:
Woking LA21, C/O Woking Borough Council, Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, Woking, GU21 6YL. Tel: 01483 743413 Fax: 01483 768746
E-Mail: la21@woking.gov.uk
Woking LA21 web pages: www.windowonwoking.org.uk/sites/la21
LA21 Online
Woking LA21 has set up a web site on the `Window On Woking' community web site. The site can be viewed at www.windowonwoking.org.uk/sites/la21 LA21 will use this site to provide regular news updates, post details of projects and encourage involvement across the community. The site has already been used to good effect to collect data for the Gardening For Life Survey, so please take a look! Please contact Woking LA21 if you have any ideas for information that could be presented on the web site.
Window on Woking is a Community website, hosting a wide range of 'micro sites' developed by local community organisations. This is a free service for community groups and organisations in the Woking area, where they can publicise and share information about their activities and events and can provide their contact details. If you are a member of a local group, then why not visit www.windowonwoking.org.uk and set up a web site - it's easy to use!
Newsletters
Current and past reports of activites of LA21 and its affiliated groups and topical environmental issues.
See latest Newsletter, as pdf download, above right
Previous Newsletters on Planet Woking website