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And now for the Weather Forecast
The first of the three sessions on Climate Change was held on one of the windiest, wettest day in March. That did not deter over 55 members who attended the Friends Meeting House to hear the latest predictions on global warming and to consider some of the things that we can be doing to reduce our carbon emissions.
Rebecca, Lyn, Iszy and Katherine
We started with a power-point presentation from four poised and confident Year 9 pupils from Brantwood School, who explained how global warming and climate change are separate though probably interrelated; gave a clear account of the causes and effects and left us with some ideas for action. Their verdict on our generation’s handling of climate change must surely be ‘could do better’.
Dr Ralph Hebden
Professor Peter Smith went into further detail, explaining that the ice sheets are melting faster than previously predicted and further rises in temperature and sea levels are now inevitable – weather-wise we will reap what we sowed decades before. He stressed how near we are (15 to 20 years) to the 2o‘tipping point’ - when the changes accelerate because they are feeding off themselves. Our reliance on fossil fuels has to stop and, of the various options for alternative sources of power, he considered that it would be wisest for the UK to invest in wave energy – energy that is constant and readily available from around our coasts. He also talked about the Government’s requirements for zero carbon homes by 2016 and showed us various ideas for building such homes and communities. He discussed the necessity for the use of phase-change materials in buildings to enable heat exchange when our days and nights become much warmer.
Our own Ralph Hebden ended the afternoon on a more positive note – describing the things that every individual can do to reduce their carbon footprint and leaving us with a set of challenges such as to shop locally, eat seasonal food, reduce reliance on the car, eat less meat and holiday in some of the beautiful localities in Britain. There were lots of questions and a little frustration, particularly over home insulation and buying locally. It’s not easy being green! Members went home through the wind and rain, clutching Ralph’s checklist and girding themselves for fresh action.
Sheffield U3A: Living with Climate Change Check List
The following suggestions are to help people reduce their environmental footprint and so help to reduce their impact on global warming. In many cases they do not involve financial cost and will even save money.
1. My Home
Install:
Loft insulation
Jacket on hot water cylinder
Cavity wall insulation
Micro wind turbine after checking your location characteristics
Photovoltaic cells
Draught excluders - windows, doors, floors, but allow for some ventilation
Solar water heating panels / gas condensing boiler
Thermostats on central heating equipment
Double glazing
Lag exposed pipes
Fit low energy light bulbs
Vary times on central heating system
Reduce temperature by 1 C on central heating
Draw curtains to keep heat in
Do not leave lights on when you leave a room
Do not leave equipment on stand by - computer, TV, VCR etc.
Buy Green Energy electricity
Defrost fridge/freezer regularly
Put a box in empty fridge/freezer free spaces - reduce amount of air being frozen
Cook with lids on pans
Check energy efficiency when buying electrical and gas equipment
Use mains electricity or rechargeable batteries rather than ordinary batteries
Use non-VOC paint, solvents, preservation finishes
Stop junk mail through Mail Preference Service
2. My water use
Fix leaking taps
Turn taps fully off
Have a shower rather than a bath
Use plugs in basins and sinks
Put a water hippo in water cistern
Turn taps off when cleaning teeth
Use washing machines and dishwashers only on full loads
Fill kettle with only the water you need
Install water butts to collect water from roofs.
Think before using water; energy is needed to get water to your home.
Use lowest temperature when washing clothes
Install low flush/double flush in toilet system
5. My recycling
Check whether what you buy can be recycled
Keep and reuse envelopes
Use blank side of paper you receive for rough work
Recycle newspapers, magazines, bills, junk mail, wrapping paper.
Recycle plastic packaging from goods bought
Recycle glass
Charity shops allow you to recycle clothes.
Cans and silver paper can be recycled
Take books to charity shops or send to Feed the Minds
Opticians will recycle glasses
Dispose of waste oil, paint, solvents, and batteries safely.
4. My shopping
Use bags for life and avoid plastic bags
Use local shops or farmers’ markets to reduce travel emissions
Cut travel emissions by not buying imported goods where possible
Choose goods with minimal packaging
Reduce car use by getting shops to deliver
Shop on the internet to reduce your journeys to shops
Buy recycled paper and other recycled goods
Buy Fair Trade products
Only buy what you need and reduce waste.
5. My garden
Install water butts to collect rain water
Water plants in evening to reduce evaporation
Mulch water loving plants to reduce need to water
Have a compost bin for garden and kitchen waste
Develop eco-friendly plants for frogs, birds, hedgehogs
Have a pond to help wild life: also a base for a range of different plants
Grow vegetables and fruit in your garden
Try to keep to native plants
Use pesticides and chemical sprays as little as possible.
Avoid products with peat in them
Compost egg boxes
Compost garden clippings and twigs
Collect fallen leaves and store for a year to make compost
6. My Travel
Reduce car use; use a bicycle, walk or use public transport
Ensure car tyre pressures are correct
Accelerate slowly
Avoid sharp breaking
Consider whether you need holidays involving long flights
Consider having holidays in Britain
Check destination weather condition before travelling
Travel with minimum luggage as a result.
7. Some Challenges
Shop locally - but not at supermarkets
Buy locally produce food and goods - not imported
Reduce car use - cope with public transport
Become vegetarian - meat production consumes many resources
Holiday in the UK - no flights to the sun, snow or 'far away places'
Live a simple lifestyle - reduce your environmental footprint
Ralph Hebden, March 2009
20 March 2009 Lecture
The meeting held on the 20 March was entitled Doing Things Differently. During the afternoon we listened to three very different speakers;
Firstly Nick Clegg MP spoke about national and international perspectives in relation to climate change. He reminded us that the current economic crisis is of more immediate concern to politicians, but felt that they must not forget the environmental crisis. On a more positive note there has recently been a radical change in the thinking of the EU, which is now determined to go ahead with climate change proposals. Nick Clegg does not think the nuclear route is the best way forward, but said that politicians will not get round to establishing alternatives because nuclear energy resources are easy and quick to establish.
Nick Parsons, the Director of SY Energy Centre, gave us an invigorating talk about alternative energy options - such as solar panels, photovoltaics and wind turbines. He explained how they worked and how expensive they are. His conclusion was that a small household which was careful with water, had full insulation and controlled heating did not need alternative sources of energy. His main point was that we all must use less energy, rather than looking for ways to produce it.
Finally, Nigel Dunnett, Reader in Urban Horticulture, University of Sheffield gave us an enjoyable, beautifully illustrated talk about Urban Environments of the Future. Nigel’s work and research is on developing ways of getting nature back into cities. He talked about pictorial meadow planting schemes, which paint the landscape with colour. He suggested that these inspire a social revolution – people like naturalistic planting and interact with them. Nigel also talked about the greening of roofs, which then absorb heat in summer to keep the building cool, absorb rain and support wildlife. He said that Sheffield Council is very supportive of these initiatives in the city.
30 March 2009 Lecture
The meeting held on 30 March had a local bias. It was entitled Sheffield’s Strategies for Action and again we had three speakers.
Firstly Steve Byers, Eco Management and Audit Officer with Sheffield City Council talked about the Council’s strategy for climate change. He said that the City Council wants to put climate change at the heart of everything they do; and is actually doing more than we may be aware of. Each Department has eco-champions and an eco-auditing system; and the Council is now trying to get all its suppliers and contractors onto the Council’s eco-strategy. Beighton won the first eco-city award because it is a fine example of many groups working together.
Jennie Patient, of Sheffield Campaign Against Climate Change and Transition Town Sheffield, gave a talk which overlapped with that of Steve Byers. Jenny talked about ecological foot-printing and pointed out that we use three planets' worth of resources now but could reduce that to two planets by individual effort. We live our current lifestyles as if we had ten slaves each. This is obviously not sustainable. Huge government policy changes are needed to reduce usage of resources to one planet.
Transition Towns are about building a resilient, self-reliant community. The movement is proving very successful in Totness, where it began, but is much more of a challenge in a city like ours. By March 2008 there were 180 towns in transition. Currently, within Sheffield, there are three local groups, Nether Edge/Sharrow, Heeley/Meersbrook and Burngreave.
Thirdly, Mike Wiseman of Swansea U3A, talked about some of the major problems that will face the people of the world as a result of environmental problems due to human activity. He talked about the melting of glaciers and permafrost, water shortages and rising sea levels and of how we have already depleted two thirds of the planet’s resources.
Mike pointed out that if we do not do anything we will fail the next generation; we have a comfortable sheltered life comparatively and we need to put something back. One thing we could do is to get hold of the policies of large organisations and ask questions of them in relation to climate change.
Report on second and third lectures by Greta Pearman
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