Energy Showcase.
An excellent day on Saturday 8th May. It's always tricky trying to work out if these events will be well attended or not or if they will be a success or not. It's taken many months in the planning and our renewables sub-group have been fantastic and designing the day, trying to think about what Q's the local community want answered, what stalls would be of interest, etc. The earliest date I have in my diary was the 12th of Dec 2009. That's when we started to invite guests like Mandy Meikle, and to try and book venues etc. On the day, approximately 240 people attended. We had feedback forms from over 70 and most of those are very interested in renewables and the current offerings.
So just to say from me, a big thank you to every single person who helped plan, co-ordinate, deliver and attend our 2nd Energy Showcase. Way way better than the first, and now I'm off to follow up on the results with the rest of the team here at Linlithgow Climate Challenge.

My meter is going backwards !
Speaking to a Solar PV panel installer the other day, they said that was one of the things that can be expected, and sure enough, the meter is running backwards during the day. Quite interesting to see. Unfortunately the power supply company know all about it and they are about to change the meter for one that goes forwards only, so thats a pity, but it does show the power of sunlight. Speaking of Solar panels, I had heard that EAGA might be offering Solar PV for free ? Yip free. I think they rent your roof-space, and fit their own panels that belong to them. You get the free electricity and they get the Feed-in-Tariff. I'm not sure how this sits with me, as I can see the benefit to home owners but that also means that Gov incentives are going directly to businesses and not tax payers ? If this is a true scheme, then surely the approach is to only offer these panels to people in fuel poverty or those on a lower income.

Slow Bread.
It was great to be able to sample bread from the new Patisserie Dujardin. Who are setting up in Mill Road Ind Estate to supply artisan patisserie and bespoke bakery to the wholesale market. Slow Food made a great effort at the Energy Showcase to offer local bread, Scottish cheeses, chutneys and fair-trade drinks. Well done Slow Food and thanks for reminding us that instant coffee, even if it is Fair-trade, isn't really SLOW.... I hope the new bakery makes best efforts to source it's raw ingredients as locally as it can and to be organic where possible.

Springfield
Springfield Estate is in for a big change this summer. They have the chance to prove to the rest of us, that using more sustainable transport options can make a big difference. Linlithgow Cycle Action group and Linlithgow Climate Challenge will be getting together with Springfield Primary, local community groups and residents to make a big push towards reducing those short journeys by car. Springfield is in a perfect location. School right in the middle, a little SPAR shop, a bus service into town, and lots of little paths to use to get to the shops without even bumping into any exhaust fumes. So if you live in Springfield, then get ready for a sea change. We CHALLENGE you to show the rest of Linlithgow, West Lothian and even Scotland what's possible.

Advice Centre
Opening Soon, Linlithgow Climate Challenge are working to secure new premises to operate from. Right now we all work from home, and our trial of 1 The Cross was an excellent test to prove that we can provide a service from the High Street. Once contracts are signed and keys exchanged, we'll tell you where the new Advice Centre is. Look out for the opening event in the Gazette.

Energy Audits
We've a massive project now funded to provide FREE home energy audits to 1000 homes in Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge, so if you would like an audit to see where you could save energy/money, then please contact us. We can visit at your convenience, and the results of our audits to date, are very very positive.

Solar Panels for Cheap ?
That was the proposal we put at the Energy Showcase. If Linlithgow Climate Challenge co-ordinates a discount deal, and we get lots of people to sign up, then we could see a large discount. This has been trialled in Fife, and here in Linlithgow we are looking to do the same. Solar Thermal is a great and simple way to get free hot water in the warmer months and to avoid needing to use so much oil/LPG/coal/gas to heat the water we use for washing etc. By working collectively, we can get the prices down on this equipment, so if you are interested, then again, please get in touch. Contact form at the top of the page.

That's all for now. Back to reviewing the results of our showcase.

Aly