The Blewbury Energy Initiative (BEI) seeks to gain an informed estimate of the carbon footprint of the buildings of Blewbury village based on their energy use, and to suggest a raft of energy efficiency measures to reduce this footprint. We're also seeking to encourage appropriate renewable energy technologies for the village. The project will look at domestic dwellings, community buildings and small business premises within the village and will run initially for a three year period.

ClimateX interviewed Ian Bacon about the project.  

Motivations

The BEI working group is motivated by the fact that we all need to take responsibility and act to tackle climate change. There are plenty of simple, easy things we can all do to address this issue and we aim to make these known and accessible to fellow villagers for environmental, social and economic reasons.

What's your vision of Oxfordshire rising to the challenge of climate change?

A mixture of individual and community based action to reduce carbon emissions, coupled with action from large players such as the local authorities, big business and key county institutions, such as Oxford University and the Oxford Diocese. We must all recognise we have a role to play and that this need not be socially, culturally or economically detrimental.

What contribution to the challenge are you most proud of?

I am proud that the hard work of the BEI working party and the enthusiasm of my fellow villages has led to people being interested in what we have done in Blewbury, which is no way unique and can be copied by other communities. Our energy web pages on the village website - http://www.blewbury.co.uk/ - are perhaps our single most useful contribution.

What are you working on now?

We are currently preparing a majority funded offer for an external energy audit for the village businesses as well as exploring energy efficiency and renewable energy options for the school. Information is also continually released via the monthly village bulletin regarding energy efficiency in the home.

What's precious to you in Oxfordshire?

Apart from Brakspear's beer and Oxford United, it is the landscape that I grew up in and have returned to that I value. I recognise this has and will continue to evolve with time, it is not a museum piece, but that change should be gradual and based on nature, not quick and based overwhelmingly on human action.

One word about how you feel about climate change?

Challenged

For further information you can contact Ian: Ian.Bacon@tvenergy.org

Check out the website at  http://www.blewbury.co.uk/