All the way to Glasgow…………
November 2021 will be monumental. To round it all off, we have the Solar and Storage live, annual geekfest 23rd, 24th and 25th, so that’s something to look forward to. Even more so, as this year, there’s a possibility that we get to take our Solar Nation message to the very best of people, those on the front line in all weathers, installing the tech that is helping the Nation in its transition to a cleaner, greener future. Early stage talks, but looking at a stage sessions talking about how the industry has flourished and how we market ourselves to a wider audience.
But more importantly, from the 1st through till the 12th November, we have the Worlds leaders coming to Glasgow for the 26th Council of the Parties where the World will unite and reach agreement to take the goals of the Paris Agreement forward, with a few amendments. I’ve got one or two ideas myself I’d like to throw into the mix so plenty to keep us busy until we’re allowed out again that is.
Those of you who have followed us for some time, and all those who actually know us, will be aware that we are no more than a small family business. With a twitter account. And a Why?
Our why? is a simple. It is to help the world reduce it’s addiction to fossil fuels. Stop melting the ice and help save the Penguins.
It really is that simple. There’s too many benefits to list here, but trust me, the world as I see it is quite simple. We stop using fossil fuels, we end the Oil wars, we end the dirtiest of politics, we clean up the air that we breath and yes, we actually do take control of our own energy. It’s a better future.
Only 4 years ago, the UK had it’s first coal free hour on the National Grid energy mix. Last year, weeks and weeks on end. Who knows what this year will bring. Coal, Oil, and gas all have to go. They’re all on notice and whilst the transition may not be as swift as some would like, the momentum is on our side and the mood swing has the wind behind it, the sun on it’s back and it’s riding an unstoppable tide.
The climate argument has finally been won, the climate war is an altogether different matter.
But now that the World is finally United on this one matter and the masses finally start to realise what we have all done, we have to actually tackle the problem and move the Planet forward. And it doesn’t matter how many panels me and my mates around the Country put up if we’re all opening windows to regulate heat in the house rather than turning the bloody thermostat down a notch!
No, it’s a combined effort. In communities thousands of miles away, oceans and rivers are no longer fit for habitation as they are choked with plastic. Our plastic.
We need to stop buying crap. Plastic in itself is not crap. The way we use it is. Plastic should be one of things that has been used in a way that is useful, for many years to come, not to wrap another bit of plastic in that you’re going throw away as soon as you open it!
To much waste and we have to learn how to manage, handle and reduce it.
Heating our homes accounts for so much wasted energy and subsequently wasted money. You wouldn’t stand outside emptying your wallet down a drain would you? That’s what we’re doing when we walk past the appliance that’s on, but not in use. That’s what those little orange, blue, green and red standby lights are doing. Emptying your money down the drain.
Switching ‘stuff’ off could save you 1p an hour. Hardly time to crack open a bottle just yet though. A penny an hour is only 24p a day. But that is £87.60p a year. Imagine if every household, 30,000,000 of us all saved that just by switching ‘stuff’ off.
I’ve even saved you time working it out. It’s £2,628,000,000
Yes the energy companies would loose a bit of money, but YOU would be saving money and putting it back into the economy another way.
Go and put £87.60p a yr into the hands of a small local business and watch the effect it has on the community. Energy saving actually has many positives for a community.
Long time ago, when still plodding the streets of South East London, there was a beat on the Croydon / Lambeth border that had an issue with a small gang making a bit of a nuisance of themselves. Rumoured that a bit of dealing was happening, a few cars had been broken into, one or two residents had reported a feeling of unease, so we arranged for a street meet.
8PM, straight after Corrie, 20 neighbours all came out at the same time and just stood there, saying hi and giving each other cheery waves.
The 8 or 9 youths were themselves intimidated by the sheer presence and timing. Remember, this was in the days before street WhatsApp groups, twitter and Facebook. The street was empty within 20 minutes, they never returned. There was no confrontations, just a united showing of strength. Two of the neighbours ended up running a neighbourhood watch and set up a car share for the street. It turned out that several of the ‘street meeters’ left for work at the same time, worked within a few minutes walk of each other and started sharing car journeys. I got a letter from them asking to close the street for a few hours one Sunday for a street gathering. Family Olympics, BBQ, that sort of stuff. All because a few people got together to tackle a problem
And that’s the ONLY way we will win the Climate War. And it starts at home. Me and my mates will crack on, up on the roofs, and we want you to play your part as well. All of us have a role to play and whilst switching stuff off and learning how to insulate a radiator may not be the sexiest of subjects, it’s actually the whole foundation of how we tackle the climate issue.
Three years ago, we held our ten year anniversary ‘talk’ The Green Britain Centre in Swaffham. 35 people drove on average 40 miles each to attend. Yes it’s a nice venue and it’s always great to meet and chat face to face and in person, but the event was, if we’re totally honest with ourselves, energy intensive. 1,400 miles of fuel, time, wear and tear, pollution and congestion caused, to hear me bang on about why we should go green and offer up some solutions.
Madness, but that’s how we did things back then.
Today, however, in a near post pandemic world, every thing has changed. And in environmental terms this can only be a good thing.
Take next week for example. A local environmental group, Klimate Concern, are running a series of events and asked myself and a few others to put a few slides together and offer up some advice for householders on all aspects of energy. Be it savings, and carbon reductions, insulation tips, advice on new tech and grants, what it’s like to live with the new tech. All this will be answered, but instead of everyone driving 40 miles each, we can all sit in the comfort of our own front rooms and get together via video link.
About 40 people have registered so far. Just think, of the miles of fuel saved just by staying at home and attending the event online.
The environmental benefits of this new way of working are immense. We need to embrace these changes that have been thrust upon us and use them to the very best of our ability to create the change we want to see in the World.
Our events next week are intended to show householders that there is another way. If we can get a whole Town and a few villages, all focussed on this one issue, the local benefits will be like none we have seen before.
Our personal wellbeing and that of our communities and the environments they sit in is precious. Together, we can make a bigger difference and create a better future.
The World is telling us to Build Back Better, and we all know we have to.
This is how we’re going to help the Global call to arms. To join us just send an email to jethrope14@btinternet.com and say MONDAY 8TH FEB, for householders who use gas as the main heating source. And THURSDAY 11th FEB for those on Oil and otherwise off of the gas grid for heating.
If nothing else, you’ll be entertained, pick up a tip or two, learn something new and get to see what your neighbours zoom rooms are looking like.
Bring your own hobnobs.
Kevin