{"id":11260,"date":"2022-03-07T10:47:48","date_gmt":"2022-03-07T09:47:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=11260"},"modified":"2022-03-07T10:47:48","modified_gmt":"2022-03-07T09:47:48","slug":"considering-today-and-tomorrow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=11260","title":{"rendered":"Considering Today and Tomorrow"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

WENVOE FORUM<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Considering Today and Tomorrow<\/b><\/p>\n

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Global gas prices have seen record increases over the last 6 months, with wholesale prices quadrupling in the last year. They are set to rise further, and with the knock-on effect to electricity production, the Ofgem energy price cap is due to increase by \u00a3693 from 1 April for around 22m UK customers. This will impact all of us to a greater or lesser extent, and Government is looking at a range of packages to help alleviate the financial situation.<\/p>\n

A recent article sparked in me a degree of hope. Oxford scientists announced that they had smashed a previous record for generating fusion energy, hailing it as a \u2018milestone\u2019 on the path to cheaper, cleaner power and a cooler planet.<\/p>\n

Nuclear fusion is the process that the sun uses to generate heat. By forcing together atomic nuclei, at high speed, energy can be released and used to generate electricity. Operating the power plants of the future based on fusion would produce no greenhouse gases and only very small amounts of short-lived radioactive waste. Proponents believe it could one day help address climate change by providing an abundant, safe and green source of energy.<\/p>\n

The team at the Joint European Torus (JET) facility at Oxford generated 59 megajoules of energy for five seconds during an experiment in December, more than doubling a 1997 record according to the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).<\/p>\n

That is the equivalent energy needed to power 35,000 homes for the same period of time, or boil 60 kettles. The UKAEA claim the results “are the clearest demonstration worldwide of the potential for fusion energy to deliver safe and sustainable low-carbon energy”.<\/p>\n

Great news I thought, except that the article went on to say that the practical benefits would not be realised for 20 years, at the earliest, more likely during the second half of the century.<\/p>\n

In the slightly nearer-term, wind and solar-power generation is developing along with better insulation projects, heat pumps, hydrogen boilers, energy efficiency schemes and community energy generation, they are expensive but will eventually ease the economic problems and help to address global warming.<\/p>\n

So, what can be done to help bridge the gaps in the meantime? Various websites offer a range of energy- (and money) saving tips that can help.<\/p>\n

The Which website offers 10 key ways to save on energy bills, see below (with more detailed information on their website). The eco-friendly habits website (also below) offers 37 specific tips for both money-saving and energy conservation, and the<\/p>\n

U-switch website (also below) offers a staggering 98 tips. We hope some of these will help.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Review your energy bills: small savings are available<\/li>\n
  2. Choose energy-efficient appliances<\/li>\n
  3. Add to your insulation<\/li>\n
  4. Consider a new boiler<\/li>\n
  5. Replace light bulbs with low-energy options<\/li>\n
  6. Install \/ make use of your central heating controls<\/li>\n
  7. Fit draught proofing<\/li>\n
  8. Use less hot water<\/li>\n
  9. Find out if you could get energy efficiency grants or free cash<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    10.Consider the wider range of quick energy-saving tips<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Finally, if you want to be part of the ongoing Forum discussion and help to shape any future schemes for Wenvoe, please get in touch, via gwenfo.forum @gmail.com.<\/p>\n

    For further reading \/ information:<\/p>\n

    https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2022-02-scientists-britain-fusion-energy.html<\/p>\n

    https:\/\/www.ofgem.gov.uk\/publications\/price-cap-increase-ps693-april<\/p>\n

    https:\/\/www.which.co.uk\/reviews\/cutting-your-energy-bills\/article\/how-to-save-on-your-energy-bill\/10-ways-to-save-on-energy-bills-aX2RS8b8llMR<\/p>\n

    https:\/\/www.ecofriendlyhabits.com\/how-to-conserve-energy\/<\/p>\n

    https:\/\/www.uswitch.com\/energy-efficiency\/free-energy-saving-tips\/<\/p>\n

    In the meantime we\u2019ll be keeping a look out for schemes available in Wales to help those finding energy price increases difficult to manage. We will put information on our Blog site https:\/\/wenvoeforum.wordpress.com\/<\/p>\n

    Any Wenvoe community member is welcome to join the Forum meetings, via Zoom, held at 19.00 on the second Thursday of each month. Next meeting 10th March. E-mail gwenfo.forum@gmail.com if you wish to come along.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n
    \n

     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      WENVOE FORUM Considering Today and Tomorrow Global gas prices have seen record increases over the last 6 months, with wholesale prices quadrupling in the last year. They are set to rise further, and with the knock-on effect to electricity production, the Ofgem energy price cap is due to increase by \u00a3693 from 1 April for around 22m UK customers. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[384],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6cWjO-2VC","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9848,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=9848","url_meta":{"origin":11260,"position":0},"title":"Wenvoe Forum \u2013 Considering Today And Tomorrow","author":"Alan Williams","date":"3rd July 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"A WENVOE FORUM \u2013 CONSIDERING TODAY AND TOMORROW More and different! Recently the Primary school was kind enough to include mention of our survey in its regular newsletter to parents. We were delighted as it brought in lots of new responses. Like the world leaders at the G7 summit in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General Interest Articles"","block_context":{"text":"General Interest Articles","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=334"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/zoom-meet.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/zoom-meet.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/zoom-meet.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/zoom-meet.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14651,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=14651","url_meta":{"origin":11260,"position":1},"title":"The Village Hop Harvest","author":"Alan Williams","date":"9th September 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"WENVOE FORUM Considering Tomorrow Today \u201cThe Village Hop Harvest \u201d Some readers will know that Sian and Steve Jones coordinate the Village HOP Harvest on behalf of the Wenvoe Forum. Our hops go to join a Cardiff community hop growing scheme that results in a beer called Taff Temptress. If\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Wenvoe Forum"","block_context":{"text":"Wenvoe Forum","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=384"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":9616,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=9616","url_meta":{"origin":11260,"position":2},"title":"A Wenvoe Forum","author":"Alan Williams","date":"6th May 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"A WENVOE FORUM Considering Today and Tomorrow Please can you help? Following a call out issued at the beginning of March a small group of like-minded people have met on Zoom to create a think tank or forum to bring together the ideas and aspirations of the village. 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The world around us has changed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Wenvoe Forum"","block_context":{"text":"Wenvoe Forum","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=384"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":16368,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=16368","url_meta":{"origin":11260,"position":4},"title":"Simple Tips for a Sustainable Season","author":"Alan Williams","date":"1st December 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"WENVOE FORUM Considering Tomorrow Today A Greener Christmas \u2013 Simple Tips for a Sustainable Season A forum member points the way to a more sustainable but just as lovely Christmas. This Christmas, a few small changes can make the season brighter for both people and planet: \u2022 Choose a real\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Items for December 2025"","block_context":{"text":"New Items for December 2025","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=428"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":12863,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=12863","url_meta":{"origin":11260,"position":5},"title":"Bees, Beer, Boilers and Brilliant Brains","author":"Alan Williams","date":"1st February 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"WENVOE FORUM Considering tomorrow today Bees, Beer, Boilers and Brilliant Brains Bees Did you know that there are 25 species of bumble bee, 260 species of solitary bee and 1 honey bee species in the UK. 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