just few thoughts about the energy situation

TheGardener

Section62 said:

TheGardener said:

...the average street light is around 80w and think of the lit road signs and street lights, our local authority (relatively rural) has around 200,000 lights
It's entirely possible that the Libraries and Sports centres will be the first to close. 

The regulations on lighting traffic signs have been significantly relaxed over the last 15 years - yet many councils still burn their way through (usually unmetered) electricity unnecessarily, rather than do anything about disconnecting the lighting on signs which don't need it.  Maybe this will be a wakeup to them.

Closing libraries is the last thing they should do.  If lindatoo's idea has a practical application then it would be encouraging those struggling with heating to come into their local library to keep warm.  There are lots of activities people can do in the library, as well as volunteering opportunities.  It would make far more sense to encourage people into the libraries by restoring their opening hours (cut before and during the pandemic).  And there's also the benefit that the more people you have in a room, the less heat you need to add.

I think opening libraries longer would be great - but we only have two left (we once had 7) and one of those is a Victorian energy pit.  Sadly, like the entrance to A&E and the main Council Office Reception area - you would also need to employ security teams to deal with the trouble makers - It may well be a real opportunity for local support in some leafy suburbs where folk can easily walk (and we are assuming mobility here) to a local library but in areas suffering from deprivation I'm not sure it would be popular with the people its aimed at - not least because it's probably a £6 each way taxi ride away. 

[Deleted User]

Martico said:

I know that my City Council (Bristol) is setting up some buildings as "warm banks" from October that people can go to, at least during the day. 
Sad it has to come to this, but it's happening. There are a few similar community schemes being organised as well.

The Council would have a lot more money to play with had it not invested in Bristol Energy. Good to see but these are the actions of a Third-World country. 

brewerdave

Aylesbury_Duck said:

A practical step I and a few friends are discussing is shared evenings.  In much the same way we all grouped together on zoom in the pandemic to keep in touch and share company, in this energy situation, we plan to host board game and film evenings in turn, thereby heating and lighting one house instead of three.  Friday, Saturday and Sundays on a hosting rota.

It's a way to make some modest savings whilst keeping in touch and checking on friends' wellbeing.

That'll be fine....until omichron 876.b4 appears and we are back to self isolating !!

[Deleted User]

brewerdave said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

A practical step I and a few friends are discussing is shared evenings.  In much the same way we all grouped together on zoom in the pandemic to keep in touch and share company, in this energy situation, we plan to host board game and film evenings in turn, thereby heating and lighting one house instead of three.  Friday, Saturday and Sundays on a hosting rota.

It's a way to make some modest savings whilst keeping in touch and checking on friends' wellbeing.

That'll be fine....until omichron 876.b4 appears and we are back to self isolating !!

Perhaps the Government needs to bring back/modify the advice if offered during the drought of 1976 - SAVE WATER ENERGY  - BATH WITH A FRIEND

brewerdave

[Deleted User] said:

brewerdave said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

A practical step I and a few friends are discussing is shared evenings.  In much the same way we all grouped together on zoom in the pandemic to keep in touch and share company, in this energy situation, we plan to host board game and film evenings in turn, thereby heating and lighting one house instead of three.  Friday, Saturday and Sundays on a hosting rota.

It's a way to make some modest savings whilst keeping in touch and checking on friends' wellbeing.

That'll be fine....until omichron 876.b4 appears and we are back to self isolating !!

Perhaps the Government needs to bring back/modify the advice if offered during the drought of 1976 - SAVE WATER ENERGY  - BATH WITH A FRIEND

Or ...as it was modified by many " save water - bath with that nice lady from No.31" !!

Section62

TheGardener said:

I think opening libraries longer would be great - but we only have two left (we once had 7) and one of those is a Victorian energy pit.  Sadly, like the entrance to A&E and the main Council Office Reception area - you would also need to employ security teams to deal with the trouble makers - It may well be a real opportunity for local support in some leafy suburbs where folk can easily walk (and we are assuming mobility here) to a local library but in areas suffering from deprivation I'm not sure it would be popular with the people its aimed at - not least because it's probably a £6 each way taxi ride away. 

Does your area not participate in the national free bus travel scheme(s) for older people?

artyboy

Section62 said:

TheGardener said:

I think opening libraries longer would be great - but we only have two left (we once had 7) and one of those is a Victorian energy pit.  Sadly, like the entrance to A&E and the main Council Office Reception area - you would also need to employ security teams to deal with the trouble makers - It may well be a real opportunity for local support in some leafy suburbs where folk can easily walk (and we are assuming mobility here) to a local library but in areas suffering from deprivation I'm not sure it would be popular with the people its aimed at - not least because it's probably a £6 each way taxi ride away. 

Does your area not participate in the national free bus travel scheme(s) for older people?

You could definitely imagine a demographic shift on the night buses this winter - less drunken revellers, and more older people trying to get some kip in the warm.

The OP makes some valid points though and it's a refreshing change from the recent deluge of threads demanding windfall taxes and subsidies with no understanding of the macro implications. 

Spoonie_Turtle

Section62 said:

TheGardener said:

I think opening libraries longer would be great - but we only have two left (we once had 7) and one of those is a Victorian energy pit.  Sadly, like the entrance to A&E and the main Council Office Reception area - you would also need to employ security teams to deal with the trouble makers - It may well be a real opportunity for local support in some leafy suburbs where folk can easily walk (and we are assuming mobility here) to a local library but in areas suffering from deprivation I'm not sure it would be popular with the people its aimed at - not least because it's probably a £6 each way taxi ride away. 

Does your area not participate in the national free bus travel scheme(s) for older people?

You guys have buses?

TheGardener

Section62 said:

TheGardener said:

I think opening libraries longer would be great - but we only have two left (we once had 7) and one of those is a Victorian energy pit.  Sadly, like the entrance to A&E and the main Council Office Reception area - you would also need to employ security teams to deal with the trouble makers - It may well be a real opportunity for local support in some leafy suburbs where folk can easily walk (and we are assuming mobility here) to a local library but in areas suffering from deprivation I'm not sure it would be popular with the people its aimed at - not least because it's probably a £6 each way taxi ride away. 

Does your area not participate in the national free bus travel scheme(s) for older people?

You are assuming that the person(s) who might benefit is/are a) all over 65 b) there is a bus that goes from their house anywhere near our remaining 2 libraries and c) that there is even a bus. 
Our local minicab firms ran a relentless undercutting of local buses by offering £1 each way fares to the town centers. After 18 months or so the Buses pulled out as they couldn't get enough passengers and the council subsidies were axed anyway. As soon as the buses folded, the minicab fares went back to a fiver each way - I think they call that free market capitalism...

@artyboy...you have night buses!! 

bagand96

lindatoo said:

Should we not be offering warm havens, places where the elderly can sit and be warm, get hot drinks etc again free of charge. 

Seen in mentioned elsewhere.... Sounds like Wetherspoons! Coffee will cost you £1.25 but is free refills all day. They have the BBC News on TVs in a lot of pubs. Usually a couple of newspapers knocking around too. Could easily kill a few hours.