Graphic: Energise Sussex Coast
Free community energy workshops this September
Energise Sussex Coast (ESC) is holding two free community workshops on heat pumps and off-grid solar in Hastings & St Leonards this September. ESC’s Gabriel Carlyle explains more.
Local community benefit co-operative Energise Sussex Coast (ESC) is holding two free community energy workshops in Hastings & St Leonards this September, involving two of the key technologies needed for tackling the climate crisis: heat pumps and solar power.
‘Everything you need to know about heat pumps’ will take place from 6–8pm, Thursday 12 September at Central Hall in Hastings (6 Bank Buildings, Station Road, TN34 1NG) near Priory Meadow shopping centre.
Who is this event for?
This event is aimed at people who would like to know more about heat pumps and whether they are right for their home.
In addition to explaining the basics and debunking some of the myths about heat pumps, it will also be an opportunity to hear from a local resident who has installed one, learn some useful tips about how to lower their running costs and find out what funding is currently available for households who would like to have one installed.
Participants are encouraged to book online at heatpump.eventbrite.co.uk or to text their name to the landline number 01424 390 062.
Tea, coffee and snacks will be provided.
Off-grid solar
A second event on ‘Sizing your off-grid solar system’ will be taking place 6–8pm, Thursday 5 September at the Clifton Centre in St Leonards (1–2 Stainsby Street, TN37 6LA).
Aimed at those interested in building an off-grid solar system (see below) this session will explain how to calculate the solar panel, battery, and inverter capacities needed to power the items that will be connected to the system .
Minimal maths competence required. Love of tea a bonus! Participants can book online at tinyurl.com/offgridsolar5sept.
What is off-grid?
An off-grid solar system is a solar panel system that generates electricity, stores that power in solar batteries, and runs independently from the power grid, for example camper vans, sheds, converted trucks.
In particular, you can’t live off grid in your house (yet!).
Arran running an earlier off-grid workshop at the Common Room, Hastings. Photo: Energise Sussex Coast
The 5 September will be facilitated by ESC’s Green Handyman Arran Allison, who lives off-grid himself and has over twenty years of experience building off-grid solar systems, including power stages at festivals. He is self taught and wants to share the knowledge and skills that he’s learnt along the way.
This is the second of two workshops facilitated by Arran. The first workshop is an introduction to off grid solar systems, explaining how they work and the various components you need. ESC will have more of these workshops coming in soon. But if you’ve already decided to build an off grid system you can still attend this second workshop without having been to the first workshop.
Heat pumps: an amazing technology
Let’s be honest. Heat pumps sound dull but they’re actually an amazing technology.
Instead of turning electrical energy into heat (like a conventional electrically-powered space heater) they use electrical energy to gather heat and move it around. This means that they can reach efficiencies of 300% or 400%. In other words, they can put out 3 or 4 times as much heat as they use in electricity!
By contrast your electric space heater can never be more than 100% efficient. No wonder the MIT Technology review describe them as ‘almost seem[ing] to break the laws of physics’.
Debunking myths
Heat pumps are a key tool for cutting greenhouse gas emissions and avoiding dangerous climate change.
Indeed, according to the International Energy Agency heat pumps – which use electricity rather than gas to heat your home – they are the “central technology in the global transition to secure and sustainable heating”.
In Sweden, Norway and Finland heat pumps are actually the dominant heating technology. But in the UK and elsewhere they have become a major target of the fossil fuel industry (which has a competing product to sell) and its allies and ‘the subject of hostile and misleading reporting across many mainstream media outlets’ (Carbon Brief).
This has no doubt contributed to the ongoing low uptake of heat pumps in the UK.
According to the UK’s Climate Change Committee, heat pump installations will need to increase ten-fold if the current government is going to reach its predecessor’s target of 600,000 heat pumps being installed in homes every year by 2028.
Join us at Central Hall in Hastings on 12 September for a friendly, impartial and informative evening where you can find out more!
Founded in 2012, local community benefit cooperative Energise Sussex Coast works to tackle the climate crisis and energy injustice through community-owned renewable power and energy-saving schemes. It runs a free Energy Advice service to help local residents bring down the cost of their electricity, gas and water bills: 01424 390 062. Its sister coop, Energise South, has raised community investment to finance and install solar arrays on eight community buildings, including Baird Primary School and St Leonards Academy. www.energisesussexcoast.co.uk
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