CLIMATE REPORT AND ITS LOCAL IMPACT
On 1st March, the TWRA held a public meeting to discuss climate change and local impacts.
There have been variations in the Earth’s climate ever since the planet was formed, and changes in our climate for as long as mankind has been around. But we are now seeing more significant and faster changes in the planet’s temperature from the increased presence of greenhouse gases. As the planet heats, the atmosphere has more energy, and this energy will be released as more extreme events in our weather – more droughts, more extreme hot and cold periods, and more frequent and violent storms, with stronger winds and larger deluges of rainfall.
What about local impacts? At the meeting we were given some examples of these, such as where people had paved over front gardens and drives with impermeable hard surfacing to create space for parking cars. These impermeable drives discharge water to the road, where previously the ground used to soak up such rainfall. In many places our local drainage systems just can’t cope with the greater volume of water being shed from hard paving during ever stronger storms. These hard-paved front drives can contribute to flooding someone else’s house down the hill. Letting surface water drain onto the public highway rather than into a soakaway or onto one’s land can be an illegal discharge of water. In 2008, new rules for paving were brought in concerning permeable surfaces. *
There have been variations in the Earth’s climate ever since the planet was formed, and changes in our climate for as long as mankind has been around. But we are now seeing more significant and faster changes in the planet’s temperature from the increased presence of greenhouse gases. As the planet heats, the atmosphere has more energy, and this energy will be released as more extreme events in our weather – more droughts, more extreme hot and cold periods, and more frequent and violent storms, with stronger winds and larger deluges of rainfall.
What about local impacts? At the meeting we were given some examples of these, such as where people had paved over front gardens and drives with impermeable hard surfacing to create space for parking cars. These impermeable drives discharge water to the road, where previously the ground used to soak up such rainfall. In many places our local drainage systems just can’t cope with the greater volume of water being shed from hard paving during ever stronger storms. These hard-paved front drives can contribute to flooding someone else’s house down the hill. Letting surface water drain onto the public highway rather than into a soakaway or onto one’s land can be an illegal discharge of water. In 2008, new rules for paving were brought in concerning permeable surfaces. *
We must all accept personal responsibility not just for our own use of fossil fuels, but for other things we affect personally as a result of our actions.
The TWRA explained how we are committed to the protection of the character and environment of our villages. We involve ourselves with issues such as reporting local flooding, and bringing the risk of it to the attention of the local council when planning applications are made that may make it worse. Development on previously open ground stops rainfall reaching our deep aquifers, because earth that previously absorbed rainfall is now bricks and mortar. Again, that water has to go somewhere!
From the RBBC’s Sustainability Officer (Alan Mills) we learned how the strategies for adapting to climate change cascade from the international agreement at Paris, down to the UK Climate Change Act of 2008, to the Net Zero Strategy Review of 2022. RBBC has itself developed an Environmental Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan (2020), which targets net zero direct Council carbon emissions by 2030 and net zero Borough carbon emissions by 2050. This strategy includes:
The TWRA explained how we are committed to the protection of the character and environment of our villages. We involve ourselves with issues such as reporting local flooding, and bringing the risk of it to the attention of the local council when planning applications are made that may make it worse. Development on previously open ground stops rainfall reaching our deep aquifers, because earth that previously absorbed rainfall is now bricks and mortar. Again, that water has to go somewhere!
From the RBBC’s Sustainability Officer (Alan Mills) we learned how the strategies for adapting to climate change cascade from the international agreement at Paris, down to the UK Climate Change Act of 2008, to the Net Zero Strategy Review of 2022. RBBC has itself developed an Environmental Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan (2020), which targets net zero direct Council carbon emissions by 2030 and net zero Borough carbon emissions by 2050. This strategy includes:
- Better energy management
- Building decarbonisation
- Electrification of heating
- Improved insulation
- Solar power generation
- Switching vehicle fleets to electric power (including refuse lorries)
By now we know and understand the science and what is happening to our planet as a result of greater quantities of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.
Solar radiation, which warms the planet is short-wave radiation. Short-wave radiation can penetrate the Earth's atmosphere, although some is reflected back into space.
The Earth's heat is radiated as long-wave radiation, though, and increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reflect more of this back to the planet, preventing it radiating back into space.
This increase in heat retained by the planet is the main cause of climate change.
Thus, the Earth's temperature rises. This can have dramatic effects on weather patterns, resulting in a greater frequency of some of the extremes we have seen in recent years.
Solar radiation, which warms the planet is short-wave radiation. Short-wave radiation can penetrate the Earth's atmosphere, although some is reflected back into space.
The Earth's heat is radiated as long-wave radiation, though, and increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reflect more of this back to the planet, preventing it radiating back into space.
This increase in heat retained by the planet is the main cause of climate change.
Thus, the Earth's temperature rises. This can have dramatic effects on weather patterns, resulting in a greater frequency of some of the extremes we have seen in recent years.
These are among a range of related measures the Council plans to take in terms of its own energy use and emissions; however, the Council itself is only responsible for about 1% of emissions within the borough.
In terms of what we can do as individuals in our homes, suggestions included switching to a green tariff and better insulation. Heat pumps were also discussed – both air source and ground source versions are available – and these are fast becoming an effective solution for reducing heating bills. Admittedly, though, they are not suitable for all locations or building types. One easy ‘win’ is to install solar PV, and discussion included Council-sponsored schemes for group purchase of SPV roof installations. Those on low incomes and with and hard-to-heat homes may be eligible for government grants to reduce energy use and reduce costs.
Graham Burr from EARR (Energy Action Redhill & Reigate Ltd – A Community Benefit Society) offered many tips on how to both reduce our carbon footprint and energy use, and generate personal cost savings at the same time. Simple measures to reduce heat loss from our homes can do both – for example, making better use of insulation, reducing air leakage, and optimising radiator thermostat settings around our houses. We learned that turning the central heating thermostat down one degree can save around 10% of your heating bill.
EARR offers free home energy usage surveys (though donations are welcome) of local resident’s homes, including using a thermal camera outside your house to assess its heat loss. They will discuss the findings with you and provide a tailor-made report, including photos, to help you reduce energy usage and save money.
There are many things we can all do to offset the local impacts of climate change, save ourselves some money, and which all contribute to ‘doing our bit’ for the planet – and for future generations.
If you are interested in finding out more or would like a free home energy survey, please use the Contact page to get in touch with Jeff Temple, who will be happy to put you in touch with the appropriate contacts.
If you wish to view the presentation slides from RBBC and from EARR, please click those links.
* Since 2008, paving over more than 5 sq. m. of domestic front gardens is only allowed under permitted development rules if the surface is permeable, or if it discharges to a permeable surface or soakaway. Otherwise it requires planning permission. Discharge of water to the public roads and drainage systems is not legal under the Highways Act. See the GOV.UK guidance notes here with examples of different permeable surfaces that can be used within permitted development rules.
In terms of what we can do as individuals in our homes, suggestions included switching to a green tariff and better insulation. Heat pumps were also discussed – both air source and ground source versions are available – and these are fast becoming an effective solution for reducing heating bills. Admittedly, though, they are not suitable for all locations or building types. One easy ‘win’ is to install solar PV, and discussion included Council-sponsored schemes for group purchase of SPV roof installations. Those on low incomes and with and hard-to-heat homes may be eligible for government grants to reduce energy use and reduce costs.
Graham Burr from EARR (Energy Action Redhill & Reigate Ltd – A Community Benefit Society) offered many tips on how to both reduce our carbon footprint and energy use, and generate personal cost savings at the same time. Simple measures to reduce heat loss from our homes can do both – for example, making better use of insulation, reducing air leakage, and optimising radiator thermostat settings around our houses. We learned that turning the central heating thermostat down one degree can save around 10% of your heating bill.
EARR offers free home energy usage surveys (though donations are welcome) of local resident’s homes, including using a thermal camera outside your house to assess its heat loss. They will discuss the findings with you and provide a tailor-made report, including photos, to help you reduce energy usage and save money.
There are many things we can all do to offset the local impacts of climate change, save ourselves some money, and which all contribute to ‘doing our bit’ for the planet – and for future generations.
If you are interested in finding out more or would like a free home energy survey, please use the Contact page to get in touch with Jeff Temple, who will be happy to put you in touch with the appropriate contacts.
If you wish to view the presentation slides from RBBC and from EARR, please click those links.
* Since 2008, paving over more than 5 sq. m. of domestic front gardens is only allowed under permitted development rules if the surface is permeable, or if it discharges to a permeable surface or soakaway. Otherwise it requires planning permission. Discharge of water to the public roads and drainage systems is not legal under the Highways Act. See the GOV.UK guidance notes here with examples of different permeable surfaces that can be used within permitted development rules.
