Good turnout for Earth Hour in Ashton Hayes

The lights went out in Ashton Hayes on 29 March to celebrate Earth Hour - suppoting the world's attempt to highlight the importance of climate change. People of all ages turned out for the 'Get Glo-ing' walk around the recreation field and were also treated to hot chocolate, courtesy of the community shop. Thanks to everyone involved in organising the event, including CWAC who installed LED lighting along the main road in time for the event. These lights use around 80% less energy but are better than the old sodium lights - and they can be turned on and off remotely.

See Kate's energy measurements

Kate Harrison is a finalist in the Observer Ethical Awards Great Energy Race and is doing her best to reduce her energy with gizmos and gadgets provided by B&Q, who are supporting the Race. She has done an analysis of how much energy she uses around her house and sent us this amazing table.

Get glo-ing for Earth Hour on 29 March

ASHTON HAYES CELEBRATES EARTH HOUR
SATURDAY 29^TH MARCH 2014

Ashton Hayes Community Energy Company are holding a special event to celebrate Earth Hour on Saturday 29^th March.  Earth Hour is now an annual event when communities around the world are encouraged to switch off lights and electrical items for an hour between 8.30 and 9.30pm.
Last year many people in the village did the big switch off and the difference was shown on Scottish Power Energy Network’s monitoring of village power use.

This year we would like to do a bit more.  Cheshire West and Chester Council are planning to install new LED lighting along Church Road – you can see an example on the corner opposite the Golden Lion.  These lights will be much cheaper to run and will help towards our carbon neutral aims. They can be controlled remotely and could be switched off for the hour. It won’t affect the rest of the lights in the village.  (Update: Lights are being installed - see photo)

Ashton Hayes Community Energy Company will be holding a special event at the Recreation Field and Pavilion.   All are welcome – from babies in buggies to people with walking frames!

Serving hot chocolate from 8 till 8.30. 

Countdown to Earth Hour

Free glo-sticks to light your way as we parade round the track.
Don’t forget to bring your torches for the route home. 
Solar or wind-up torches would be good!

DON’T FORGET TO SWITCH OFF BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME  

If any children would like to decorate a torch or lantern it would be a great addition to the event.

If you have any questions, please email Kate Harrison

Kate.harrison2@btopenworld.com

Join our new twitter feed @AshtonHayesCEC

For all those who like social media, we have set up the @AshtonHayesCEC twitter feed to give you news/updates/ideas while you are on the go. Please follow us and tell your friends.

See Kate Harrison's dramatic reduction in energy use

If you are ever sceptical about how much energy can be saved by behaviour change and efficiency measures have a look at these four graphs. They show how Kate Harrison's never ending drive to cut her energy costs has reduced her gas and electricy use over the past 9 years by about two thirds. Kate now sits by her cosy log fire and contemplates how big her bills might have been had she not followed the advice of the Going Carbon Neutral Project.(Here is a recent gas graph in KwH

Kate also features in this month's edition of Cheshire Life (with Lisa and Debs) for their work in the amazing Ashton Hayes Community Shop. She was also featured in Ethical Living in The Guardian in 2007.