Green / Eco Issues / Recycling
Dorset Council Climate Strategy :
For more general local information please use this link : www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/climate-strategy
Recycling :
We are fortunate in that Dorset Council (Dorset Waste Partnership) has a relatively well organised rubbish and recycling scheme - for once, ahead of many other Local Authorities. Please ensure that you recycle as many items as possible to minimise the amount of landfill generated. Please also use the food only bins as this makes dealing with the rubbish so much easier.
The local recycling centres at Dorchester, Weymouth and Bridport all have facilities for the safe disposal / recycling of other items. Please use this link for full details : www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/bins-recycling-and-litter/bins-recycling-and-litter
Vehicles - E10 Petrol :
From September 2021, standard grade unleaded petrol will have 10% ethanol added and will be labelled E10. This should give cleaner exhaust emissions.
Older Cars : Please consult your garage if you own an older car (typically older than 2012) to ensure that it can be used. E10 will tend to attack older rubber components etc.
Use Super grade petrol which is still E5 - this is more expensive but it gives better economy than E10 and is better for your engine. Some people find that the extra cost is in fact cancelled by the better miles per gallon.
The local Esso Garage in Winterbourne Abbas sells super grade (99) E5 petrol.
Electric Vehicle charging points please use this link EV
Also : GRIDSERVE, have developed an interactive electric car charge time & cost calculator to help drivers calculate how much it will cost and how long it will take to charge their electric car :
https://www.gridserve.com/electric-leasing/tools-calculators/charging-time-cost-calculator
Saving fuel at Home :
With the increasing cost of oil and gas and the need to conserve energy, it is very important to take action :
Insulate your property - starting with your hot cylinder and your roofspace - some grants are still available. You may be able to insulate your walls and windows with good results. Wear warm clothes and jumpers in the colder months !
Insulate pipework as well - heating pipes running through cold areas will greatly benefit from insulation. Insulating pipework will also hopefully avoid burst pipes in very cold weather.
Draughtproofing windows and doors is also important as ventilation losses can be significant.
Controls : Ensure that you have good temperature / time controls on your hot water and heating systems. Make sure that they work properly and set them to as lower setting as you can ! Fit thermostatic radiator valves to give control in individual rooms. Turn these down to the frost setting in unused / spare rooms.
Servicing : Have your appliances serviced regularly to ensure that they are working efficiently and safely. Only employ registered contractors - it is illegal for unregistered persons to work on any gas/oil/solid fuel appliance. Install CO (carbon monoxide) detectors near open flued appliances, test them regularly and change their batteries annually.
Replace old appliances : Modern appliances are far more efficient and less polluting. They allow greater control and some if suitable, can also remove the need for roof tanks and lots of old pipework etc.
Renewable Energy : The cost of installing solar panels (pv types- generate electricity) has come down in recent years and may be a worthwhile investment depending on the roof areas that you have. At present VAT is zero rated on these installations. These generally "back feed" into a additional meter (but at a reduced £ rate ! - Octopus Energy appears to be the best giving 15p / kwh) thus decreasing the amount paid for. Storage batteries can also be installed allowing greater use of the generated power. Thermal solar panels (heating water directly) are now less common and more complex to install. In some cases, electric cars can be charged directly using the DC current generated.
You may need planning permission if your property is in a local conservation area. Owners of Listed Buildings must obtain Listed Building approval but there is no fee for this on Listed Buildings.
Heat pumps are getting a lot of press coverage - they can be very efficient if designed and installed correctly. They use electricity and produce low temperature heat which in turn requires greater heat emitter (radiator) areas. Difficult to fit into older properties but can be very good in well insulated new builds.
Note : From April 1st 2022 - VAT has been zero rated on most renewable installations - check with your installer.
Biomass / log burners : These seem to have fallen somewhat out of favour recently. However, these can be used very effectively if lots of wood waste etc is available. When using logs ensure that they are well seasoned and ensure that log burners and flues are regularly serviced and swept. Advise your insurance company if you have or install a log burner. You must use a HETAS registered person to install log burners - they can produce deadly carbon monoxide (CO) if not propertly installed. A CO detector must be used as well.
Meter readings : It is a good idea to take regular meter readings so that you can monitor consumptions. Important also for water as a higher reading may indicate a water leak. If you suspect a leak contact Wessex Water who are very helpful, will repair leaks free of charge and can refund extra costs in most cases.
Electricity use : Leaving appliances on can consume a lot of electricity. Try and replace older inefficient appliances - you will often find the cost is soon recouped. Try and replace light bulbs / lamps with low energy (usually LED) types. Again the cost will be recouped especially as the cost of LED lamps/bulbs is coming down. Another advantage with LED lamps is that they generate very little heat so are far safer than older types of lamps.
Energy Providers : Shop around for the best deals regularly. Martin Lewis (ITV) or similar websites are good sources of information/advice and allow comparisons to be made. Use the internet or get someone to search on your behalf.
If you are struggling to meet your energy costs please look at this link.
Here's a link to a very useful and thorough guide created by Bath & North Somerset Council