news and events
Here you can find out what's going on in our world and around us. Our events calendar will give you an idea of some of the things we are doing.
Arrive and Drive @ Rockingham
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Carbon Forum are distributing Eco Vehicles Top trumps at this years Arrive 'n' Drive event. Following its success in 2006 and 2007, Arrive 'N' Drive 08 will enable fleet managers and those responsible for vehicle procurement to test drive fuel efficient vehicles around a world class race cicuit. As with all GreenFleet events, it will demonstrate both the business and environmental cases for adopting cleaner fuel and vehicle technology. Also available will be a range of information sources that encourage efficient driving techniques and green fleet management practices. Click on the logo to go to their website to book your place |
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Children's see-saw provides enough power to light a classroom
We want one for our new office...
Glaciers are shrinking at twice the rate anticipated
Submitted by kris on Mon, 17/03/2008 - 14:53.Carbon Forum Workshop at Knutton Village Farm Conference
On Friday March 14th two members of MEA's Carbon Forum team travelled north to the Knutton Village Farm Conference at Newcastle Community High School in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The purpose of the event was to raise the profile of the Knutton Village Farm project, and Carbon Forum were there to run a workshop on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies.
The workshop started with a short presentation introducing the technologies and looking at energy saving measures, before the participating delegates were divided into two groups for the workshop sessions.
One group took part in an energy saving exercise that involved them doing a quick lighting audit to see how much money they were wasting by using incandescent bulbs; many who took part were surprised by the results.
The other group went out into the school's nature garden to see a practical demonstration of renewable technologies on a very small scale - our solar hot water and wind power demonstration kits! The solar hot water kit performed very well, particularly for an overcast day in March. The kits inspired lots of interest and an enthusiastic discussion got under way before it was time to reconvene for the end of the workshop.
Carbon College Trip to CAT
A recent visit to the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) in Machynlleth has helped to inspire the team from our Carbon College programme in Newcastle under Lyme.
The team of Newcastle ‘Carbon Crushers' have been planning out energy saving projects that they will carry out in Newcastle under Lyme, with help and guidance from our staff. The trip to CAT on Saturday 8th March 2008, enabled the group to gather loads of information and to experience renewable technologies first hand.
The group watched films, ate local food at CAT's legendary restaurant and had a guided tour by Carbon Forum staff. Following this, they set out across the site to gather information for their budding project plans and to have a play with all the interactive gadgets and technologies on site. Apart from the fun of the ‘happiness go round' and the interactive renewable energy gadgets, the group were particularly inspired by CAT's "Whole House". This building includes all the rooms of an ordinary house, but with bright information boards explaining energy use in different rooms, with an interactive laptop for visitors to work out their carbon footprints and loads of information about how people can make a difference to their carbon footprints by taking action at home.
At the end of their visit, the group were able to pick up loads of detailed information for their projects from the CAT shop. Everyone enjoyed their day and found the centre very impressive. The group are now ready to put to good use what they've learnt there and throughout the Carbon College workshops. They will start putting their project ideas into practice in Newcastle later in the Spring.
Renewables Workshop @ Knutton Farm, Staffordshire
The most environmentally friendly car in the world (pt3)
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Our friends at Lightning Cars (as featured in Eco Vehicles Top Trumps) are a stage closer to getting their car on the road. The new design looks, well electric! |
| http://www.lightningcarcompany.com |
Green Drinks Gets off to a Flying Start
On Wednesday 5th March we launched Shropshire's first Green Drinks session at the Armoury pub in Shrewsbury.
As the first of its kind for a Shropshire-wide audience, the event was a brilliant success and drew quite a crowd of people from across the county. The group of over 25 people had come from all kinds of environmental organisations, ranging from wildlife conservation, to renewable energy installers, business recycling services and ethical financial advisories to name but a few.
The sessions have been started here in Shropshire to help people working in the environmental field to network and make useful contacts to help bolster the great work the county is doing for a wide range of environmental issues. During the evening, loads of great contacts were made by all who attended, business cards were passed around and fun was had by all.
Sarah Meredith of Marches Energy Agency said "It was wonderful to meet so many interesting people and to put faces to names. I'm looking forward to next month's gathering and to potentially working alongside some of the new contacts I've made".
What's more, the event looks set to become a permanent fixture on Shropshire's calendar. Those of the group wishing to be kept up to date with future sessions have signed up for a monthly email reminder. Most people signed up and parted ways at the end of the night with a cheery ‘see you next time'. Anyone else who wishes to receive this monthly reminder should contact Nancy Davies at Marches Energy Agency (nancy@mea.org.uk or 01743 246 007). Updates on the sessions including any future changes of venue will be posted on the Shropshire page of the Green Drinks website (www.greendrinks.org).
Green Drinks Shropshire is being hosted by Marches Energy Agency (MEA), with backing from SEtNEt. MEA are a locally based climate change charity and are supporting SEtNEt's aims of helping to improve environmental networking in the county.
Climate Change Cartoon Exhibition @ The Gateway Gallery, Shrewsbury
Exhibition @ The Gateway Gallery, Shrewsbury, weekdays 9am-9pm, entry free.
A WHO'S who of British cartoonists and caricaturists has contributed to a special exhibition of work on climate change.
Among the work on display:
- The Guardian's Martin Rowson depicts Arnold Schwarzenegger balancing the world on his shoulders, while the presidents of Iran and the United States - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and George Bush - strut about showing the apparent strength of nuclear power and oil;
- The take on the subject of Ian Baker - one of Britain's most popular cartoonists - is the introduction at a world environment summit of the abominable slush man;
- Chris Madden, whose work has been published by the Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph and the Guardian, shows executives of a refrigeration company celebrating higher sales because of global warming;
- And caricaturist Steve Bright introduces Albert, a nuclear scientist, whose liking for fizzy drinks has led to an unsatisfactory social life.
The exhibition is supported by Shropshire County Council and Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council.
Green Drinks @ The Armoury, Shrewsbury
Excellent work often gets done over a pint of beer or glass of wine - Tim Smitt from the Eden Project calls it ‘Wine Light'. Now Shropshire environmentalists can take part too on the first Wednesday of every month, starting in March.
Every month all around the world, people who work in the environmental field meet up for a beer at informal sessions known as ‘Green Drinks'. From next month Green Drinks sessions are coming to Shropshire. Anyone who works with or has an active interest in the environment or sustainability is invited to come along. The sessions will be held from 8pm at the Armoury Pub on Victoria Quay in Shrewsbury. This first one is on Wednesday March the 5th.
Green Drinks Shropshire is being hosted by Marches Energy Agency (MEA), with backing from SEtNEt. MEA are a locally based climate change charity and are really keen to support SEtNEt's aims of helping to improve networking in the county. Nancy Davies of MEA said "Shropshire is a real hotbed for environmental organisations or people with a strong interest in environmental issues."
"Setting up a Green Drinks scheme here should be a really positive move for the county. Apart from being a good night out, the sessions should be great networking events for green businesses. They'll also be a great way for people to find out about all the brilliant work that's going on here in Shropshire to deal with a huge range of environmental issues".
The Green Drinks sessions run every first Wednesday of the month from 8pm at the Armoury Pub on Victoria Quay in Shrewsbury. The sessions are open to people of all ages. Simply come along on the day and look out for the Shropshire Green Drinks sign on one of the tables.
For more information, please visit the Shropshire page on the Green Drinks website: www.greendrinks.org
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