Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Anyone making a new year’s resolution to save money is being encouraged by Carmarthenshire County Council to start at home, and consider signing up to a collective energy switch. Working on the concept of ‘people power’, the more people who sign up to the Cyd Cymru collective switching scheme, the better deal they’ll be able to strike with national energy providers to drive down their electricity bills. Registrations for the spring 2015 switch open on January 2, and all people need to do is register at www.cydcymru-energy.com or call 0800 093 5902. Signing up is easy, with a few simple questions about current household energy costs that can be found on a recent bill. The council’s Deputy Leader and Anti-Poverty Champion, Cllr Pam Palmer, is urging people to give it some thought. “There is absolutely nothing to lose, but potentially a lot to gain,” she said. “This is essentially a ‘bulk-buy’ where people group together with others in order to secure a better deal. “At a time when ene...

Businesses are being urged to book their place at an event being held at the Ivy Bush Royal Hotel in Carmarthen next week if they want to bring their costs down. RDP Sir Gâr’s Adfer, run by Menter Cwm Gwendraeth, will be hosting the free session to provide information on how local businesses can pay less for energy bills, protect against future energy price rises and reduce their environmental impact. Also present will be representatives from West Wales Credit Union and Carmarthenshire Energy to advise on keeping finances in the local economy and investing in local renewable energy. The free event is on Thursday March 27 from 6-8pm with a buffet provided. Booking is essential. If you would like further information, or to book a place, please contact Neil Lewis on neil@mentercwmgwendraeth.org.uk or call: 01269 871 600 Adfer has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural D...

Carmarthenshire residents are being urged to save water by following the Welsh Government's Way To Go campaign. Despite one of the wettest winters on record the Welsh Government is still asking people to cut down their water usage, primarily by changing washing habits. The average person in Wales uses approximately 150 litres of water a day and yet a four minute shower only uses around 30 litres of water. The potential to save energy from heating less water and cutting down on water usage altogether is huge and Way To Go is encouraging people in Carmarthenshire to get involved. For the full story from the Carmarthen Journal, click on the link in the headline.

Carmarthen Leisure Centre has reduced its carbon footprint and saved more than 400 tonnes of carbon. The centre cut back on its electricity use by five per cent and gas consumption by three and a half per cent in 2012 on the previous year despite colder than average winter temperatures. Carbon Trust Wales carried out a survey of the building and decided training staff in energy saving measures would help to reduce consumption. As part of the remodelling work a combined heat and power unit has been installed as a more energy efficient way to generate electricity and maintain the heat of the pool using heat by-product generated in the process. Staff training included optimum usage of this unit in addition to other awareness raising exercises. The council’s Principal Energy Officer, Andrew Morris, said: “Given that swimming pool complexes are very energy intensive it is important leisure centre staff are able to identify ways they can minimise the carbon footprint. The training was ...

Carmarthenshire Council’s Home Improvement Team are hitting the road to help residents cut down on their energy bills. Officers will be on hand at a number of locations across the county in the next few weeks giving advice at a time of year when people take the biggest hit on their household budgets. On Friday, January 24, they will be present at Carmarthen’s Glangwili Hospital car park, and the following Friday, January 31, they will be visiting the Doctors Surgery at Trimsaran Leisure Centre. In February they will be visiting Prince Philip Hospital car park; Meddygfa Taf in Whitland; Amman Valley Hospital in Glanamman and Llandovery Hospital car park. People will be advised how to get help to improve the efficiency of their homes, as well as energy saving tips, and ways to manage bills and debt. Energy Efficiency Advisor Graham Harries said: “We want people to be more aware of the simple things they can do to cut down on their bills, and also the support available to pay their bills...

People in Carmarthenshire are being encouraged to join forces to save money on their energy bills. A Collective Energy Switching Scheme called Cyd Cymru has launched nationally, allowing people to group together to negotiate better deals with energy providers. Now, the council’s Anti-Poverty Champion, Cllr Pam Palmer, is calling on people to give it their consideration – especially as many energy companies are putting up their tariffs. “Saving extra cash has never been so important to people, and with winter setting in and prices going up, now is the time to act,” she said. “By buying energy together, people have a bigger voice. I urge people to have a look at it, and consider switching providers if they feel they could save.” Collective energy switching has been trialled elsewhere in the UK, with participants saving between £60 and £250 per household annually. As part of the Cyd Cymru scheme, people can register online or by phone. Registrations for the first switch will close in six ...

RDP Sir Gâr’s Zero Carbon Future (ZCF) project is carrying out free energy efficiency surveys on community halls in rural Carmarthenshire a bid to save them money and energy. An essential facility for many rural villages and towns, community halls host social, fitness and learning activities for all ages throughout the county and act as a meeting place for many local groups. Most are run by dedicated groups of volunteers, but running costs can be expensive. With energy prices soaring, old inefficient heating systems and expensive lighting are pushing these costs up and putting these Halls at risk. ZCF officer Paul Thomas said “With the wave of new green technologies we can tackle this issue and future proof our facilities. Following an assessment we provide a report including details of recommended improvements and potential funding to implement them through schemes such as the Green Deal.” Zero Carbon Future, part of the RDP Sir Gâr Innovative Hubs project, is funded thr...

A host of energy efficient programmes have been rolled out in a bid to drive down energy costs at Carmarthen's County Hall. Windows have been draft proofed, pipework serving the building’s radiators insulated and heating controls added to help make the build more energy efficient. IT equipment has also been updated to time out and an energy efficient lighting system installed throughout the building. Insulation works have just been completed in the boiler room. Carmarthenshire County Council has already made its mark by being the leading authority in Wales for the greatest financial and carbon savings. According to funding company Salix, the council’s invested returns show an annual saving of over £217,000 and a lifetime saving of over £4million. The council’s executive board member for sustainability Cllr Jim Jones said: “We have a whole range of works underway at County Hall and our other buildings which already has seen benefits on our energy investments. “We are thrilled to ...

Carmarthenshire County Council Trading Standards officers are urging consumers to beware of rogue telephone cold callers offering energy saving devices. Trading Standards Service departments across the country have reported hundreds of complaints about people claiming to be their energy supplier or working in partnership with them, offering a plug in device which they say can save them 40 per cent off their energy bills. Trading standards have had a number of the items tested which not only failed to satisfy electrical safety standards but do not deliver any tangible energy savings. Trading Standards Manager Roger Edmunds said: “Consumers are warned not to use the products as they pose a risk of fire and electrocution and a safety recall has been issued for the items traced so far. “Unscrupulous criminals are using the rising energy prices as an opportunity to lure in cash strapped consumers – elderly people seem to have been deliberately targeted. “The addresses the scammers give is t...

Carmarthenshire Trading Standards is warning householders to be wary of offers of ‘free’ solar panels for their homes, now that the Government has reduced the tariff to companies that install the panels. Householders do need to do their homework and read the small print very very carefully. Many people would like solar panels fitted due to the savings that can be made on their energy bills, however they may not be able to afford the initial purchase and installation of the panels. Therefore if a company offers a ‘free’ system then they may be more inclined to sign up. Such schemes are commonly known as ‘rent a roof’ whereby as the name suggests, the company will lease your roof from you – usually for 25 years. However, traders offer free panels because they’ll receive income from the generation of electricity (known as the ‘Feed-in’ tariff scheme) and also from any additional electricity you make and don’t use which is exported back to the Grid. If a householder purchases their own equ...

Carmarthen indoor bowlers are enjoying new brighter lighting – while the Bowls Centre is looking forward to lighter fuel bills. Carmarthenshire County Council has undertaken a £49,500 project to replace the lights at Carmarthen Indoor Bowls Centre with new energy saving lighting. The scheme is one of scores of projects designed to reduce the authority’s energy bills and help tackle global warming. The bowling centre’s lighting scheme will save over £6,200 a year, enabling it to pay for itself in under eight years. It will also reduce the CO2 emissions associated with the operation of the centre by 37 tonnes a year. Corporate Energy Officer Neil Evans said: “T5 light fittings generally have a serviceable life of 20 years and at current electricity prices lifetime financial savings are projected to be £125, 000. However as electricity is still largely generated by burning fossil fuels and those fuels are becoming scarcer the cost of that electricity is almost certain to rise. In addition...

A major drive in Carmarthenshire to help the planet has been hailed a huge success. A special programme of events and activities has been held to educate people of all ages about climate change. Businesses, schools and residents were targeted as part of the awareness raising initiative. More than 350 pupils from primary and secondary schools took part in energy efficiency and renewable energy workshops. The EU Sustainable Energy Week was aimed at informing people about how they can reduce their carbon footprint. Organisers say it was a platform to highlight energy efficiency and ways of reducing the carbon footprint. An energy roadshow was held with businesses giving information about renewable energy and expert advice on ways to save energy and money. More than 100 people also signed up for a power saving plug. Information stalls were set up in leisure centres with feedback on what is being done to reduce energy use. Workshops were held in schools to educate young people about energy ...

A major energy saving campaign is underway to help Carmarthenshire families save money this winter. Housing chiefs are behind a drive to stamp out fuel poverty and help residents who are hardest hit by rising energy prices. Officers hope the plan will make homes warmer and more environmentally friendly. Roadshows are being planned to give advice on ways to save money, and targeted promotions will be staged in areas hardest hit by fuel poverty. A Home Energy Advice Pack is available, which is full of energy saving tips and information on ways to make your home warmer. A dedicated energy efficiency advisor is on hand to support residents, and help is given on efficient heating systems, home insulation, maximising benefit uptake and grant funding for energy improvements. Carmarthenshire County Council is leading the campaign, at a time when thousands of people are suffering health and financial difficulties because of high heating costs. Officers say the moves will help improve the health...

Housing chiefs in Carmarthenshire are among the best in the UK for their home insulation works. Thousands of tenants are enjoying warmer homes thanks to a huge energy saving project. Carmarthenshire County Council is installing cavity wall and loft insulation in all its houses. It is rolling out the scheme as part of the £200 million Homes Standard programme. The authority has now been highlighted as one of the top performing councils in the UK for the amount of insulation carried out. Figures released by the Energy Saving Trust show the council is in the top three in the UK for providing insulation in its own housing stock, and in private homes in the county. Officers say the figures are proof of their commitment to the energy efficiency drive. In the past two years the insulation programme has exceeded its targets. Some 94 per cent of council homes that are suitable have been provided with cavity wall insulation and 87 per cent with loft insulation. Housing officers say the works are...

Carmarthenshire residents will have a chance to earn how to cut their fuel bills on Wednesday. The county council’s Home Improvement Team will be holding a joint energy awareness day with the Energy Savings Trust in Guildhall Square, Carmarthen, from 9.30am to 4pm both days. Free advice & energy saving devices will be on offer to help residents cut their fuel bills and make their homes more energy efficient. Mascot CHES the bear will be on hand to promote the service and to hand out free reusable shopping bags and energy saving bulbs.