More than 50 people attended the first Sibford Environmental Forum at the Village Hall on 14 January. The organisers explained …
More than 50 people attended the first Sibford Environmental Forum at the Village Hall on 14 January. The organisers explained that the Forum was an initiative to bring together people with experience and interest in energy efficiency through renewable technologies in the home, and to develop expertise and practical projects of use to others and the community as a whole.
Tim Lunel and Dan Farmiloe from Hook Norton Low Carbon described their fifteen years’ experience of developing an electric car and bike club, low energy housing and work spaces, and generously offered advice and support to similar initiatives here. They highlighted a new Club, Energy Local North Oxfordshire, which will generate solar energy from behind Sibford School and make it available to subscribers at low rates during periods of generation. This will go live for consumers from 1 March and will eventually permit other small/medium solar installations in the Epwell/Hook Norton area to become suppliers.
A lively discussion showed there is already quite widespread adoption of renewables in the Sibfords, and interest in sharing knowledge particularly on vehicles, solar panels and batteries. Home insulation and heat pumps were also discussed.
This is an open initiative, and we are keen to hear from anyone interested in future meetings or willing to share their knowledge and develop it further. Based on the support expressed, we will begin a feasibility study for introducing our own electric car club and create a knowledge base on solar and battery installations.
Please be in touch with us at tom