September 2014 Newsletter
People's Climate March
Homes fit for Oxford’s future: free event
Neighbourhood Forum: St Margaret's and Summertown
Oncore update
Low Carbon Hub community share offer
Fossil Free Oxford victory and screening of disruption
Calling all landlords
SuperHomes
Naomi Klein book launch- Wednesday 8 October, Sheldonian Theatre
LCON on social media
People's Climate March: 21 September, London
A reminder that LCON plans to join the People's Climate March taking place in London on 21
September. If there is sufficient interest, we are looking into providing subsidised coach
travel. If you’d like to come, please let us know before 5 pm on Tuesday 16 September by
email: info@lcon.org.uk or call/text 077699 16824.
Homes fit for Oxford's future: Thursday 9 October 5-7 pm, NOA
Are you trying to improve your property in an energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly way,
but don’t know who to employ to do it? Have you had problems in the past with getting
green recommendations from your builder? Please come along to our LCON event on 9
October from 5 - 7 pm at the the North Oxford Association building, main hall, off Diamond
Place car park (biscuits and tea will be available from 4.30).
Our speaker is Russell Smith from Parity Projects, who will talk to us about how to make our
homes Fit for the Future and how we as householders can talk to our advisers, to get what we
want and need. We are also inviting local trades-people, architects and surveyors to come
and hear what he says and be similarly enthused and enlightened.
Come and demonstrate to our local workforce that there is a demand for low-carbon activity
in North Oxford. Whether you are coming or not, please send a one-sentence summary of
your views to Brenda.Boardman@ouce.ox.ac.uk, as we want to have a series of quotes
around the room, to demonstrate that there is a market for informed, helpful, green builders.
Do pass on this invitation to anyone you know in the local construction industry who might be
interested and ask them to reply to lucy.dickinson@lcon.org.uk (text or mobile: 077699
16824) if they are coming so we have a record of who is interested. A poster/flier is also
available on our website if you are able to help publicise this event.
Neighbourhood Forum: St Margaret's and Summertown
LCON is at the heart of plans to develop a Neighbourhood plan for the area. There are two
upcoming meetings which we would encourage LCON members to attend to give your views
about the ideas and plans that are emerging.
On Monday 15 September at 8 pm a meeting will be held at St Margaret’s Institute. You will
be able to have your say in the theme areas of Community and Health, Environment, Housing,
Retail and Transport. This is taking place at an early stage and offers an opportunity to
influence the emerging shape of the ideas. All are welcome to attend.
On Wednesday 30 October at 7.30pm at the NOA, the Neighbourhood Forum holds its AGM
and elects officers etc. At this point there will be a presentation and discussion on transport
in the area. This is topical in light of the Northern Gateway development and the new Water
Eaton station. Both will have big impacts on Summertown and St Margaret’s.
Oncore update
We are delighted to be able to report that Oncore's fifth set of solar panels have now gone
live at the Cherwell School. Oncore was originally set up by LCON, and this latest installation
brings the total to two on St Barnabas and three on the Cherwell School. Proceeds are shared
by the school, the shareholders and by LCON and the roofs have been producing above
expected levels of electricity so far. Further to this we are pleased to report that the young of
St Barnabas school have been very excited by what’s going on above their heads – and have
been measuring the results in units of party balloons filled with CO2, metaphorically at least!
Three departments at Cherwell have been writing new lesson plans (supported by Oncore) to
find new ways of building in the science into their curriculums.
Low Carbon Hub community share offer
On 23 September the Low Carbon Hub will launch its community share offer. For LCON
supporters familiar with the Oncore schemes, this new initiative offers the opportunity to
invest in a new wave of renewable energy projects for Oxfordshire. The Hub is looking to
raise £1.5 million through this community share offer to develop 1MW of solar PV on 20 local
schools and renewables with several local businesses. They are also looking for people to take
part in a big-bang social media action (a ‘Thunderclap’) to spread the word: visit this page to
take part.
Fossil Free Oxford victory and screening of Disruption: 15 September, 7 pm- The Vaults
University Church, 1 Radcliffe Square
This summer Oxford City Council (by near unanimous vote!) became the first in the UK to stop
direct investments of City Council money in fossil fuel companies and the industry doing the
most to block progress on climate change. In celebration of this achievement, 350.Org has
organised a screening of Disruption, the latest film investigating the climate crisis and the
growing movement to battle it. The film features commentary from leading voices on climate
science, politics, and social change over the last half century to lay out the reality of our
situation, and make a compelling call for bold action.
Calling all landlords
One of the areas uncovered by LCON has been the impact that landlords in the area can have
on the energy performance of their tenants. We have discovered that tenants are often
unprepared to make any significant changes to the houses they live in (to make them more
energy efficient) as the main beneficiary is their landlord. Similarly, the landlord is
disinterested in making changes since the tenant is the one who will benefit from lower
energy bills. Result? Some very poorly performing houses in the area. The government has
seen this issue and has offered tax breaks to landlords to invest in their property. It’s called
LESA, Landlord Energy Saving Allowance. In this way landlords can carry out energy efficiency
changes – up to £1500 per property and claim them back against tax. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that this finishes by April 2015. So, if you know of any landlords encourage
them to make their property greener this way. Or if you are a tenant, why not politely
engaging with your landlord and suggesting what they might do.
SuperHomes
Along with the open Oxford event which took place this weekend, SuperHomes has
announced its examples of homes which are open for visitors to see. There are two within
easy range in Oxford plus many elsewhere nationally. As an inspiration to those who are
contemplating making your house more energy efficient, this is well worth doing. Their
website is at www.superhomes.org.uk.
Naomi Klein book launch- Wednesday 8 October, Sheldonian Theatre 7-9 pm
COIN is hosting the launch of Naomi Klein’s new book on Climate Change, introduced by
Dame Vivienne Westwood. In This Changes Everything, Klein argues that climate change isn’t
just another issue to be filed between taxes and health care. It’s an alarm that calls us to fix
an economic system that is already failing us in many ways. This is sure to be an exciting and
provocative event.
LCON on social media
Did you know that we have both a Twitter account and a Facebook page? On Twitter, we're
@LowCon - do follow us (we’ll follow you back). To find us on Facebook, search for Low
Carbon Oxford North and then ask to join the group.