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News

New coordinator gets Green Build Festival planning under way

By |2019-05-31T13:57:56+01:00May 31st, 2019|Cumbria Green Build Festival, News|

We welcomed a new team member in May, with Nigel Jenkins joining us to coordinate our flagship Cumbria Green Build and Sustainable Living Festival, with headline sponsor Electricity North West. Nigel brings an impressive mix of skills, combining engineering, training, event management and film making. He has first-hand experience of eco building, after renovating his old farmhouse in Eden – not to mention winning his region’s Lego competition as a youngster. In short, he’s well placed to build a fantastic festival this year! Already on the cards are courses on using lime, visits to low-energy homesteads, a straw bale [...]

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Alston residents asked for views on housing

By |2019-05-31T11:51:23+01:00May 31st, 2019|Alston Moor Greenprint, Community-led housing, News|

A survey has just gone out on Alston Moor to understand the area’s housing needs, supported by CAfS’ Greenprint programme. The survey asks residents about their homes and how well they meet their different needs, both now and into the future. It explores whether homes are fit to live in, asking about issues like damp and energy efficiency, as well as wider needs like space for food growing. The survey was created by Alston Moor’s community-led housing group, thanks to funding from Eden District Council’s community housing fund. Being bespoke to the area, the survey touches on issues that [...]

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Elections change Cumbria’s political landscape

By |2019-05-31T15:00:27+01:00May 30th, 2019|Climate politics, News|

The council elections in May have changed the local political landscape in Cumbria, and CAfS is watching with interest to see what this might mean for efforts to tackle the climate crisis. Following the elections, three of the six district-level councils in Cumbria now have no overall control by one party: Carlisle (previously Labour-led), Eden (previously Conservative-led) and Allerdale (previously Labour was the largest party). South Lakeland remains under Liberal Democrat control, while Barrow and Copeland remain Labour-led. Independents and Green Party candidates faired well. Four Green councillors were elected in Cumbria – the first at district level (two [...]

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CAfS to host youth climate question time for 20th anniversary

By |2019-07-28T15:25:29+01:00May 30th, 2019|Climate politics, News, Youth|

Children and young people from across Cumbria will have the chance to tell people in positions of power what they think about climate change, and ask them what they are doing to solve it. CAfS is holding a climate question time event in Penrith on Friday 5 July, where a panel of politicians (including MPs), an activist and a climate expert will answer questions submitted in advance by young people from across Cumbria. The questions will be put to them at the event by an interview panel of young people representing the voice of children across the county. The [...]

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Target reached for Alston school solar crowdfund

By |2019-06-12T12:30:09+01:00May 30th, 2019|Alston Moor Greenprint, Community energy, News, Renewable energy|

The solar dreams of Alston schools have come true after a crowdfunding campaign raised the money needed for a 27 kW solar PV array. The campaign was run by Alston Moor Community Energy (AMCE) and marks the group's first successful installation of renewable energy in the area. It raised its full target of £22,300, to install the maximum size of array on the roof of the Alston Primary and Samuel Kings’ schools. Kit England, one of AMCE’s directors, said: “We’re delighted to have hit our target and we’re extremely grateful to all those individuals and businesses who pledged donations [...]

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Ambleside group’s zero carbon ambitions get a boost

By |2019-06-28T13:01:25+01:00May 30th, 2019|News|

A community group in Ambleside with a goal for the town to become net zero carbon had a major boost in May after South Lakeland District Council announced a package of support. Thanks to the council’s funding, CAfS will work alongside the Ambleside Action for a Future group to help them decide on a programme of actions to reduce carbon emissions. Announcing the support at a meeting in the town on 20th May, Councillor Dyan Jones, the council’s portfolio holder for climate emergency and localism, said: "Wise and prudent spending at South Lakeland District Council means we are able [...]

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CAfS response to Environment Agency flood adaptation warning

By |2019-06-12T12:30:23+01:00May 9th, 2019|News|

The Environment Agency has called for spending of around £1 billion a year on flood adaptation, with a warning that some communities may need to move because of the risk of floods. The story has been widely reported in the media today, as the Agency launches a new consultation on its flood strategy. We agree with calls by Emma Howard Boyd, chair of the Environment Agency, for more funding for flood management and with the Agency’s assessment of the scale of adaptation that’s needed, but the UK must take urgent action to cut carbon emissions so that we can [...]

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CAfS welcomes UK climate emergency

By |2019-05-31T10:04:44+01:00May 3rd, 2019|Climate politics, News|

There have been two really important developments in tackling climate change this week. No 1: Parliament has backed a motion by the Labour Party to declare a climate emergency in the UK. It also "calls on the government to aim to achieve net-zero emissions before 2050 and for ministers to outline urgent proposals to restore the UK's natural environment and deliver a "zero waste economy" within the next six months." Read more > No 2: The UK's Committee on Climate Change (which advises the govt) has said it would be possible for the UK to cut carbon emissions to [...]

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SLDC visit gives insight into community energy

By |2019-05-01T17:06:18+01:00May 1st, 2019|Community energy, News|

Cabinet members and senior officers from South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) had an opportunity to see the possibilities of community energy at an event organised by CAfS. The group, including the leader of the council and the directors of housing and planning, visited the community energy installation at James Cropper PLC in Burneside on Tuesday 23 April. They also heard how community-owned renewables could be a game-changer for new housing developments in South Lakeland. The visit began with a presentation by Phil Davies from CAfS on how the community-owned solar PV installation at James Cropper PLC came about. Phil [...]

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CAfS staff sharing expertise on industry panels

By |2019-05-01T15:58:12+01:00May 1st, 2019|News|

Two members of the CAfS team are helping to scrutinise sustainability and inclusivity at Electricity North West and the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP). Phil Davies, our low carbon development manager, has been invited to join the new Places sub-group of the CLEP. Phil will scrutinise and advise on the sustainability and carbon impact of CLEP initiatives, along with projects it funds. Phil is also a member of the sustainability board for Electricity North West, where he’ll assess proposals to decarbonize its operations and its external engagement with consumers, to help ensure they are sustainable and inclusive. Andrew Northcott, [...]

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