Help people save energy and money

Suddenly we are all aware of the critical place of energy in every aspect of our lives.

The raising of the price cap last week affects us all, with many in our communities facing frightening hardship.

Government (central and local) has to act to help us meet this challenge.

But it’s a challenge we all need to tackle. The launch last weekend of Cookhams Footprint has already demonstrated that local communities can and will take action, with some 200 local residents signing up to our Facebook page in the first two days.

Our objectives go beyond the immediate crisis to address the broader climate challenge but Cookhams Footprint’s immediate focus is energy.

It’s clear that there is a general desire to act but a mixture of confusion, lack of knowledge (for example, of the grants available) and, yes, inertia stopping many people from taking the actions they know are needed.

Ground up community action, drawing on the experience and expertise of neighbours and trusted suppliers, is key to this.

We are calling on residents and community groups to get involved, whether that’s providing professional expertise and experience, offering their stories of installing energy-saving measures, generating their own solar or other energy or, as important, helping to get the message across our entire community.

We have created teams to look at each of these, including the longer term potential for community-scale generation schemes, and we are pointing residents to the many simple steps we can take now to reduce our energy consumption.

Working with borough-wide initiatives and with Government support our ultimate goal is to make Cookham self-sufficient in energy.

That’s ambitious but it’s increasingly clear that it’s a goal worth pursuing.

We urge Cookhamites to show their interest by signing up to the Facebook page for Cookhams Footprint and offer their skills and enthusiasm by email to cookhamsfootprint@gmail.com.

RICHARD CAMPIN, SARAH LLOYD PARRY, PAUL STRZELECKI, SUE

TEASDALE on behalf of the founders of Cookhams

Footprint