Further update on this pollution incident. The septic tank owner has fixed an electrical fault and has had the tank emptied. We have added the Run Meadow stream onto the Deben Climate Centre monthly water sampling ‘safaris’ to ensure it stays clean!

For more information on the citizen science water sampling project and the Four Rivers project go to https://www.debenclimate.org/four-rivers

At the time of writing, the situation in the Middle East continues to put upwards pressure on the world’s oil and gas prices and hence on nations’ energy bills. For example, the price of oil and hence petrol and diesel are driven by the global oil price as it is traded as a global commodity.

The political debate rages on how to reduce the UK’s energy dependence and hence security on global oil and gas markets. As ordinary citizens this is very frustrating as we cannot influence global events, oil and gas supply and global energy prices. What we can do however, is to take steps to improve our own energy security. Here are steps that you can start to consider in rough order of cost/payback (but note that there are grants and cheap/zero percent loans available to do these steps for free or more cheaply for those on lower incomes):

1) Improve insulation i.e. reduce heat losses from your home. Loft insulation (300mm) is a ‘no brainer’ and other measures such as heavy curtains and chimney and door/window draught excluders can make a real difference. Cavity wall insulation and double/triple glazing are also considerations but more expensive.

2) Become your own mini power station by having solar panels installed (and remember, east-west facing roof is as good as a south facing roof ). Payback is usually less than 10 years especially if you are using or planning to use more electricity (e.g. switching to an induction hob for cooking). Payback is quicker the more you switch away from fossil fuels.

3) A decent sized battery (suggest 10kWh or more for a medium sized home) allows you to switch to a cheap night rate tariff, fill up your battery overnight and use it to run some or all the house during the more expensive daytime. Some battery systems will see you through any power cuts too. Coupled with solar panels you can fill up some of the battery in the daytime to run the house at night.

4) If you have an oil-fired boiler then switching to a heat pump will save running costs (but make sure you get a competent installer to ensure good efficiency) and even compared to gas, a well installed air source heat pump system will be on a par or cheaper then running a gas boiler (and no more gas standing charges!). The £7.5k grant for air-water systems and £2.5k grant for air-air (probably more suitable for smaller homes) makes the installation cost often as good or cheaper than a new boiler.

If you want to discuss these sorts of steps, get in touch at the e-mail below or drop in at the Martlesham Repair hub or the Deben Climate Centre hub at Woodbridge usually open 10-13.00.

The next Repair Hubs are 10-12, on Saturday, 9th May and Saturday 13th June in the Parish Room (old Felixstowe Rd near big Tescos) as usual. If you have items to repair, you can also take them to the Repair Shed off Sandy Lane. See https://suffolkrepairshed.org I should also be there with information and leaflets on insulation, warm home grants, solar PV, heat pumps and other advice on how we can all do our bit to tackle an increasingly scary climate crisis and save on energy bills. Alternatively, why not drop into the Deben Climate Centre floating hub at Whisstocks in Woodbridge (by the Quay café) for advice. It is staffed by volunteers 10.00 – 13.00.

Dave Green, co-chair Martlesham Climate Action (a Parish Council working group)

Website: www.martleshamclimateaction.onesuffolk.net

E-mail: martleshamclimateaction@btinternet.com

Bluesky: @martleshamca.bsky.social