So we got this lovely grant from the Local Energy Assessment Fund!  But what does that mean for us on a day to day basis?  Busy, that’s what!  Just to share what’s going on……….

Yesterday sent out an email to our e-list with a request to help out with an online survey about people’s homes.  This is to help the lovely Centre for Sustainable Energy in Bristol verify lots of in depth research they are doing for us into what kinds of low carbon measures we can take in which bits of our town.  Already had lots of people responding.  Thanks folks!  It only takes 8 minutes, and by the way, you are entered into a £100 prize draw just for taking part…..In fact, if you live in Taunton and have 8 minutes and didn’t get the email, here is the link to the survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Taunton_EnergySurvey

Met up with our sister group, the Deane Energy Savers, a team of local volunteers trained to do home energy audits in our district.  We really hoped they would work with us on this, as CSE also need us to do some door to door data verification.  In other words, turning out in the cold banging on doors and persuading people to stand on the doorstep while we ask them questions about thermostats and double glazing…………(although there is another persuasive £100 prize draw on offer here too).  And the Energy Saver lot, they said yes!  Thanks chaps!  So watch out, surveyors with questionnaires may be in your area in the next couple of weeks.  Be nice to them.  They will be cold…….

Really fun thing is that we have some money to commission some artists to play with our soon-to-arrive thermal imaging camera and make “something” that is about people’s relationship with energy.  We are working with The Brewhouse to manage this one (thanks Tim!) and have got four proposals to choose from.  Tricky choice!!!!!  We will make our minds up this week and let you know so you can look out for – well, for whatever emerges.

We have also got Cara Naden working for us on a freelance basis, to help find willing participants for a planned Green Doors scheme, so that people who have done cool stuff (at home, at work, in a community building) that is all about low carbon living and who are willing to show it off to other people, can.  The Green Doors open day is likely to be in May or June, but we are meeting up with Cara later this week to sort things out, so she will be in action very soon.  Watch this space on how to get involved.

We have also gone ahead and booked The Genesis Centre on Saturday 24 March for an Open Space Event, open to anyone who wants to help join up the dots of what we are succeeding in doing to live our low carbon lives in Taunton Deane – and to see what we might feel excited about doing next.  Watch this – and many other – spaces for news on that.  But put the date in your diaries now!

What else?  Oh, my own new solar panels did quite well yesterday!  Nice and sunny…………..  Will keep you all posted on the goings on Inside LEAF.  And if you want to get involved, just shout!