"In the winter of 2006/7 Knighton and the Teme Valley and Presteigne carried out Community Carbon Footprinting surveys. Reports were sent to householders detailing how each household contributes to their own carbon footprint through their use of fossil fuels and electricity in their homes and how they travel.
Individual and community carbon footprints are also affected by how waste is disposed of and how food is chosen. The report also gives some basic advice about how to reduce carbon footprints can be reduced.
The average carbon footprint for the UK is 4.5 tonnes of carbon per person or 10.2 tonnes of carbon per household. In Knighton and the Teme Valley the average carbon footprint 6.2 tonnes of carbon per person or 13.2 tonnes of carbon per household.
In Presteigne the figures were 5.4 and 10.7 respectively. The reason why the figures are so much higher than the national average is mainly due to a combination of so many properties not being on mains gas and that so many properties are old and drafty.
There is a lot that people can do to reduce their carbon footprint from not using their car for short journeys to only boiling what they need for a hot drink to insulating their house.
Since carrying out the survey each community has set about looking at how their footprints can be reduced.
In Knighton a series of environmental films were shown during the summer of 2007. Following the films three sub groups of the Teme Valley Environment Group have been set up. The Energy Efficiency Group is now providing the community with the Household Energy Service (HES).
HES involves local, trained volunteers going into peoples homes to gather information so that people can have a detailed report on how to reduce their fuel bills and be more energy efficent.
HES is provided by a new local organisation called Light Foot. The Renewables group is invesitgating renewable energy options for the community. The food group has set up a community allotment and is looking into food co-ops.
In Presteigne a number of different things are happening. Greening Presteigne is a monthly action that anyone can take to reduce their carbon footprint. Examples of actions so far include "kicking the plastic bag habit" and "saving energy" with free energy saving lightbulbs. Presteigne is also considering the possibility of becoming a Transitions Town.
Talybont-on-Usk Energy is asking residents and businesses in the Talybont-on-Usk Community Council Area to be involved in Carbon Footprinting the community between January and 20th April 2008.
This project builds on the success that Talybont-on-Usk Energy has already had in setting up the first community owned hydro electric power station in Wales. The organisation aims to help Talybont-on-Usk become the first carbon neutral community in Wales.
Other projects in the pipeline include helping residents to swap all inefficient light bulbs with efficient ones and helping houses to be well insulated. Talybont-on-Usk Energy is also investigating the possibility of helping Danywenallt YHA and eco-centre to have a more efficient source of heating.
If you would like more information about Community Carbon Footprinting, becoming a volunteer surveyor, you can contact me through the website listed to the right of this page."
Article by Alice Goldstone
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