Shining light on power of future

MANY of us are worried about the way energy is produced, stored and used in the UK. But how much do we really know about solar technologies?

Transition Cleeve is one of a network of ‘Transition Town’ initiatives across the UK and worldwide, working towards making a positive change to the future resilience of our local communities in the face of climate change and dwindling resources.

On Friday, October 5, it teamed up with Hope for the Future, a Uk-based charity which specialises in training citizens to work with MPS on climate change, and hosted a panel discussion and public forum to explore these issues.

Stoke Orchard Community Centre was selected as the venue – a new community hall with 198 solar panels and a low-carbon heat exchange system.

If you are excited about the use of electric vehicles, or have already acquired one, have you ever thought about the energy stored in their batteries even when not in use?

How might this be made available at times of peak usage?

Dr John Henry Looney, of consultancy Sustainable Direction, uses research into this and related areas to advise businesses in making smart decisions about reducing their carbon footprint.

Dr Peter Boait is at the forefront of research into energy and sustainable development.

He suggested that communities might form cooperatives such as theone under discussion for residents of Barton St in Gloucester, where neighbours could buy and sellsurplus energy to each other. Alex Chalk, MP for Cheltenham, spoke about the need for government to take the lead on carbon capture and storage.

Alex sees climate change as one of the biggest threats to our future and one that the UK government needs to take at least as seriously as terrorism and antibiotic resistance.

This month saw the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s latest report on runaway climate change.

It has never been more urgent for governments to make take action. As Debra Roberts, co-chair of IPCC Working Group II, said: “The decisions we make today are critical in ensuring a safe and sustainable world for everyone, both now and in the future.”

What can individuals do? Know your own carbon footprint and actively look for ways to reduce it. Transition Cleeve facebook.com/transitioncleeve