Power Down

ZCD write: For this month we're looking at 'Power Down'.

Our Dorset 2030 report sets out a vision for how we use energy in the county (see below). This event will explore this in more detail, consider whether the objectives we propose need developing further, ascertain whether there are 2 or 3 key aspects we should focus on and, of course, be ready to discover any new case-studies people can provide.

To get the discussion going, Peter Bywater, Managing Director of Ridgewater Energy will provide a personal perspective on what's really happening in the domestic sector to reduce energy and, by implication, help households address the cost-of-living crisis.

This is an on-line session; attendance is free and Zoom details will be issued to registered attendees just before the event.

Our 2030 Vision for 'Power Down'

By 2030…

Everyone lives in a home that is dry and warm in winter and comfortable in summer.

Following the success of the Smart Community Project’s Bridport affordable housing development, this new model for living was adopted as a template for many new housing developments across the county. Every new home in the county is now built to Passivhaus standards, and all existing properties have been retrofitted to a similar standard of insulation.

Running costs have declined in line with improved standards and the costs of retrofitting were backed by a series of Government and Council led programmes that ensured everyone could afford the improvements required. There has been a concerted effort to move from gas to electricity as the principal energy source for residential and commercial properties and this has also provided opportunities for re-skilling the workforce and contributing to the ‘green’ economy.

Local community groups working with the two Councils have been instrumental in helping households understand and reduce their energy use by adopting low-carbon lifestyle choices. All households have integrated smart meter technology that enables appliances to be used when renewable energy generation is at its highest (and costs at their lowest), linked to local energy generation.

Energy use and running costs have also fallen through employing smart technology, with home appliances running on timed systems, activated when excess energy is available from the grid and local energy systems. Groups in each workplace and neighbourhood consider on-going energy requirements and develop and share ideas to create bio-city opportunities in their areas; built on a model pioneered through the Dorset Green Living Project.

Commercial and industrial premises have been built to similar standards since the mid- 2020’s and the fitters who were part of the mass retrofitting programme have now moved over to look at the remaining commercial premises across the county.

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You can register to attend here.

Many thanks & best regards,

Mark Chivers & Neil Smith

info@zcd.org.uk