If you even glanced out of the window in mid-December, you may have noticed the rain…lots and lots of it. So even though SHARE are pushing full tilt to getting the hydro project monitoring, we have to recognise that the extreme downpours and Orange weather warnings all impacted what we do. But there has been plenty of progress all the same.
No, not an ornithological sighting for the twitchers; rather a working party of wellies and waders to install the weir for SHARE’s hydro feasibility study.
The story so far: thanks to everyone’s generosity, we managed to raise all the funds necessary to get construction under way. Some of this started in isolation, but now we’re enjoying the luxury of Tier One, with socially distanced teamwork cranked into overdrive.
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On our Crowdfunder page you can show your support by donating any amount over £1, to help raise this relatively small amount of money to kick-start our project. Please help now.
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… but what in the world does that mean?
A community benefit society is a legal form for organisations that wish to operate on a not for profit basis for purposes that benefit the community as a whole.
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SHARE’s Mission is: “Powering renewable energy into a secure and sustainable future for all”.
Continue readingThe Carbon Neutral Cornwall Hive is Cornwall Council’s new online resource to help us tackle climate change – sharing ideas and information about projects and activities:
Click here to visit the Hive and see how to get involved
SHARE Welcomes the recent announcement by the Government to phase out the sale of coal and wet wood for domestic burning next year.
The tiny particles produced when these fuels are burnt pollute the air and have a serious effect on human health. To reduce our emissions of CO₂ and slow down climate change we must stop burning fossil fuels. Coal is especially bad so coupled with the air pollution it causes, we really must stop using it.
Fortunately there is an easy fix to the problem of wet wood. Dry it properly ! A recently felled tree will have a moisture content anywhere from 40% up to 60%. This must be reduced to around 20% to burn without producing the particles that the health experts are so concerned about. Burning wet wood also produces tar which will condense in your chimney, could corrode the liner, could block it or it could fall back into the fire and start a chimney fire. Economically, burning wet wood doesn’t make any sense either. Basically you are using a proportion of your fuel simply to evaporate the excess moisture in it.
All of the firewood supplied by SHARE is properly seasoned and stored in the dry. All customers are advised to store it undercover and are very often helped to stack it there.
Top tips: • Use a woodburner rather than an open fire to get the most useful heat out of your wood fuel. • Have your flue swept regularly. • Ensure the door seals are undamaged and effective. • Check the vents and other controls are in good working order. • Ensure the room has a vent allowing fresh air in and a carbon monoxide alarm.
Stay warm: Phone Ali for local wood deliveries. 07305 044049
Investment Offer over-subscribed For the past few years SHARE has offered a fixed-term investment opportunity. This is our means of paying off our capital investment in the 40kW solar PV installation at Church Park, South Hill. Each time, we look to raise a certain amount of capital, spread between as many investors as possible and offer to our members first. We are already over-subscribed for this year. Thank you for your support. Church Park is performing well, in fact much better than our initial cashflow predictions, which is why we can offer 4% interest to our investors. To date the project has generated electricity equivalent to that used per year on average by 4 UK households (4,648kWh). This is a carbon saving of 7.5tonnes CO2e. As a matter of interest I have just read that the average USA household uses 11,700kWh of electricity!
Recycling for Charity suspended due to Covid-19 Please save your items and sort like items together, our volunteers can no longer sort out crisp packets from sweet and biscuit wrappers etc, we need your help. When you have a bag full, drop to Green Meadows.
Climate changing emissions down – CO2 and NOx One positive result of the current pandemic is the huge reduction in “greenhouse gas” emissions globally. Parts of China worst affected by the virus have seen up to 25% less Nitrogen Dioxide in the atmosphere, as observed by NASA on satellite images. The BBC reported that there are observable reductions in CO2 emissions in the UK due to people travelling less, and lower air pollution levels in towns and cities. Perhaps the current enforcement of home working and holding remote meetings will make people realise that not everybody needs to be out on the roads every day.
SHARE in the Community While events were still going ahead, we have been very active in the area spreading the word about SHARE and our projects to various groups from W.I , U3A, Youth Groups and attending a number of Environmental Action Group meetings held by Cornwall Council and local Towns and Parishes.
Firewood and wood chippings available Large trailer load logs £120; dumpy bag logs £60. Dumpy bag chippings £5 Contact Ali 07305 044049
Tree Planting Another 400 trees planted! Thank you to the children that helped plant trees along the verges in the parish.
Stay safe and be sensible Don’t panic buy, there is plenty to go round. Over buying of fresh food especially could lead to food waste, which we’ve all been trying to cut down on.
Ask if you need help, we’re all in this together.
