Aird Community Trust (ACT)

Category: News

  • Energy Efficiency Programme – July Update

    Free home insulation and other benefits

    If you own or rent your home privately, receive benefits or are aged 70 or over, then your insulation might be free. And even if you don’t own your own home, you could get other money saving offers through the Energy Assistance Package. The local Energy Saving Scotland advice centre in Inverness can check if you might be entitled to discounted energy rates and extra benefits. If so, they can help you to get them.

    The Scottish Government’s Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS) may also offer you free loft and cavity wall insulation, depending on where you live. To find out if you live in a UHIS area and what UHIS can offer you, call the free phone Home Energy Hotline on 0800 512 012.

     

    Scotland plans 30% renewables target by 2020

    The Scottish government has announced revised renewable energy targets, pledging to meet 30 per cent of energy demand from renewables by 2020. Plans will also hope to deliver 500MW of community-owned renewable energy by this date.

    A new “Renewables Routemap”, outlines how the country can meet the targets and capitalise on the economic potential of Scotland’s green
    energy capacity. Previously, Scotland had planned to meet a 20 per cent renewables target by 2020, a goal that it was on track to succeed. New targets will also see the nation generate 11 per cent of heat from renewables by the end of the decade. This could be an interesting alternative to the oil and LPG heating many of us rely on in rural areas.

    If you are interested in renewable energy for your home, come along to Kirkhill primary school on the 29th October when we will have renewable energy suppliers and installers on hand to answers your questions about suitable kit.

     

    Nearly a quarter of UK households in fuel poverty

    Research published in July revealed almost one-quarter of UK households are now classed as being in fuel poverty. It reveals that 6.3 million homes in the UK now struggle to pay their energy bills signalling that fuel poverty is no longer an issue just for lower income households.

    Fuel poverty is classified as households having to pay more than ten per cent of their income towards energy bills. There are 2 ways a household can protect themselves from fuel poverty – pay the lowest possible energy prices and learning how to use less of it.

     

    Home Energy Checks.

    A simple way to find out how you can make your home more energy efficient and if you will qualify for subsidised or free insulation tops ups is to complete a Home Energy Check. These are a very simple, user friendly list of questions supplied by the Energy Saving Scotland advice centre, a Government funded team. There is a local office in Inverness which supports our Programme and they are happy to chat with residents and provide advice and information as well as the Home Energy Checks. The office can be contacted on the following free phone
    number 0800 512 012.

     

     

  • Energy Efficiency Programme – June Update

    To help raise awareness of energy efficiency issues we will be producing these monthly updates with some short snippets of helpful information.

    Energy prices on the rise again.

    If you have been following the news this month, I am sure you will have noticed how one of the large energy companies announced significant price rises. Annual gas bills will increase 19% with electricity prices rising 10%. These increases will be introduced in the autumn. There are 6 main energy suppliers in the UK and the usual practice is for one to raise prices, with the others following a short while after. Being aware of the different prices or tariffs offered by the energy suppliers and switching between them is one way to reduce energy bills and free up some money for energy efficiency activity in your home. With a reputed 300 tariffs available from the energy suppliers, making use of price comparison web sites are invaluable.

    First community electricity monitor volunteers.

    Five families in the Kirkhill and Bunchrew area have received their free monitors to help raise awareness of how electricity is used in their homes. Easy to install, these monitors show how many units of electricity are being used throughout the day and the subsequent cost. Volunteers will be reporting back on some of the changes they have made as a result of using the monitors. The monitors are supplied free for a three month period, if you would like one please give Archie a ring on 07584 297485.

    Home Energy Checks.

    A simple way to find out how you can make your home more energy efficient and if you will qualify for subsidised or free insulation tops ups is to complete a Home Energy Check.  These are a very simple, user friendly list of questions supplied by the Energy Saving Scotland advice centre, a Government funded team. There is a local office in Inverness who supports our Programme and they are happy to chat with residents and provide advice and information as well as the Home Energy Checks.  The office can be contacted on the following free phone number 0800 512 012

    Renewable Energy Fair – Date for your Diary.

    We will be organising a renewable energy fair on the 29th October to help raise awareness of renewable energy and low carbon heating solutions. Chris Ford, the head teacher of Kirkhill Primary School has kindly offered room in the school. Local renewable energy kit suppliers are being invited to attend and we hope to have a range of speakers to answer queries on domestic renewable energy systems.

  • Volunteers Get Tough On Alien Weed

    It’s feared the spread of a dangerously invasive plant from the Orient could soon threaten fragile wildlife habitats in the Moniack Gorge. Worried residents in the Clunes area grew alarmed last summer when Himalayan Balsam was discovered near water courses draining into the Moniack Burn. Also known as Policeman’s Helmet, Himalayan Balsam has already taken root in a number of local gardens and surrounding marshy areas. Indeed it was gardeners from Kew who first introduced this relative of the Busy Lizzie to the UK more than a century ago. Its pretty, pink, orchid like flowers are also attractive to pollinating insects. Alas the botanical experiment soon backfired spectacularly with its escape into the wild. Experts warn if it isn’t controlled it will soon choke native plants to oblivion and cause erosion. Nobody wants that to happen along the Moniack Burn – a designated SSSI.

    Last summer local resident Gordon Fisher – with support from Kirkhill and Bunchrew Community Trust – organised a series of work parties to attack the weed’s march of destruction. Its ability to spread is quite breathtaking. It quickly forms dense clumps up to 3 metres high. The seed heads react to the slightest disturbance and explode hundreds of seeds a distance of 7 metres. These seeds can survive two years in the ground or be transported even further through water courses. Specialists at SNH have been consulted and fully support the work already underway by the community volunteers.  However more help is needed over the coming weeks. Himalayan Balsam is an annual. In fact it is believed to be one of the fastest growing annual plants in the UK, and is also recognised by environmental agencies as one of the most destructive species of non native weed. So it has to be uprooted and destroyed before the explosive seed heads get a chance to form.  Experts advise that because the seeds only last 2-3 years the problem is very controllable – if it is tackled consistently over two or three successive seasons.  This summer’s work is being carried out under the auspices of the Trust to build on the start which was made by last year’s local volunteers

    The battle is already all but lost in some other parts of the UK. Please prevent this happening in the area feeding into the Moniack Burn. If you can spare a few hours please contact Gordon Fisher on 01463 831540 and join one of this summer’s work parties.  The good news is the roots of the mature Himalayan Balsam are easily pulled out. It isn’t toxic and doesn’t sting.

    So make new friends. Help to eradicate Himalayan Balsam. Above all SAVE OUR GORGE.

    Further Information: Royal Horticultural Society or Garden Organic

  • Crannog: Summer 2011

  • Kirkhill Gala programme out now!

    Kirkhill Gala Programme 2011

    The Kirkhill Gala Week programme is now out. Running from the 28th May to the 4th of June it’s a fun packed week with plenty to do for all ages. Tickets are sure to go quickly for the fashion show at Achnagairn House and Gala Dance so snap yours up now (details in the gala week programme). Gala Day also looks set to be bigger and better than last year (which was amazing) with something for all the family.

    Gala week programme

    Gala Day programme

    All funds raised go towards the running and future development on Kirkhill Community Centre managed by Kirkhill District Amentities Association.

  • Sliding all the way

    Sixteen scouts from 7th Inverness (Kirkhill) Scout Group between the ages of 11 and 14 attended an amazing ski weekend at Cairngorm, Aviemore in April. We stayed in the comfortable Highland Council Lodges at Badaguish near Aviemore. This meant we were close to slopes for a quick start. The ski equipment and two days of ski instruction were provided by the Highland Council instructors Ron, Davey and Alastair. The scouts were divided into beginner and intermediate groups and after kitting out went off with their instructors. The weather was a bit of a challenge with some high winds and icy slopes but the instructors knew the best spots and we all learned new skills. The lodge was great to come back to after a tiring, cold day and the scouts had great fun playing games and chilling out. Apparently the weekend was “beast” and “epic”!

    Trip report by Cameron Kent, Aird Scout

    On the 1st – 3rd April the scouts went on a skiing trip to the Cairngorms. We took a minibus to Badaguish. On the way there, we stopped to hire our ski kit. At Badaguish we stayed in one of the big lodges. It was very nice and it had a T.V for watching DVDs and some of the rooms had bunk beds. In the morning we had breakfast and went skiing. After skiing we came back and most of us played football in the indoor hall. On Sunday we skied and at lunch time there was a ski and snowboard competition so we watched some of it while we were skiing. We had two groups for skiing, a beginners and an intermediate. On Sunday it was sunny so only a few slopes were open. When we came back from skiing we packed up and gave our skis and poles and other ski kit that we rented to the instructors. After that we drove back home on the minibus.