Energy Tracers

Would you like to have a subsidised draughtproofing survey of your home? If so we require 4 people to put their names forward in the next two weeks. Please contact Charles via the website.

The process is explained below.

Energy Tracers is a company that does thermal imaging surveys inside people's homes to identify draughts and areas of heat loss through poor insulation. They are working with other Transition organisations like us.

The concept is that Sustainable Crediton finds 4 people to have a survey done in a day. A surveyor (usually a trained architect) from Energy Tracers does the thermal imaging survey at each home accompanied by a Suscred person (known as a "hotspotter"). Each householder gets a thermal imaging video on a DVD, plus a 20 to 30 minute advice session on the measures required to draught proof the home. The surveyor also leaves behind connected to the householder's electricity an energy monitoring device for a month. The device comes with full instructions as to use and how the householder can reduce their energy usage. At the end of the month, the Suscred "hotspotter" retrieves the energy meter and downloads the data for the householder which gives them full details of their energy use . The householder also gets labels for all switches to remind them to turn off lights and appliances and two hippos to go in their toilets. The Suscred "hotspotter" sends the meter back to Energy Tracers.  This survey can only be done from November through March. It involves the use of a fan to draw cold air into the home. The role of the Suscred "hotspotter" on the day is to navigate the surveyor from home to home, and assist the surveyor in setting up the fan blower system.

The cost is £80 per house with the Suscred "hotspotter" getting their property done for free (Or £60 each if the "Hotspotter" is willing to pay instead of having a free service). The potential savings in energy efficiency are far more than £80 for most properties according to Energy Savers. The advice given is practical in nature and usually achievable  through DIY draught proofing. Clearly though some measures would have to be carried out by contractors eg cavity wall insulation etc.

Firewood from Hedgerows Group

We have had an amazing month where we have had three work parties all with perfect working weather. We have cleared away about 50 metres of undergrowth in total and removed a great quantity of small trees which were not in the hedgeline. In the process we have produced 48 wheel barrow loads of logs and kindling which has been shared fairly between the 14 members who have attended the sessions.

Details of the work parties and some photos taken at the sessions can be seen Session 1, session 2, session 3

We are applying for a grant to enable some of us to have chainsaw training and for all the group to have hedge laying training. We are also on the look out for some woodland to coppice and other hedgerows to manage.

Warm Homes Project

We now have seven members installing under the terms of this project. One installation is already completed and others are underway. The main technologies being fitted are air source heat pumps and solar thermal panels. We will probably only be taking up about £10,000 of the almost £40,000 worth of grants available to us under the scheme. However all the initial interested parties have had energy performance assessments and renewable energy surveys performed on their properties as part of the funding.

Renewable Energy Planning Applications

We have been asked to comment on major planning applications by Mid Devon District Council Planning Department. We have made comments on two applications during February. The first was for the Erection of an Anaerobic Digestion Facility at Menchine Farm, Nomansland. We supported this application in principle but had many comments to make about the practicalities of the project including the use of crops as feedstock. The second application is for a biomass boiler at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre. Again we supported this application with some comments about the feedstock and how the ash waste would be used.

Solarsense

Just a reminder that we still have a great PV deal with Solarsense and Sustainable Crediton supporters are still joining the scheme to enjoy a 10% return on their investment through free electricity and a feed-in tariff guaranteed for 20 years.

Solarsense have been trialling two pieces of kit which may be of interest to readers who have PV panels installed. The details of an electricity storage system and an immersion heater diversion device can be found in the latest edition of Solarsense News.