Carbon Co-op at Hardy Lane

South Manchester Co-op Members Group meeting open to all members of The Co-operative, not just the Co-op Party in South Manchester.

Wednesday 9th November 2011 at 1930h Hardy Lane Co-op Rooms
The Guest speaker will be Nigel Rose on “The Carbon Co-op and Chorlton refurbishment group”. The Carbon Co-op aims to "make it simple, cheap and easy for households, streets and neighbourhoods to come together to retrofit their houses through the purchase of low-carbon and energy-saving equipment."

Carbon Co-op

Greener Together

"Greener Together is an ambitious and dynamic project. The core focus is to engage, support and provide the means to share lifestyle changes that reduce members’ and customers’ environmental impact in the areas of energy, waste and personal transport."

Greener Together- the co-operative way is part of the Greener Living Fund sponsored by Defra. Good ideas but we'll see what happens, if anything other than boxes ticked...

Hydro Scheme For Stockport

Two hydro power schemes have been given the go-ahead in Stockport. Otterspool Weir and Stringer Weir are archimedian screw setups which together will generate over 500MWh/yr. H2oPE a social enterprise is developing the two sites for construction in 2010.

Both schemes will be owned by the community with surplus profits funding further environmental schemes in Stockport.

The schemes are to be funded by a mixture of grants, a share offer and bank loan. Share prospectus are due out early next year and there will soon be a web site for your to register your interest in receiving a copy. We will announce this when it is online.

H2oPE is funded by the Co-operative Group, Joseph Rowntrees Charitable Trust and Key Fund Yorkshire.

There is a Plan B

The Co-operative has launched Plan Bee, a new campaign and 10-point plan to help reverse the worrying decline in the British bee population.

Better than that you can join in with positive action if you have a garden or allotment. All simple practical steps like letting a patch of grass grow long, buying a bee box at a subsidised price, planting some patches of wild flowers (I'd certainly recommend borage as they little blighters spend summer buzzing all over them at my allotment).... More info

Recycled Bio-Fuel Co-op

There used to be a small co-op in Manchester that sold bio-diesel from throwaway cooking oil. Unfortunately it closed back in 2006, but economics change, and if the barrels of oil continue to march to $150 and maybe a change in the duties levied this form of business will be available in every conurbation. It's ideal for a co-operative solution.

Already off the mark is one in Bolton. Their website stresses no fresh oil and no palm oil is used which allays fears of the growing of crops to fill petrol tanks instead of feeding people.

Story in Bolton Evening News
Bolton Alternative Fuels Cooperative

Fair & Square Project

The Fair and Square project aims to bring information to concerned consumers through a programme of educational work within the co-operative movement. It's being run by the Co-operative College with funding from the Department for International Development.
Website.

Power from Energy Co-ops

There is an eight page spread in the current issue of New Sector - the magazine of democratic enterprise and community control - devoted to renewable energy co-operatives. You can read it here

Didn't realise there were so many. But as the editor David Parker points out elsewhere in the magazine. "If community co-operatives generating power from renewable resources is such a good idea why aren't the Brits doing it? ...but there impact is tiny compared with Denmark where about 80% of wind generating capacity is community owned."

There are plans for water powered turbines in New Mills, Derbyshire which isn't far from here...I can see a trip coming up.

Environment Conference

The Co-operative are organising a conference on the Environment in Manchester. At the swishy Bridgewater Hall no less, on Saturday 31st May. There are options to visit Waste Works - The Co-operative Recycling Centre, not sure where that is, but it can't be far away.

Bags of them

If there was a time for a grassroots political campaign to become legislation then that time has arrived for abolishing disposable plastic carrier bags. Let's face it we don't really need another when we've gone through a couple of dozen this month. Lots of mixed messages this week that skirt around the edges. The Prime Minister announces something is going to be done, M&S are going to charge 5p for a bag, The Co-operative have fairtrade long life cotton bags on special offer.

Now....
"The Co-operative is to run a six-week trial of home-compostable carrier bags in a bid to encourage shoppers to cut down on free, throwaway plastic bags. The scheme will run at 11 stores in Northampton."
Talking Retail

However, it's not just the issue of landfill it's the waste of resources of oil and energy to make something that''s going to be used for a couple of minutes. Customers are price sensitive, 5p is too cheap and voluntary action hasn't had enough take up, so maybe a tax of 20p per bag would change things.

Co-op out in front on sustainability

"Who can catch the Co-op? At the Co-op, sustainability isn't simply a business aim, it is part of its strategy. That it has also been so successful puts its competitors to shame"...article by Helen Carter in The Guardian on Monday 5th November.

There is also an video of a speech by Paul Monaghan, the head of ethics and sustainability at the Co-op Group, talking about its efforts to combat climate change. Four points in four minutes - worth watching. Article / Video

Renewable Co-ops

The UK has achieved little so far on renewables and there is a 20 percent EU target set for 2020 - see Guardian report 13th August. Some of what has been achieved has been by co-operatives. The Summer Newsletter from Energy4All (slogan : delivering community-owned green power) tells of reports from four co-operatives in different parts of Britain delivering the megawatts. Also a new Skye.Coop who will be making a share issue this autumn to build 10 x. 2MW turbines.

Links : Energy4All ; Baywind Co-op; Westmill Co-op; Boyndie Co-op; Fens Co-op; Skye.Coop
Co-operative Party : Energy & Carbon Reduction policy was announced in May - Link.

Co-operative Green Buildings

You'll be aware of co-operatives gaining green credentials by not just talking the maxims but actually constructing in an eco-way e.g. CIS Tower solar panels.

Unicorn Co-operative Grocery, Chorlton, Manchester are completing their green roof - but it actually comes in brown, complete with wooden decked area. "The roof – which will measure almost 385 square meters – will be made up of a sedum area, a brown area and a wetland, including a pond which will be filled with rain water.

The biodiversity project has been funded by the community organisation, SITA Trust, through the Landfill Communities Fund, and work has been carried out by volunteers from the conservation charity, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers" Story & photos in South Manchester Reporter - Link

Preview video of roof under construction 1.28 seconds. Link

The Co-operative Bank is working in conjunction with Living Space 21 to offer affordable sustainable housing. You need to check out Livingspace.co.uk to see the £60,000 homes on offer - though will need some land and planning permission to go with that low price tag.