Powerful message at climate group’s energy fair
Presentations and workshops gave tips on cutting impact on environment
AN energy fair held in Leek proved highly popular at the weekend.
Moorlands Climate Action held the first ever Energy Fair in the district. The event attracted more than 130 members of the public and a substantial number of the elected members of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.
“With last week’s rise in bills and the imminent announcement of a new government energy policy, how we heat our homes and power our transport is now top of the national agenda,” said Moorlands Climate Action’s Nigel Williams. “We brought this national discussion back into the Moorlands.”
Rob Broadbent, finance director at Leek United Building Society and chair of its environmental working group, added: “The Energy Fair was a fantastic success and brought together experts, businesses, councils, and community groups from the local area and beyond.”
The society, which is taking a range of proactive steps to reduce its environmental impact, provided support for the day. That backing enabled a range of presentations and workshops on topics including community energy production, home insulation and retrofit and domestic and personal energy production.
Opening the event, Councillor James Aberley highlighted the spirit of crossparty co-operation represented by the SMDC climate change group he chaired.
He said: “Hopefully, we will see this new relationship and culture of genuinely working together for the betterment of everyone in the Staffordshire Moorlands really come together. We will be able to have open, honest and professional conversations with each other as colleagues and friends on this journey to net zero by 2030.” Councillors, members of the public and presenters from Derbyshire, Cheshire, South Yorkshire, Birmingham and London spent much of the day in conversations on how to move the decarbonisation agenda forward in practical ways.
“We made a lot of good connections here,” said Councillor Tony Holmes, highlighting the range of expertise available on solar PV installation as just one example. Councillor Charlotte Atkins described the event as “a very productive day.” “Energy use can seem a complex and daunting subject,” said Mark Johnson at MCA. “But we aimed to show that with the right amount of information and engagement, businesses, community organisations, residents and the council can move forward.
“We have to. If you don’t get energy right you don’t get anything right, including the things we hold so dear in the Moorlands, such as our wonderful natural environment.”
In addition to supporting the event, Leek United Building Society are taking proactive steps to reduce the environmental impact of its operations, including an environmental audit, and are committed to becoming carbon neutral.
Rob Broadbent added: “A key component of the Leek’s purpose is our unflinching commitment to being socially responsible and making a positive difference to the local community.
“That includes making every possible change to support a greener way of working and launching products that will support customers in improving the energy efficiency of their own homes.”
If you don’t get energy right you don’t get anything right, including the things we hold dear...
Mark Johnson