Contents:
Cambridge Carbon Footprint News and Upcoming Events
Politics and Campaigning: The third runway and plans for tidal power /By Tom Bragg/
Ask Andy: Bus or train from Ely? /By Andy Brown/
Gardening Guidance: February tips. /By Keith Jordan /
Martin’s Memo (DIY tips): Double Glazing /By Martin Roach/
CAMBRIDGE CARBON FOOTPRINT NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS
1. George Marshall to speak at Cambridge Carbon Footprint AGM
The founder of COIN and author of Carbon Detox will be speaking at our AGM at 7:30pm, 25 March at Michaelhouse in the city centre. George Marshall will also be running a workshop the following day at the Judge Business School. These events are open to all, but tickets will go fast, so book now! Contact Karin (Karin@cambridgecarbonfootprint.org) for more details.
2. Cambridge Carbon Footprint becomes a charity.
Over the last few months, we have gone through the legal requirements and registered CCF as a charity. This will help us in our fundraising. Charitable status means we can now claim =91gift aid=92 tax relief on donations from tax payers. If you would like to make a donation, contact Andy Brown (andy@goldfin.co.uk), and he will sort out the “gift aid” to make your gift even more valuable.
3. Cambridge Carbon Footprint Library now lending!
A wealth of resources are now available to those who have completed a carbon footprint course. Borrow an energy meter and read some of the best books out there on climate change, carbon reduction, food and travel choices, and more. The books are located in the office on Gwydir Street and the list of materials to borrow will be up on the website shortly.
4. Grow Your Own Session Tonight
(Tuesday 3 February, 7:30-9:30pm) Ross Street Community Centre
Come get inspired for the start of the growing year. Keith Jordan will help us plan ahead and let us know what we can be doing in these late winter months. There will be time for questions and discussion as well. Please contact Karin (karin@cambridgecarbonfootprint.org) if you plan to attend.
5. Climate Change and Music:
Thursday 5 February, 7:30-9:30pm
Cambridge Music Therapy Clinic, Anglia Ruskin University by the main vehicle entrance on Broad St.
Experience the power of music to explore our hopes and fears about climate change. Music therapist Helen Odell-Miller will help us access thoughts and feelings that might be difficult to put into words, using a variety of instruments, voice, and listening. No need to be a musician, and no special skills are required. A powerful evening of music not to be missed! Please contact Karin (karin@cambridgecarbonfootprint.org) if you plan to attend.
6. Carbon Conversations
with Ro Randall, Tuesday 17 March 7:30-9pm
Friends Meeting House, Jesus Lane, Cambridge
Mark your calendars now for another great training workshop led by Ro Randall. Learn how to talk about climate change at work and home, with family, friends, and neighbours. Help people connect with the issue, deal with objections, doubts, and difficult questions, and make carbon reduction relevant, achievable and enjoyable. Please contact Karin to book.
7. Seasonal Meal:
Sunday 22 March 6:30-9:30pm, Ross Street Community Centre
Don’t forget to leave this Sunday evening free in March for a lively gathering of good friends, spirited conversation, and excellent food! A chance to go gourmet with your home-grown veg and enjoy others’ seasonal, local and organic creations. Bring food and drink to share, along with musical instruments, stories, or anything else to add to the celebration. If you’d like to help with the planning, contact Mary Geddes at m.geddes40@ntlworld.com.
LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS
1. Transition Cambridge Food Group is running a Grow Your Own Vegetables course starting on March 2nd 2009 in Jesus Lane and in Trumpington. You don’t need a garden or allotment to take part! We will grow and harvest six types of vegetables together, guided by experienced local growers. Cost £20 or £7.50 for 8 sessions. Booking is essential as places are limited. For more details www.transitioncambridge.org/gyo http://www.transitioncambridge.org/gyo. Contact gyo@allotments.net <mailto:gyo@allotments.net> or ring Kim Warren on 01223 56 38 56.
2. A brilliant conference on The Psychological and Political Challenge of Facing Climate Change will be held on 7 March, 2009 at the University of Western England. Our very own Ro Randall will be giving a workshop at the conference. For more information, please visit http://www.uwe.ac.uk/hlss/research/cpss/events/2008/climate_change.pdf
POLITICS AND CAMPAIGNING
by Tom Bragg
As feared, Heathrow’s 3rd runway has been approved. High-speed rail links & restrictions on the dirtiest planes were also announced, but don’t begin to undo the climate damage of the extra flying. Brown seems to be in hoc to the aviation business, whereas, in reversal of traditional roles, the Tories would scrap it, without compensating contractors; the Lib Dems oppose it too.
Greenpeace have bought a field on the proposed runway, with numerous “beneficial owners”. You can become one here
Five options for tidal power in the Severn estuary were announced by Ed Miliband. A barrage could generate 5% of all UK electricity, but may severely damage eco-systems & bird-life. Tidal lagoons would provide less power, probably with less damage. _www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/the-great-divide-green-di=
lemma-over-plans-for-severn-barrage-1516790.html_
We must urgently make good use of UK’s abundant renewable resources, but choosing the right wind, tidal, biomass & wave schemes needs hard choices. Which do you support?
ASK ANDY
/by Andy Brown/
Should I get the bus or the train from Ely to College in Cambridge?
“Stage” buses, which pick people up at bus stops and wind through the villages, have relatively poor performance. They use 170 grammes CO2 per passenger mile, so the fifteen mile journey would result in 2.6 kg CO2. This is due to the frequent stopping and starting and low occupancy rates. Trains are almost twice as efficient at 90 grammes CO2 per passenger mile. The sixteen miles from Ely to Cambridge station would cause 1.6 kg CO2 emissions.
However the train does not go to the Cambridge Regional College, so there is another 4 mile bus ride, but the whole trip still has a lower carbon cost than the direct bus.
The third alternative is to drive! If you share a small (or very efficient) car with three other friends, colleagues or students, your share of the emissions may be as low as one kilogram per trip. Ask around, put up a notice or check out www.liftshare.org.uk <http://www.liftshare.org.uk>.
On longer journeys buses and coaches are more efficient, so a car will not be a low carbon option.
All this info is in the Footprint Group course book, but you can also plan journeys and check the CO2 emissions at http://www.transportdirect.info
In the summer, you can check out www.sustrans.org <http://www.sustrans.org> for a quiet cycle route.
Gardening Guidance
February tips* /By Keith Jordan/
The early signs of spring are already noticeable in February and you may find some weeds already growing (e.g. speedwells, dandelions), but it is too early to sow most vegetable seeds outside. Hardy pea and broad bean varieties and parsnips can be sown in sheltered, well drained soil and garlic and shallots can be planted (they need a cold period for the roots to grow). If large clods of soil are sticking to your wellies then keep off, until dry easterly winds dry the soil surface again. When conditions are OK, there’s no time to lose – complete any soil preparation before the main sowing season starts in March.
Indoors, some seedlings can be raised for planting out later in March (e.g. cabbages, lettuces, ). Make sure you buy PEAT-FREE seed or potting compost – industrial peat extraction destroys fragile peatland habitats and vast amounts of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere as the carbon in the peat later oxidises. Read what it says on the packets, and don’t sow too thickly or over-water. As soon as germination takes place put the seedlings in good light or they will grow too long and lanky. As the little plants get larger, pot onto larger containers. To prevent them from getting a cold shock, gradually acclimatize to lower temperatures (called ‘hardening off’) before you plant them outside. First move to a cold greenhouse or cold frame (make a homemade one from scrap wood and an old window frame) then increase the amount of ventilation gradually.
Don’t think about sowing most ‘half-hardy’ vegetables yet like courgettes, squashes, outdoor tomatoes, sweetcorn.
MARTIN’S MEMO: Glazing Over
/by Martin Roach/
With the cold winter we’ve been having you have probably sat near to a window and wondered where all the cold was suddenly coming from. The expense of double-glazing often puts us off making improvements but there are cheaper ways of stopping heat loss from windows.
A temporary solution is to install “cling film” type secondary glazing. This is more fragile but should last at least the winter, if care is taken not to puncture or tear by curtains etc. This need cost only £5-10 depending on the size of the window. Look for brands such as Stormguard or 3M in hardware stores, although others may be available. Both sash and casement windows can be improved in this way.
Before you do either be sure to draught proof the current windows with plastic or foam stripping (see last bulletin). This will make the secondary glazing far more effective.
Installing “Cling Film” Secondary Glazing
1. You need to be sure that there is a frame all around the window giving you a surface parallel to the window to which you can attach the film. This should be at least 1/4 inch wide. Fill any gaps around the frame with caulk. Then clean the surface of the frames with white spirit to ensure it is grease free. Now is your last chance to wash the inside of your glass window.
2. Apply the double-sided adhesive tape from the pack to all around the cleaned frame ensuring there are no gaps. Lift the corner of the covering plastic or paper to reveal the second side of adhesive and peal this covering off from all around the frame.
3. Cut the “cling film” glazing to over-size with about 100mm or 4 inches excess all around the frame. I find it best to now do one vertical half of the window by attaching one half of the sheet at a time. Fold the film in half vertically and, lining up the fold on the vertical centre line of the window, attach about 2-3 inches of the inside top of the folded sheet to the tape at the top of the frame. Line up the fold with the vertical and then, pulling the film reasonably tight, stick the inside lower film to the bottom tape on the same side of the vertical.
4. Now stretch out the rest of the film on that side of the window and stick it to the tape keeping it reasonable taut. The adhesive tape it fairly forgiving so the film can be pulled away if it has not been pressed down too tightly.
5. Once you have attached one side of the film then fold out the other side and repeat the process. Do not worry if the film is not absolutely taut and flat. Once you have a reasonably flat surface of film with just some ripples then firmly push the film onto the tape around the frame to give a tight seal and ensure it is firmly attached.
6. Take a hair dryer on its highest setting and holding it about 1/4 inch (5mm) – check instructions on the pack as the hotness and distance may vary – run the dryer over the surface of the film so that it shrinks to give a smooth surface and tight fit.
7. Finally, once you are satisfied with the fit, use a “Stanley”-type knife with a new blade to trim off the excess film around the frame. Be careful not to tear the film and spoil your work at the last stage. And that’s it – One warmer window!
