Sustainable Seaton

SSTT were delighted to organise the recycling at the recent major Grizzly run that starts and finishes in Seaton each year.

Invitation to a talk :

‘Save Energy, Save Money and Live Better’’

Advice and information on how to reduce your fuel bills and your carbon footprint –

good for your bank balance as well as the environment. Plus find out the latest on climate change.

You can’t afford to miss it.

THURSDAY MARCH 24^TH 7.30 P.M. THE KING’S SCHOOL, OTTERY ST.MARY

Speakers from the head of Climate Change at The Met Office, energy savings experts and organisers of local car and lift -sharing schemes.

Organised by Sustainable Ottery. For more information see www.sustainableottery.org.uk

or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or tel. 01404 811067.

All Good Green Fun

Seaton eco-enthusiast, Claire Wise has become one of the first people to test drive a revolutionary new electric car.

Claire, who is a member of Sustainable Seaton jumped at the chance to drive the Nissan leaf, which is 100% electric and uses no fossil fuels at all.

She took to roads in the car earlier this week and couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel.

“I used to be rather a ‘petrol head’ with a passion for driving!” She says, “So I was delighted to receive an invite from Nissan, to the launch of a car that I really could get excited about!”

The Nissan Leaf is the world’s first mass-produced 5 seat family car with no oil, no petrol tank, no exhaust, and no emissions!  It is due to be produced in their Sunderland factory as from 2013.

After her drive Claire gave us her first impressions:

“At first glance, the ‘Leaf’ looks no different to many modern family cars, “but to drive is to feel the difference…  Acceleration from 0 to 30mph is silent and speedy, with 30mph onwards less obviously different. It felt more like driving an automatic with attitude!  Acceleration is instant and keen.”

“On opening the bonnet there are unexpected similarities to conventional cars – the inverter takes centre stage just above the motor. The engine bay appears to an untrained eye to be full of engine!  The batteries are concealed beneath the seats in a sealed compartment, and are just about invisible.  The charging socket is neatly hidden centrally below the bonnet, looking rather like a petrol cap. The vehicle has all the features that drivers have come to expect from a quality family car, with air con, and an array of computer-based functions all accessed by the satellite navigation screen.”

“So to the practicalities... Just imagine not having to spend all that money filling up the car petrol tank!  The batteries range is 100 miles, so the average commute or daily trip falls well within this distance.  The Leaf can be charged via any mains connection, though ultimately there will be fast charge points providing 80% charge in 30mins, which will enable longer journeys. There is no battery memory, so daily charging would ensure a range of 100 miles most of the time.  The car comes with a standard three years cover, while the batteries are guaranteed for five years - by which time the worst predicted depletion should leave 80% of the original power.  The batteries are expected to have a ten year life, and then rather than total replacement I understand that only certain parts of the battery would need renewing.

“To sum up, this car has already been named ‘car of the year 2011’.    The Leaf is radically different whilst feeling amazingly conventional.   I hope that the Leaf replaces the juice guzzlers far and wide on daily school runs and commutes!”

 More details on the Leaf here:  http://www.nissan.co.uk/#vehicles/electricvehicles/leaf

http://www.communitysense.co.uk/reports/Localism_Community_Summary.pdf

The above link is a page summary of the localism bill.