Category: News

  • Six Months to COP26

    Six Months to COP26

    In the lead up to COP26 debates are intensifying over some key issues, some of which have rumbled on for over a decade, passing through and beyond COP21 in Paris more than five years ago. Explored in part in our website post Know your Net Zero from your NETs and BECCS, there is growing tension…

  • Heat pump pros and cons

    I remember as a student putting a shilling (2.5p) in the meter to run one bar of an electric fire for an hour to heat my single room. The heat was soon lost again due to poor insulation.  I now live in a large house heated to a steady 21C by an air source heat…

  • I thought my diesel car would have to go

    I thought my diesel car would have to go

    More than seven in 10 people in the UK are concerned about climate change, surveys show. Nearly half think it is caused mainly or entirely by human activity. This is good news: if enough people are convinced by the scientific evidence that we are the cause of the problem, there is hope that we can…

  • Are you interested in retrofit?

    Are you interested in retrofit?

    In 2019 nearly 70% of Teignbridge’s existing housing stock had an EPC rating D and below.  Despite the significant increase in new build, this % has changed little in the past 10 years and, in the last 2 years, has actually increased. Green-House Gas (GHG) emissions from heating our buildings are significant with Teignbridge’s domestic…

  • Could you be a parish Wildlife Warden?

    Could you be a parish Wildlife Warden?

    The ACT Ecology Group is looking for parish-based, volunteer Wildlife Wardens, writes Audrey Compton. They are needed to help support, protect and increase our district’s wildlife and improve its chances of surviving the ecological and climate emergencies we face. Wildlife Wardens need to love wildlife but don’t need specialist knowledge, we will provide training. Having…

  • Why carbon intensity apps are greenwash

    Why carbon intensity apps are greenwash

    There is an app for almost everything. One that recently drew my attention is a carbon intensity app, which at first sight looks really helpful in alerting you to when you can put washing on or charge up batteries while the electricity grid in your area has low carbon emissions. Renewable energy is not yet…

  • Local Plan consultation extended

    Local Plan consultation extended

    Teignbridge District Council has extended the consultation period on its Local Plan, moving the closing date from 15th June to 13th July. The change has been made to give people more time to comment, given that face to face meetings are not currently possible. ACT encourages everyone to submit a response. Feel free to use…

  • A burning issue for Dartmoor

    A burning issue for Dartmoor

    I learned a new word recently, swaling, which is the West Country term for controlled burning of moorland. It comes up in the Dartmoor National Park Management Plan 2020-2045, and in ACT’s response to the consultation on the Plan. Swaling only gets two mentions in the Plan. The first notes that the Moorland Vision for…

  • Coronavirus crisis: what comes next?

    Coronavirus crisis: what comes next?

    The coronavirus crisis has demonstrated our vulnerability but has also revealed our care, compassion and community spirit. The links we forge now in our communities will stand us in good stead for the work of pushing forward with climate action. It is essential to keep the climate emergency on the agenda. Of course, resources and…