Our first Transitions Street’s meeting took time to organise but so exceeded my expectations. What did I expect? Good question.

As per my earlier post, our street’s WhatsApp group’s been a lifeline, especially since the whole lockdown madness. Remember those days? We were all running around, dropping off groceries, posting letters for each other, just… being a proper community. Five years on, and it’s still going strong. It’s the place for everything! “Anyone got a spare drill?” “Hey, I’m decluttering, anyone want this amazing casserole dish?”  

As a group of interested neighbours, that’s neighbours interested in living a more sustainable life, we were already taking positive steps but also thinking, “What’s next?” We’re all kind of on the same page about wanting to live a bit greener, a bit more sustainably but how to go beyond just borrowing tools and start really making a difference???

So, finally, we got everyone together. And honestly? It was magic. I was a bit nervous, I’ll admit. Would people actually turn up? Would we just sit there awkwardly? But no! It was a meeting with a purpose. We started diving into the first part of the Transition Streets program, which is all about energy.

Energy and Heating

Hot topic! (pardon the pun!) And a good one to start with.  So, we delved into practical solutions for reducing energy consumption and transitioning to sustainable sources. And, honestly, I learned so much! Simple things! Little tweaks we can all make that will actually add up. And the best part was, it was just… practical. Like, “Hey, did you know you can do this?” And everyone was sharing tips and ideas.

Discussions explored the feasibility of solar panel installations, heat pumps and strategies for improving home insulation. We tackled the challenge of keeping our home office workspaces warm without turning our homes into saunas. Infrared panels? A revelation! Imagine, targeted warmth, like a bespoke cashmere throw for your workspace. Genius! And because we’re all about smart living, we explored the wonders of automatic plug systems like HIVE. Remote control for your heating and lighting? Yes, please! It’s like having a magic wand to create the perfect ambiance, all while saving energy

The neighbour hosting the energy session, a young couple with a 7 year old boy, were in the planning stages of an extension to their house.  Part of that was to consider the feasibility of both solar panels or a ground heat pump.  Having had quotes for both, meant we could have an informative discussion about the pros and cons and of course the costs of implementation. We don’t have too many solar panels installed on houses in our road so there is certainly scope for that, if the investment is possible – with many of the properties having extensions and alterations, that tends to be the time to consider installation.

Here’s some of our discussions and actions.

Infrared Panels – that ‘Sunshine’ feeling.

Imagine, instead of heating the air, these panels radiate warmth directly onto you and the objects in the room, like sunshine. It’s super efficient because you’re not wasting energy heating up all that air that just escapes when you open a window. Plus, they’re slim and look really sleek, so they don’t take up much space. I’ve heard they’re great for people with allergies too, as they don’t circulate dust like traditional radiators. And the best part? You feel warm almost instantly, it’s a really comfortable, gentle heat – really like you are bathing in sunshine! One of our group subsequently bought one for her home office and was really pleased with the results – especially the reduced energy bill.

Draught Proofing

Sarah, from Grand Union Community Energy (see below for more info on their role) – responsible for running the Transitions street programme in our local area – joined us for this session and brought lots of samples of things like radiator reflectors, information on insulating windows and, very importantly, draught proofing, leaving us with samples to take away and try. It’s a topic close to Mr SueQ’sWorld’s heart. Imagine your hard-earned money and precious energy resources simply vanishing into thin air. That’s precisely what happens with draughts. They’re not just a minor annoyance; they’re silent thieves, stealing warmth and draining your wallet while harming the planet. Thankfully, reclaiming that lost energy is surprisingly easy and affordable. Simple solutions like self-adhesive rubber strips for doors and windows can create an impenetrable barrier against chilly gusts. And for a clever boost to your heating system, reflective radiator foil redirects warmth back into your room, maximising every ounce of energy and turning those cold walls into cozy heat sources.

Choose Your Energy Provider Wisely

Another easy action coming out of our session was to ensure your energy provider is providing as much from renewable energy sources as is possible in the UK, so consider companies like Good Energy or Octopus Energy.

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Heard of a Thermal Imaging camera? Grand Union Community Energy have a camera and thermal imaging of our houses was on offer for all of the participants as part of the programme. We had to wait until the outside temperature was low enough so there was at least 10 degrees between that and what we were heating our houses to, which is generally 19 or 20 degrees C. The results were incredibly helpful for each of us….

What Does a Thermal Imaging Camera Do For You?

So picture this, you’re wrapped up in your warmest jumper, cuppa in hand, but still feeling a sneaky draught? Honestly, thermal images of your house can be a game-changer! It’s like suddenly seeing all the hidden secrets of your house. That icy patch near the window? Massive air leak! And the ceiling above the spare room? Seriously dodgy insulation. You’d be amazed how much heat you’re losing through sneaky gaps and poorly insulated spots. It’s not just about being cosy, either. Think about the pennies you’ll save on heating bills and reduction in your carbon footprint if you can rectify these easy to fix issues.

Here are the thermal images taken for my house:

And here’s the report we had back from the analysis by Grand Union Community Energy for our house:

  • The cavity wall insulation is doing its job! Most of the walls looked consistent and cold which is great. 
  • There was a slight heat signal in between the two units on the side wall – are they a/c units? The flue shows hot beneath it so it might be some residual from that but if there is a radiator on the inside of that wall it might be emitting a little bit through the walls. 
  • All the windows looked good. No seals looked like they were leaking heat which is great. The focus would be on empowering residents to take tangible steps towards a lower-carbon lifestyle, ultimately fostering a more resilient and environmentally conscious neighborhood.

On the second point, there’s an air conditioning unit and the flue from the boiler, so all is as expected. Well that was a relief for us. We had cavity wall insulation put in some years ago, as our 1970’s built house wasn’t finished well from a draught perspective. That, along with a number of building changes giving us the opportunity to add extra insulation to walls and floors. For some of the group, it flagged houses that lacked of cavity wall insulation, some window seals leaking and not enough lagging in the roof. All fixable!

So, this sharing of different ideas and solutions was no doubt one of the most valuable parts of meeting in this way. Everyone’s got those little niggles about waste, about energy bills, about wanting to do something, but not really knowing where to start. And that’s the beauty of it, isn’t it? We’re all in it together.

We gained a lot already with sessions on resources, travel, water and food still to come!

About Grand Union Community Energy (GUCE)

GUCE is a community benefit society based in SW Hertfordshire. Their goal is to build resilience of their local communities through support for renewable energy and providing services to residents to cut their energy usage and household bills. Established in 2013, GUCE raised £80,000 to install and manage a 50kw solar system on the roof of the Rudolf Steiner school in Kings Langley. In addition to this their team, led by a volunteer Board, has worked on feasibility studies looking at large scale heating networks, solar canopies on car parks and on a more individual basis, they have provided energy saving sessions and 1-on-1 advice for residents.