If you have a freezer load of gooseberries like me this could be worth making
We must become the change we want to SEA -Welcome to our blog
Friday, 2 August 2013
Spiced Gooseberry Chutney – Lip Smacking by Chef Heidi Fink
Spiced Gooseberry Chutney – Lip Smacking by Chef Heidi Fink
If you have a freezer load of gooseberries like me this could be worth making
If you have a freezer load of gooseberries like me this could be worth making
Thursday, 1 August 2013
End Massive Tax Breaks for Fracking in the UK - The Petition Site
End Massive Tax Breaks for Fracking in the UK - The Petition Site
Lord Howell, the Tory Peer, has admitted that he had made a mistake in his controversial remarks about fracking – only to clarify that when he said drilling should be carried out in the North-east he in fact meant the North-west of England.
Instead of rowing back on his comments made in the House of Lords earlier in the week, which he admitted had caused a "huge furore", the peer, George Osborne's father-in-law, is quoted as saying in The Daily Telegraph that fracking should "be far away from residences in unloved places that are not environmentally sensitive".
He goes on to lament the construction of wind farms "in sensitive places down in Sussex," according to the newspaper.
His comments are likely to be deemed insulting to people living in the north of England. On Tuesday he described north-east England as "desolate and uninhabited" landscapes that were suitable for fracking.
He goes on to lament the construction of wind farms "in sensitive places down in Sussex," according to the newspaper.
His comments are likely to be deemed insulting to people living in the north of England. On Tuesday he described north-east England as "desolate and uninhabited" landscapes that were suitable for fracking.
Wednesday, 31 July 2013
Osborne accused over gas lobbyist father-in-law - UK Politics - UK - The Independent
So who is surprised about this?
Osborne accused over gas lobbyist father-in-law - UK Politics - UK - The Independent
Osborne accused over gas lobbyist father-in-law - UK Politics - UK - The Independent
It also emerged that Mr Osborne has not met a single renewable energy representative since becoming Chancellor, but has held eight meetings with oil and gas companies.
Monday, 15 July 2013
Cotehele Quay Floods thanks to NIMBYS?
According to The National Trust sea level rises caused by global warming are a threat to Cotehele Quay. One solution to the problem at Cotehele would be to allow the river to break through the banks to flood an area of grazing land above the quay and create a wildlife reserve.
Although the land is of little importance being used to fatten beef cattle a strong local group, SODDITT opposed the plan and even managed to prevent the Trust from carrying out the work.
I know that not all of this group were NIMBYs and just wanted to keep a landscape preserved as a particular view but others were and it really is a disgrace that they managed to defeat the Trust to create an important bird habitat as well as to protect the historic site at Cotehele quay.
For more info contact Joe Lawrence joe.lawrence@nationaltrust.org.uk
posted by Rebecca Coombes -not representing views of whole SEA commitee
I know that not all of this group were NIMBYs and just wanted to keep a landscape preserved as a particular view but others were and it really is a disgrace that they managed to defeat the Trust to create an important bird habitat as well as to protect the historic site at Cotehele quay.
For more info contact Joe Lawrence joe.lawrence@nationaltrust.org.uk
posted by Rebecca Coombes -not representing views of whole SEA commitee
Sunday, 14 July 2013
NIMBYs not hold up progress in Cornwall to develope Renewable Energy Projects
There are currently 36 operational solar farms in Cornwall -a new 5KW solar farm has opened by Newquay Airport. It will provide electricity for 1,000 homes.
A drop in the price of installing large scale farms meant a shelved scheme could be restarted.
Although Feed in Tariff has been reduced the cost of solar systems has dropped meaning that a roof in Cornwall is still capable of producing a 16% return. Good by anyone's standards.
There is so much potential in Cornwall to not only be self sufficient in power but to export that power as long as the NIMBYs here do not get their way and block the progress of these future project.
Many of these NIMBYs will not be around when the most severe effects of Global Warming kick in so why listen to them now?
Opinion of Rebecca -not shared by all SEA committee
A drop in the price of installing large scale farms meant a shelved scheme could be restarted.
Although Feed in Tariff has been reduced the cost of solar systems has dropped meaning that a roof in Cornwall is still capable of producing a 16% return. Good by anyone's standards.
Wind Power
There is potential for Cornwall to produce up to 9,220 MW power from offshore wind.The Wave Hub at Hayle was deployed in 2010 -it is a GIANT SOCKET connected to The National Grid.There is so much potential in Cornwall to not only be self sufficient in power but to export that power as long as the NIMBYs here do not get their way and block the progress of these future project.
Many of these NIMBYs will not be around when the most severe effects of Global Warming kick in so why listen to them now?
Opinion of Rebecca -not shared by all SEA committee
Friday, 12 July 2013
Biofuels!
I think that this is in Milton Keynes - a bio gas plant using dog waste as well as other items
ChurchTown
Saturday 13th July
If you are in Saltash pop down to Churchtown and say hello! We'll be there from 10am -2pm.
Hopefully this hot weather will mean we get fewer comments about climate change not producing higher temperatures!!Last year it was cool and wet!
Rebecca
Friday, 28 June 2013
Going Fossil (fuel) Free
How easy -and affordable is it to go fossil free in 2013? We have set ourselves the challenge to turn an old stone house into a home without relying on fossil fuels.
Pellet boiler to be sited in a boiler room
I've spent hours online (probably using up plenty of ffs) and have decided on a combination of solar thermal roof panel/s, thermal store and modern automated pellet boiler/stove.The thermal store is the most complicated part of the equation as there are not well understood by lots of plumbers.Basically they are a super insulated tank with heat exchangers inside (coils) or outside.Water in the tank remains constant and has an anti scale product added at the time you fill up the system.multiple heat exchangers allow for different heat sources ie from a solar, boiler and wood stove.
Pellet boiler to be sited in a boiler room
The house is in an area of Italy where we can grow much of our own food and have a large area of woodland for fuel. A retirement home!
We've used local lime,clay and sand to rebuild and plaster and I'm now mixing up clay paints to use instead of emulsion which are based on ff products.Now we have reached to stage where the heating system need to go in -or at least the pipes do as these will all be inside the walls.
I've spent hours online (probably using up plenty of ffs) and have decided on a combination of solar thermal roof panel/s, thermal store and modern automated pellet boiler/stove.The thermal store is the most complicated part of the equation as there are not well understood by lots of plumbers.Basically they are a super insulated tank with heat exchangers inside (coils) or outside.Water in the tank remains constant and has an anti scale product added at the time you fill up the system.multiple heat exchangers allow for different heat sources ie from a solar, boiler and wood stove.
A LINK FOR A THERMAL STORE SYSTEM DESIGN
It lets you light your stove/boiler for 3/4 hours in the evening then store the heat until the next day when it can be pumped around your radiators.If you have solar panels you can use the heat exchanger to produce your hot water in the summer without the boiler.In the winter the solar heat exchanger will help the store to reach higer temps so your boiler has less work to do.
These are the good points! Bad points are:
Space needed -Thermal Stores are expensive (from £1,000) and it makes sense to go for the largest size you can.For a small cottage that's going to be difficult.If you do use a woodburner with a boiler there may be problems having the store on the same level (you'd need a pump instead of using gravity)
Lack of knowledge - many plumbers will not have had any experience of fitting a thermal store.
Expense - Thermal Stores are more expensive than dhw cylinders.
If you want to find out more about Thermal Stores Gledhill are a UK manufacturer and as well as online info you can also phone them.
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Decarbonisation target narrowly defeated in Commons energy bill vote | Environment | guardian.co.uk
Our local MP, Sheryll Murray voted against including a clean energy target in the Energy Bill -SEA have sent her a letter expressing our disappointment with her decision.The vote was painfully close if just 12 MPs had voted differently it would have been passed.
Please let her know what you think too!
Decarbonisation target narrowly defeated in Commons energy bill vote | Environment | guardian.co.uk
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
Victoria Gardens IE Bed 23rd April 2013
Today the sun shone on us as we cleared out the old plants and top dressed the bed with composted Horse manure.
We planted Strawberries, Chard, Broad Beans, Lettuce and herbs as well as some flowering plants to attract pollinating insects.Once the weather is more reliable we'll put in a 'patio courgette' and some delicious green beans!
If you are in the gardens do help yourself to some herbs which are just beginning to take off now.I love to use herbs in my cooking as even a borring plate of pasta can be jazzed up by adding fresh chopped herbs to some warm Olive oil and garlic and mixing in before you serve.Sage (chop finely) is very tasty if you add it to plenty of butter then add your cooked pasta.
Mint is so useful ; As well as adding a sprig to new potatoes as they cook I also like to chop it up finely and add to rice when we are having a curry.Mint works well with strawberries and gooseberries too if you just use a small amount.
We planted Strawberries, Chard, Broad Beans, Lettuce and herbs as well as some flowering plants to attract pollinating insects.Once the weather is more reliable we'll put in a 'patio courgette' and some delicious green beans!
If you are in the gardens do help yourself to some herbs which are just beginning to take off now.I love to use herbs in my cooking as even a borring plate of pasta can be jazzed up by adding fresh chopped herbs to some warm Olive oil and garlic and mixing in before you serve.Sage (chop finely) is very tasty if you add it to plenty of butter then add your cooked pasta.
Mint is so useful ; As well as adding a sprig to new potatoes as they cook I also like to chop it up finely and add to rice when we are having a curry.Mint works well with strawberries and gooseberries too if you just use a small amount.
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Saltash Food Festival
If you would like to get involved please come along and meet us at The Brunel Inn,Fore Street, Saltash at 7.30pm on 16th April.
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