How our solar panels are performing at the school & pavilion

This information (report 1 and report 2) on the Import and Export data from the meters at the School and Pavilion. The reports cover the period August 2022 to January 2023 and illustrate the benefits of PV Systems at the Primary School and Sports Pavilion through reducing Electricity Supply Costs and also explain the potential for further optimisation.

Report 2 also shows the Pavilion Cafe Freezer and Fridge Power Consumption during 5 weeks of monitoring.

We believe that the school would have bills 25% higher without the PV and based on current price capped rates this suggests a saving in excess of £2500 per year.

Export meters were installed by SMS (on behalf of Green Energy UK) at both the Sports Pavilion and the Primary School. Since this time we have been able to see precisely how much of the Generated electricity we are Exporting to the grid, and thus deduce how much of the Generation we are truly consuming. This has also permitted us to see exactly what the total electricity consumption is, by combining the measured Supply meter reading (Import) with the part of the Generation that we are consuming.

Both reports were produced by AHCEC CIC board member Richard Stradling and we are extremely grateful for his comprehensive analysis.

Check your house insulation with free use of our thermal imaging camera

The Ashton Hayes Community Energy Company CIC has bought a Flir thermal camera that is very easy to use and which can be borrowed for free to enable residents to check the thermal performance of their property. Details on how to borrow the camera can be found here.

A copy of the user manual can be downloaded here. Thermal imaging is most effective on cold, dry evenings, when the heating is on and the contrast between indoor and outdoor temperatures is greatest. Take images both outside and inside. Outside images will show any ‘hot spots’ in orange/red colours, indicating where heat is leaking out of the house, while indoor images will show cold spots in blue tones. Walls, windows and doors should all be checked to look, for example, for any defective wall insulation, poor double glazing, gaps where heat is escaping.

Garry receives Honorary Doctorate for community engagement in climate change

29 April 2022: We are delighted that Garry has received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Chester for his years of work in engaging communities such as Ashton Hayes and other others around the world to take climate change action. The photo shows Garry left and Professor Roy Alexander (right) celebrating together. Roy has worked with Garry on the Going Carbon Neutral Project since late 2005.

Annual General Meeting information held 10 March 2022

Our AGM took place on Thursday 10th March in St John’s Church, which proved to be a very suitable venue. A copy of the proceedings is available here.

Japan's Nudge Promotion Council chats to Ashton Hayes

2 February 2022: Naoki Sakai, Chair and Founder, Japan Nudge Promotion Council (JNPC) and Keiichi Tamaki host a zoom call with Garry Charnock to discuss community action on carbon neutrality.

JNPC has been selected by the Government of Japan to conduct a 5 year project to utilize nudge theory and raise social capital in order to achieve community citizen driven carbon neutrality. 

JNPC and Ashton Hayes aim to continue the dialogue.