Rushcliffe residents leading in the East Midlands

25 Sept 2011: I note, with a pleasurable sense of achievement, that a recent survey shows that Rushcliffe borough has the second highest installations of PV in the entire East Midlands, as at June 30 of this year.
      We are beaten only by Bassetlaw (Bolsover) where there has probably been a strong council initiative to do their own buildings. the Website to find this on is:
http://www.aeat.com/microgenerationindex/ In Rushcliffe, it has been achieved entirely by householders and small businesses, as RBC have not yet PV'd any of their own buildings.

The people of Rushcliffe are producing 0.33 percent of the entire micro generation of the UK, and most of that is PV (there is a tiny bit of Wind somewhere in the borough). Many boroughs are producing a mere 0.04% or 0.08%, less than a quarter of Rushcliffe. This makes me wonder how disconnected they can be from even the simplest of arguments about energy shortage or about the financial benefits of the feed in tariff.

So! we all all doing something right. I know that Rushcliffe Solar have sent out hundreds of reports in reply to individual requests on our site or to email.
     Within 100m of my house there are a three of other houses done now (thanks to RS efforts). These installations have been done mostly by the sponsor installers of our campaign. Rushcliffe Solar have played a part in energising the awareness, and removing the fear.
    Sheila Hood (of Rushcliffe BC) and Tina Holt (of Transition West Bridgford) regularly invite me (DNC, the author of this piece) to take part in Greening meetings and other green festival events that will promote PV.
    I am totally convinced that it is a good idea, not only as a financial equation for the customer, but as an ethical decision, to reduce coal-burning in major power stations.

Rushcliffe Climate Change policy

14 Sept 2011: I see that Rushcliffe BC are running a brief consultation process, but you have to be quick, I gather that comments have to be in by 19th Sept. 

http://rushcliffe-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/planning/draft_policy_1

Actually, it seems that all the Local Authorities in Nottinghamshire have agreed to issue identical policies, except Erewash BC who seem to be applying slightly tougher standards or sooner targets for achieving certain standards (good for them).

   It's good to see that the authorities all agree and are avoiding some US-style split on doctrinaire grounds where it becomes obligatory to deny climate change if you want to continue in the party.

   I quickly scanned the document and can't find anything to disagree with, they seem to be intending to continue on target to meet 2016 standards etc.

Rushcliffe fell at the sustainable hurdle....

   Having said that, it is a pity that a proposal was discussed in the Rushcliffe cabinet last week to instal PV on some of the RBC buildings, and eventually the whole proposal was turned down without so much as agreeing to a single pilot project. (click the link to read the Evening Post story). They considered it Solely on Payback considerations, without once valuing the benefit of producing clean electricity without burning coal and emitting carbon.

Why mention this here?

The personal angle on this is that Rushcliffe Solar did the powerpoint illustrated report for RBC outlining the costs and returns, and showing how the panels might fit and look on the buildings. I gather from a witness that the powerpoint was not shown, that a civil servant had converted it into a dry document listing the financial equations without mentioning the qualitative aspects :(

Rushcliffe BC get help from RS!

6 Sept 2011: Earlier this year, Rushcliffe Solar were asked to do a Photovoltaic study for Rushcliffe BC, considering about 20 buildings initially, and assessing their potential for PV. This was whittled down to about 16 "good'uns" and for these we worked out an approximate cost, and summary of the Plans A, B, C possible for each of the buildings. Some of them are big enough to be a solar power station (eg large leisure centres) and some are small but of educational value, such as small community centres.
     This article is in the Nottingham Evening Post Monday Sept 5, 2011:

"Cabinet members will discuss proposals which could initially see solar panels installed at six council-owned buildings. If approved, the panels could be installed on buildings including West Park cricket pavilion, Gresham sports pavilion and the education centre at Rushcliffe Country Park. Charlotte McGraw, head of community shaping at the council, said the scheme would help the council be more environmentally-friendly." 

and a lot more detail after that. See the link below.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Ray-hope-pound-1-35m-solar-panel-scheme-buildings/story-13268536-detail/story.html
Rushcliffe Solar have done a similar report for Gedling BC, and hope that Gedling will also be stimulated by it. Many thanks to the Sustainability team of Rushcliffe BC for commissioning this report.
  The government have relaxed the rules on Feed in Tariff earnings, allowing the District Councils to earn money from installations - so it's a good investment for the Ratepayer!

POSTSCRIPT: Sad news, the Conservative group on RBC turned down the idea of PV in the borough, not even prepared to take a punt at a single pilot project. Said it was an 'untested technology', said that we could not trust governments to maintain the payments for the 25 yrs, and said they wanted a return of 5 years (20%), and thought that by waiting, prices would come down.  Hah! wrong on all counts.
 Perhaps the Evening Post will report on it in a few days with some sort of explanation :( 

Restarting Rushcliffe Solar

6 July 2011: Rushcliffe Solar has been very quiet the last few months.
   This is a pity as the summer has been charging along and we have passed the summer solstice. David N-Cole (project leader) has a very busy job at the University of Nottingham, and his trusty colleagues of last year, Rain Luo and James Rixon were final year students (6th year in Architecture) and had to focus totally on their final design projects. Both of them have now moved to London.
  As of today, I (DNC) have started working through the backlog of enquiries, and have trained one of my Masters course alumni, Arash Soleimani in how to process solar PV panel layouts and reply to enquirers. (He is also applying for architectural jobs in London, but will help me until then.)
  So you are likely to see more of Rushcliffe Solar in Central Avenue on Saturdays, and at other green events in the district.

Rushcliffe Awards Scheme

11th Nov '10: Members of Transition West Bridgford attended the evening Rushcliffe community awards ceremony at Beckett School. We had a little bit of hope as we had some nominations - for example, for services to local business, or to the environment. But with so many things going on, and so many worthy volunteers deserving the prizes, we will have to wait another year.
   Well done to Kinoulton for their Mayor's special award, for a Greening Campaign that managed to get 50% of the village involved, which is, apparently, a national record!
Pictured are: Tina Holt (WB Ecohouses), Karina Wells (Transition WB and other things), David Nicholson-Cole (Rushcliffe Solar), Mrs Marie Males (Mayor of Rushcliffe), Sheila Hood (Sustainability officer for Rushcliffe BC)

Rushcliffe Solar nominated

8 Nov '10: The staff of Rushcliffe Solar are attending an awards evening at Beckett School on 11th November. We have been nominated for an award for service to the community (in the field of Energy). That doesn't mean we have won it, it's a nomination.... so let's not write more about it now, but if we do win an award, you will hear more about it here!
  Meanwhile.... if you think your house could take PV panels, do fill in the 'You Enquire' tab above and find out what the deal could be for you.

Nottingham Evening Post features Rushcliffe Solar

28 Sept '10: Many thanks to the Nottingham Evening Post (and Jon Robinson) for a well written article on the Rushcliffe Solar project.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/westbridgford/7-000-West-Bridgford-homes-suitable-solar-panels/article-2690774-detail/article.html

Quite often when you see something about you written in the media, you are grinding your teeth at the inaccuracies, but Jon is an experienced writer on environmental matters and has written it perfectly. I am glad to see that he got a comment there from a member of Rushcliffe BC.

So, congratulations to Jon on a good write up, and I have only one small addition which is to add that people wishing to get a free PV survey from Rushcliffe Solar should use the website http://rushcliffesolar.blogspot.com and leave their details on the ENQUIRE Tab above.
The Evening post also writes a very pleasing Editorial piece, many thanks!
===davidnc
Rushcliffe Solar is a Photovoltaic campaign jointly initiated by Rushcliffe BC, Transition West Bridgford, Energy Saving Trust and University of Nottingham, with subsequent sponsorship by ten solar installers.

Rushcliffe will be a power generator!

27 Sept '10: Councils can Create & Sell Electricity: when the Feed in Tariff came in, it was for householders, institutions and businesses, but somehow Local Authorities were not allowed to take part. This seemed anomalous as they have many many roofs in their ownership - the prime purpose of the legislation would seem to have been to reduce power generation transmission losses from distant fossil fuel power stations by local generating. So why where LAs not included?

Chris Huhne as part of the Coalition Government removed the ban - so that Councils are now able to generate electricity for sale to the grid.

In the light of this at the first available Council Meeting, Lib Dem Councillor Rod Jones proposed at a Council meeting on 23rd Sept: "in the light of the decision of the Secretary of State for Energy to remove the ban on Councils selling renewable energy, this Council recognising its scope from land and premises to produce energy from wind, solar, ground source and other sources, will review as soon as is practicable, the available options and the associated costs and income in the long term."

Well it is good news that this was approved!

Seminar at the Environment Agency

25 Aug: I was invited to talk at a lunchtime seminar for staff at Nottingham's Environment Agency Office. These are for topics linked to Climate Change and Energy shortage. I had only about 25 mins, but covered four subjects.

• First the West Bridgford Transition group and WB Ecohouses group, and the importance for activists of communicating the message widely, not just doing things privately.
• The Rushcliffe Solar campaign, to encourage people to take up Photovoltaic panels, to increase the home generation of electricity in Rushcliffe, and for them to benefit from the feed in tariff.
• The Charging the Earth project, building Sunboxes to augment the performance of the ground source heat pump - appropriate because at this very moment, my research poster on the sunboxes are on view at the SET conference in Shanghai.
• The Sustainable Tall Buildings course at Nottingham University - where we are trying to teach our students bioclimatic principles for tall buildings - our next project is based in New York, trying to apply Passivhaus principles to the units in a 60 storey structure. 

I was sharing the floor with Penny Poyzer, the owner of the West Bridgford Ecohouse in Patrick Rd. Compared to my technology oriented topics, she was talking about the virtue of growing your own food, plus many observations on green lifestyle. A major learning point from her house is that you can apply extreme levels of insulation to a 120 year old house, and make it airtight enough for heat reclaim to work.
   As a nice human touch, we could see out of the window that the staff in the Environment Agency are indeed growing their own, there was a well managed cuban-style micro farm with members of staff having their own little 2 sqm patch, full of healthy looking vegetables.

Third Saturday openair surgery

31 July: Rushcliffe Solar had another open air surgery on Central Ave. It wasn't as busy as the previous weeks, although some callers were good, and some decisive. We had DNC, James Rixon and Sheila Hood on the stand.

I went shopping later at ASDA and couldn't help thinking that it might be a better location (if we are prepared to work without the laptop), but it would be more complicated to arrange.

It was a Craft market day, and no so many around as on the Farmers' or the Gardeners' market. But we met some callers determined to have a go, and we will be sending them reports during the week.
The next Open Air Solar surgery is on 7th August.

Pictured: Sheila Hood of Rushcliffe BC and James Rixon of Rushcliffe Solar

Do I need planning permission?

We get asked this question frequently. 
I had an email from the conservation officer of Rushcliffe asking us to expand on this with more detail, and I am grateful to him (Tom Street) for this request.
  For most areas, since 2008, the planning rules have been relaxed so that alternative technology solutions (such as PV panels or solar thermal) are usually deemed to be 'permitted development' unless they project more than 200mm from the roof or wall surface. The Town and Country Planning amendment document explains the rules more fully.
   A polite visit or exchange of letters with the planning officer (not a full fee-paid application) is usually enough to re-assure you that you can proceed.

Conservation Areas are 'areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance'. Designation gives control over the demolition or alteration of buildings and provides the basis for policies designed to preserve or enhance all the aspects of character or appearance that define an area's special interest. (Section 69 of the Civic Amenities Act 1967)

There are 29 conservation areas in Rushcliffe (e.g. Edwalton village). Rushcliffe's website lists the conservation areas, and the rules applying to conservation areas. (They are not against solar panels in principle, you just have to be smarter about positioning them, eg, avoiding defacing prime views of the building). In this case an application would be required, but your solar installer (or Rushcliffe Solar) could help with a photo-montage to display how the panels might look.
  If for some reason you discontinue using your solar panels, you are requested politely to remove them, to restore the appearance of the building. Tom Street tstreet@rushcliffe.gov.uk is the conservation officer for Rushcliffe Borough and can answer detailed questions on this.

Listed Building  If you have one of these, you have a higher planning threshold to jump, although all Local Authorities recognise the need to respect the movement towards energy sustainability. It may be possible to provide solar power in a discreet way (e.g. in a roof valley). This needs to be discussed with your conservation officer. 

Outdoor Solar Surgery

17 July : Rushcliffe Solar had its first outdoor surgery today, in Central Avenue, West Bridgford. We set up a laptop and flat-screen on a desk in Central Avenue, West Bridgford from 10 till 1pm.
    The aim of the open air surgery is to reach out to people directly, with a welcome element of randomness - never knowing quite who would walk past - catching the interest of people who might never go to a website, or hear a small news item.
It was windy and sunny, some joked that with wind like that we should be promoting wind turbines!
Although it's difficult to see the LCD screen in bright daylight, we managed to use Googlemaps to examine the roofs of enquirers, and give them some ideas of what is possible. We took over 20 firm enquiries and will be sending them a report on power and payback during the week.
    We also met a gentleman who advised us on the idea of 'roof-leasing' where a company instals your panels for free, in return for a Pay as you Earn contract. In effect they are renting your roof - your benefit is the free electricity. We shall be finding out more about this and posting it on here, you can be sure!
We were very busy from start to finish. We enjoyed it and will do it again. It was the Gardeners' market, and next week it will be the Farmers' market. Rushcliffe BC have a news item of the event on their front web page.
David Nicholson-Cole and Rain Luo and Sheila Hood were taking part for Rushcliffe Solar. Many thanks to Belle and Jerome for wifi and electricity, the Health Shop for a space on the pavement, and to Sheila Hood from Rushcliffe Borough Council/Energy Savings Trust who joined us for the entire morning, giving extended advice on sustainable living ideas.

Rushcliffe Solar making a good start

14 July: We are only a week and a half into the 'real work', and are already dealing with a good number of enquiries - something like 40 positive enquiries resulting from people becoming aware of what we are offering, and asking our advice. Meanwhile, the work of databasing typical streets in West Bridgford continues. We will be sending mailshots to high-potential households soon. We intend to have a table set up in Central Avenue on Saturday 17th July, with instant advice (based on aerial photographs of houses which we have access to), and will continue on later Saturdays. Belle and Jerome will support the project with Wifi and electric supply.
     The project is funded by Rushcliffe Borough Council for the first 2 months, and after that we will have to keep going on an independent basis with referral fees from installers, so that we can maintain salary for our staff. We now have to add more Solar PV installers to our approved list, to help with funding. If the project produces good results, we will hope for another burst of databasing and leafletting etc in Summer 2011 - either deepening our coverage of West Bridgford, or expanding to other towns in Rushcliffe Borough.
    If you decide to go ahead with an installation, it is important to tell the installer that your feasibility study/appraisal was done by Rushcliffe Solar, as this is the only way we can continue once the summer funding expires.

Rushcliffe Solar database project starting now!

1 July: Starting 5th July, we will make a start on the project, with two students Rain Luo and James Rixon, supervised by David Nicholson-Cole. We will start by mapping the areas of West Bridgford identifying good PV potential, and work on leaflets and letters to send to residents. We will also run open air desks on Central Avenue on Farmers Market days. We will have a phone number for them in due course, and the email for further enquiries is of course, RushcliffeSolar@gmail.com

Feed in Tariff replaces grants

Feb 2010: At the time of going to press, Rushcliffe Reports was correct in urging people to hurry to get PV panels installed to get both the Grant and the Tariff.
But shortly after, the government announced that the Feed in Tariff fully replaces the grant - with immediate effect.
    However, do not be disheartened. It is often the effect that after a subsidy is lifted, the market mechanisms adjust, suppliers become more competitive and the cost evens out. In likelihood, this is going to happen because the Feed in Tariff is bringing a rush of business enabling the industry to lower its prices and admit more companies who are competing.

Sudden Surge of interest

Since the item in Rushcliffe Reports, publicising the feed in tariffs etc, there has been a sudden Surge of interest in Photovoltaic roofs, and my mailbox is filling. Please allow me time to cope with this. I will try to get an individual answer to each request.

By the way, the SUNBOX project on my house is working (this is solar heat being pumped deep into the earth for retrieval by heatpump) and can be read about on http://chargingtheearth.blogspot.com/ Whoever heard of a house being heated partially with 'swimming pool panels' ? Well, the panels pump the equivalent of a kilowatt for several hours a day deep into the ground. The heat pump gets that heat out later.