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We will discuss options for reducing heat loss – including grants and support – which will create warmer homes and smaller energy bills
We’ll discuss options for reducing heat loss – to avoid rising energy bills, to create warmer homes and to qualify for grants and support. Some options for reducing heat loss in homes have a payback of only a few months such as ‘draughtbusting’, restoring radiator efficiency and loft insulation. (If you live in a house that was built before 1965 for example, it may have little or no insulation in walls or lofts, as insulation was not required prior to this date.)
External wall insulation and double glazing are also very effective at reducing heat loss but have longer payback times. We’ll also look at the requirements for rented homes and availability and eligibility of grants and other forms of support. We’ll end with a question and answer session to address any additional questions you may have about your situation.
Link to book on Eventbrite
This event is part of Reading Climate Festival 2024, you can find the entire festival collection on Eventbrite here.
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What does it mean for an entire local area to be ‘net zero’?
What does it mean for an entire local area to be ‘net zero’? Who’s measuring what, and why, and how is this different from the Council’s ambition for its own organisation to be net zero by 2030?
Did you know the Council is directly responsible for only about 1.5% of the town’s carbon emissions, and able to influence roughly 30% more?
In this presentation we will hear about the biggest sources of carbon emissions in Reading and who’s doing what about them.
We’ll also hear some thoughts on where our own actions as Reading businesses, schools, householders, consumers and commuters fit into the bigger picture of our town’s journey to net zero.
Link to book on Eventbrite
This event is part of Reading Climate Festival 2024, you can find the entire festival collection on Eventbrite here.
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To limit climate change, heating systems will have to be converted to heat pumps which are much more efficient than gas boilers
Join Dr Rayner Mayer to find out more about the future of heat pumps in the UK:
“To limit climate change, gas boilers will have to be phased out from 2025 onwards in favour of heat pumps which concentrate low-grade heat present in air or ground.
Conversion will include restoring radiator efficiency, retrofitting insulation to reduce heat loss and fitting a hot water storage tank as heat pumps cannot produce instantaneous hot water.
As ground source is more efficient than air source, will any utility be willing to supply geothermal heat or will a community energy company have to be formed?”
Grants and other support for heat pumps will also be discussed and a question and answer session will follow the presentation.
Link to book on Eventbrite
This event is part of Reading Climate Festival 2024, you can find the entire festival collection on Eventbrite here.
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Cut your bills with Reading Community Energy Society
Reading Community Energy Society (RCES) has a mission to accelerate the uptake of community-owned renewable energy in Reading and surrounds.
RCES owns and operates 23 solar PV systems on roofs in and around Reading, with a combined capacity of over 600 kWp energy – enough to power the equivalent of 146 homes each year!
The team is always on the lookout for new sites. If you would like to hear more about their model for putting free solar PV on local school, community and business rooftops, and ask questions, please join this session.
Link to book on Eventbrite
This event is part of Reading Climate Festival 2024, you can find the entire festival collection on Eventbrite here.
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Find out about this amazing resource for the whole community of Reading!
How many of us have tools and devices we barely use? A Library of Things allows you to donate these things and still have access to them when you need them, and at the same time have access to lots of other Things.
Join Tony Cowling and Stuart Ward to find out about our own Reading Library of Things, which is part of a worldwide movement of circular and sharing economy initiatives.
It’s brand new and anyone can join! Currently the library has hundreds of tools as well as a projector, screen, gazebo, bike trailers, dog cage, ramps and a sewing machine.
The founders are currently looking for small grants or donations to stock up the library with useful tools for DIY and small construction projects.
Read more about our town’s circular economy platforms here.
Link to book on Eventbrite
This event is part of Reading Climate Festival 2024, you can find the entire festival collection on Eventbrite here.
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How to become part of the most effective draught-proofing initiative in the region
Find out about volunteering with DraughtBusters – the most effective draught-proofing initiative in the region!
We’re keen to recruit both retired people and young professionals looking for practical ways to support Reading’s journey to net zero. Corporate CSR teams are also welcome to come and find out more.
As a DraughtBusters volunteer you’ll be going into homes to advise and support householders on draughtproofing. You can also support this energy demand reduction initiative by providing administrative support, for example coordinating and organising our DraughtBusters volunteer home vists.
All in all, an hour or two a week is all you’ll need to make a real difference to Reading’s climate impacts, during the heating season only.
Link to book on Eventbrite
This event is part of Reading Climate Festival 2024, you can find the entire festival collection on Eventbrite here.
