We’ve now got our next event lined up and this is an update of our plans.

1. Following two successful 2011 open home events in March (Insulation) and June (Solar) it is great to announce that our next general energy saving open homes event will be on March 17-18th 2012. This will feature around 35 homes across Bristol. Many thanks to Bristol Council for their commitment to making this happen.
2. Our last event (Solar Saturday) in June went extremely well, There is a report of this on www.bristolgreendoors.org/sites/bristolgreendoors.org/files/EVALUATION Solar Saturday.pdf
3. Bristol University have been researching the economic impact of Bristol Green Doors 2010. The first part of the study is now available online at www.bristolgreendoors.org/sites/bristolgreendoors.org/files/Brist Uni BGD Survey - Interim Report.pdf Thanks to all visitors to last September’s event for your contributions, you will be contacted soon about part two.
4. New homes. We are always looking for new homes to add to our selection. If you can demonstrate a real commitment to domestic energy saving, through measures in the home and lifestyle, you may want to be involved. If so please go to http://www.bristolgreendoors.org/sign-2012
5. Interested in an event for your own area? Kate is currently mentoring organisers in Solihull and Bath. If you are interested in this support, please contact kate@bristolgreendoors.org
6. We are delighted to welcome Chris Johnson as our new event manager. Chris has managed or coordinated events including the Bristol Cycle festival and St Werburghs Farm Fair.
7. We will soon be advertising for a part time co-ordinator for our event volunteers. If this interests you http://www.bristolgreendoors.org/volunteer-coordinator-role
8. We’ve been shortlisted for Best Community Initiative in Regen South West’s Green Energy Awards http://www.regensw.co.uk/news/2011/10/6/in-the-running-for-prestigious-green-energy-awards
9. Sponsorship. We are delighted that Bristol’s GL Garrad Hassan (the world’s leading renewable energy consultancy) http://www.gl-garradhassan.com/en/index.php have just confirmed their sponsorship of Bristol Green Doors 2012. Thanks to all concerned. If you are interested in reaching the retrofitting market through us there are a range of options available from £250. dan@bristolgreendoors.org
10. We are going to be out and about at lots of events in the next few weeks:
• Will you be one of the expected 2,000 environmental trade visitors at Low Carbon South West’s ETSUK event October 13th at UWE? http://www.environmentaltradeshow.co.uk/. We are there at stand G8 as part of Bristol City Council’s Green & Digital Futures. It would be great to see you.
• Green Doors will be participating at two CSE events also on October 13th http://www.cse.org.uk/pages/information/local-authorities/green-deal-event organised by the Centre for Sustainable Energy on the forthcoming 'Green Deal' which is intended to revolutionise the energy efficiency of British properties http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/tackling/green_deal/green_deal.aspx. During the day Kate will be presenting our work to various local authorities and housing associations while in the evening there is a community themed one in the evening in conjunction with Bristol Energy Network (www.bristolenergynetwork.org). If you are part of a community group in Bristol do come and join us!
• Short of tools for your retrofit? On October 28th come by and say hello at Kellaway Building Supplies’ Total Trade Day event - a big trade show at the Passenger shed by Bristol Temple Meads. It’s free and open all day with discounts available on goods from all Kellaways suppliers. www.kellaway.co.uk/totaltrade.
11. We are also working as part of the team for the Green Jobs Bid for the West of England partnership and sitting on their Low Carbon Construction and Retrofitting Employer Forum
12. Partner news.
• Free loft insulation delivered to your (Bristol) home through partner’s CSE scheme
http://www.cse.org.uk/projects/view/1173
• Thinking of solar? Bristol city council is to provide a detailed, interactive solar potential map of the entire city. The map will be integrated with the council website to allow people to find out if their buildings are suitable. They have also recently brought over 300 council houses up to high Building Regulations levels through solid wall insulation. It would be great to have one of these homes as part of the March event.
• Courses. Do you want to really develop your understanding of you and your home’s potential to save energy? There are still places on the two 6-week Make Your Home Eco courses being run by Green Doors householder Martin and 2010 volunteer co-ordinator Maddy. http://makeyourhomeeco.wordpress.com/
• Some of our homes will be featured in a great looking Period home refurbishment event at Create, 5 November http://www.createbristol.org/comingsoon.htm
13. To keep updated with us why not follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/BrstlGreenDoors or on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=120905314598978&v=wall
14. Thinking of a tasteful Christmas present? Prints of the specially commissioned Andy Council “Planet Bristol” image we have used continue to sell well and we are now running short of signed copies. They look great in our new office and in the home too! http://www.bristolgreendoors.org/shop
Thanks for reading this. As ever, your views are important. Let us know what you think. http://www.bristolgreendoors.org/contact We will respond where we can, though resources are still very limited for this.