June 2010 Archives

I am surprised that drying clothes in the wind and sun does not have a higher profile as the best "value for money" for renewable energy. This is particularly true for wind power, as wind turbines are expensive, both in installation and in maintenance costs. When a child I thought that warmth was needed to dry clothes, and was surprised when my mother put clothes out on the washing line on frosty, windy days - but the wind can do all that's needed.

The Energy Savings Trust tells us that "Tumble dryers are the most energy-intensive household appliances, using almost two-thirds more energy than washing machines. Drying clothes on a washing line creates no emissions and saves about £70 a year in fuel bills." £70 may not be a huge saving, but the benefit is immediate. The larger savings, from solar panels and Photo Voltaic panels, usually only come to those people who can afford to invest several thousand pounds in the panels in the first place.

The long gap since my last blog entry is because I was on holiday - a wonderful cycling holiday in Somerset and Wiltshire, cycling along quiet roads and along restricted byways, mostly with good surfaces though some were rather overgrown and others had tricky ruts to avoid, where farmers have driven in wet weather. This all added to a real "getting away from it all" mood and, blessed with sunny weather, we were happy to push our bikes at times.

My mentioning this cycling holiday is not a red herring in a blog about drying clothes, as when you are cycle touring you try to take minimum luggage with you. Every extra pair of shorts etc is extra weight when you are cycling uphill, so it is best to take just one set of spares, and wash things overnight. You take clothes pegs and attach damp clothes to your panniers, drying them easily as you pedal, or push, your bike along country lanes and byways.

You don't have to fly overseas to have fun this summer!

I blogged on Jan 30th and Feb 10th about the planning refusal for the installation of Photo Voltaic panels on the roof of the nave of St Mary's in Moseley.

St Mary's has now submitted a planning appeal, guided by Planning Aid, and letters of support are needed to persuade the Planning Inspectorate that the grounds for the refusal, that

• the panels would "adversely affect the character and appearance of this listed building" and


• "would not preserve or enhance the character of the Moseley Conservation Area"

St Mary's was lent a PV panel by British Gas, whose Green Streets award of £30,000 contributes towards the cost of this installation. This photo shows the panel as temporarily fixed to the church roof. SusMo members didn't find anyone who had noticed the panel, and when we drew it to people's attention, no-one thought that it "adversely affected" anything.

When we told people that, if the panels were installed, the church would earn about £3,000 a year from the Feed In Tariff, their opinion was that the installation would make a significant, positive contribution to "the character of the Moseley Conservation Area" as there would be funds for the maintenance of the church.

The planning refusal for the installation of Photo Voltaic panels on Beckington School in a conservation area in Somerset was rejected on appeal. The "eventual approval was helped by the publicity that was generated when the story was taken up by the local press and television, which highlighted the problem of going green in a conservation area. This has subsequently led the planning authority to review their planning policy".

An article in the Birmingham Mail on June 10th, "Church Solar Panel Appeal", asks readers to write to letters@birminghammail.net with their comments - please read the article and join the debate.

You can read the appeal document, which was sent to the Case Officer for the appeal, here.

You can read more about the case here.

Please offer your support for the Planning Appeal for the installation of solar panels at St. Mary's Moseley by contacting the Case Officer for the appeal, Ms Jenny Howland,
quoting reference number 2129027, by July 15th,

by email to jenny.howland@pins.gsi.gov.uk, copied to teamp2@pins.gsi.gov.uk or

by post to
The Planning Inspectorate,
Temple Quay House,
2 The Square,
Temple Quay,
Bristol BS1 6PN.

It would be helpful if you would also send a copy to susmo@moseleyforum.org.uk

Thank you - I look forward to reading your messages of support.

A good way of reducing the amount of energy you use is to monitor your energy use within the home. Signing up with imeasure makes this monitoring process a whole lot easier:

• Go to www.imeasure.org.uk/
• Register your details
• Input your electricity and gas meter readings

imeasure then gives you details of your carbon footprint, as well as giving you handy hints on how to reduce your energy use.

For Moseley we have set up the Moseley Carbon Club, so that SusMo can check how many people in Moseley are monitoring their fuel consumption - but without any detail - all data on the website is anonymous.

The more people that join, the better chance SusMo has of winning a further £100k for more energy efficiency investment from the British Gas Green Streets programme. Moseley residents simply search for SusMo: Sustainable Moseley within the website to join the Club.

Do you have a local Group that might like to start a Carbon Club?

If you don't, how about starting one?

Write a comment if you find it useful, to encourage others to join.