BE PART OF THE SOLUTION
The world needs saving, so make sure to join the green revolution and help to keep human civilisation thriving by making just a few changes to your life.
Gwent Energy CIC strongly believes that everyone can become more self-sustainable by generating their own electricity. With their help, not only can you save you money your energy bills, but you can help save the planet too. Voice Magazine recently spoke to Phil Powell, technical director and original founder of Gwent Energy CIC, to ask him a few questions about green energy and the current state of the global climate.
ARE WE GETTING WARMER?
February was the second warmest on our global records. Temperatures were above average over a large area of Europe, Central Asia, and West Antarctica and below average over northern Alaska. The past winter (2019 to 2020) was by far the warmest on record for Europe, with an average temperature almost 1.4°C higher than the previous warmest winter, 2015/16. The recent rains, flooding and Australian bushfires are no accident.
1.4°C WARMER DOES NOT SOUND MUCH, IS IT A PROBLEM?
Normally if a temperature record is broken it would be by fractions of a degree. 1.4°C is unprecedented and alarming.
HOW CAN A COUPLE OF DEGREES BE A PROBLEM WHEN WE SWING FROM 0°C TO 30°C OVER THE YEAR?
All our flora and fauna depend on seasonal temperature changes for their life cycle. A small change can mean their food is not available when their young emerge, killer bugs can survive a winter and decimate a population: warmer seas cause higher rainfall and flooding: warmer land causes drier ground and plants increasing bush fires these things have all happened recently.
HOW HAS GLOBAL WARMING AFFECTED THE UK SO FAR?
Global warning has affected the UK in many small ways such as warmer
seas that cause more evaporation and heavier rain like we have just suffered. Hotter summers leading to more droughts and water shortages, higher ambient temperatures disrupt plants and insect lifecycles causing a large drop in numbers and extinction for some species. These affects will continue until we stop emitting carbon and start taking it back out of the atmosphere.
DO YOU THINK ENOUGH IS BEING DONE BY THE UK GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE THE LARGE CARBON FOOTPRINT MADE BY ITS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE?
Most of carbon is from our day to day activities like heating homes, travel, particularly air travel and eating foods that need a lot of carbon emissions to produce. So its primary caused by our needs and actions but it does need government to help people to reduce their emissions by giving them the tools to do it such as car charge points to allow people to use electric cars and a means to heat homes with low carbon technologies.
HOW CAN CHANGING THE WAY WE POWER OUR LIVES HELP IN THE BATTLE OF CLIMATE CHANGE?
A large portion of our carbon emissions is from our individual actions as
mentioned above. We can make a difference by questioning whether we need to buy so much “stuff” we should question every buying decision such as two for one offers, can we use public transport instead of a private car, do we need to fly so much for holidays, can we use LED lighting or install solar panels to power our homes and factories? In most cases these actions save us money so should be done anyway.
CAN USING GREENER ENERGY SAVE PEOPLE MONEY?
Green energy such as solar power is a high initial cost but will save its cost
many times over. LED lighting is also a very good money saver. Heat pumps in well insulated homes off the gas grid can save money invest in green energy companies to help them fund projects.
DO YOU THINK THE COMMON PERSON IS LAZY WHEN IT COMES TO BEING GREENER?
Making investments in green technology needs good trustworthy advice that is often not available. So, it’s easier for people not to bother if they are uncertain of the benefits, but we need to act or our children and grandchildren will suffer catastrophic climate changes. Australia is about 1½°C degree hotter than the long-term average, which made the recent bushfires much worse.
WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD HELP TO CHANGE THE MINDS OF THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO USE CONVENTIONAL WAYS OF ENERGY AND SWITCH OVER TO GREENER ENERGY?
We need more show homes with full transparency of costs and benefits so people can confidently make decisions and leave no room for doubters to question the costs and benefits.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO LOCALLY TO HELP FIGHT GLOBAL WARMING?
There are many ways we can fight climate change locally such as question our local businesses on what they are doing support projects like solar panels on community buildings these can be done in a way that will repay a loan so it’s not a cost but actually an investment for people.
FINALLY, IN WHAT WAYS CAN GWENT ENERGY HELP PEOPLE BE GREENER WITH THEIR ENERGY USAGE?
Gwent Energy can install solar panels and car chargers and sometimes we can fund the system from our investor club, so there is little initial outlay for people. View our website or give us a call on the contact details below to find out more.
www.gwentenergycic.org | 01291 629936 | hello@gwentenergycic.org