Newsletter February 2020 Editors: Fiona Fowler & Maya Donelan No. 105 CHAIRMAN’S LETTER Happy New Year to you all and welcome to the Fulham Society’s Newsletter. We aim to update you on planning issues in Fulham and on local news of interest. In this edition we even recommend places to stay and eat as well as remind you of some of the concerts and events happening locally. We always welcome articles from our members and news of things we may have missed. Climate change is much in the news and I thought some might appreciate a Beginner’s Guide. We have also suggested some ideas if you are building/developing your house or office. They may seem rather new but if the UK is to meet its target of net emissions by 2050, they will soon become commonplace. We are planning some visits and talks and we will be running the Front Garden Competition again this year so do start thinking of your planting. We are adding balconies and blocks of flats this year but remember the planting does have to be seen from the street. We are hoping to arrange a visit to the Tideway Tunnel in May/June. In the meantime, do join us for a tour of the art collection at Charing Cross Hospital. The curator will show us the very large collection of mainly 20th century and contemporary paintings, prints and sculptures by many notable British artists (see p13 for details). I look forward to seeing you there, Fiona Fowler WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE? There have always been natural fluctuations in the climate but temperatures are now rising faster than at any other time. This is linked to the greenhouse effect, described as the build-up of man-made gases in the atmosphere that trap the sun’s heat, causing changes in weather patterns around the world. Scientists believe gases released from industry and agriculture trap more energy and so increase the earth’s temperature. Furthermore, the composition of the gases in the atmosphere is changing, with CO2 levels reaching record levels in recent years, mainly from burning fossil fuels (oil, gas, petrol, diesel, coal) and deforestation. Industrialised agriculture and landfill sites release methane (which, although less abundant than CO2, is 30 times more potent as a greenhouse gas) and other greenhouse gases. Nitrous oxide is one of the gases talked about when we talk about air pollution from vehicles around roads and schools. So why does this matter? The change in the climate means more unexpected and extreme weather - more floods, stronger hurricanes, more extreme heat waves. Warmer sea and air temperatures result in melting polar ice sheets, leading to rising sea levels. The extent of sea-ice loss is unprecedented. Page 1 Fulham Society Newsletter February 2020 How fast? There is still considerable uncertainty about how much the world will warm and how fast. Much depends on whether we can curb rising emissions of CO2, as the gas stays in the air for centuries. The WMO says that if the current warming trend continues, the average world temperature could rise 3- 5oC by the end of this century. A rise of 6oC would be critical. What can we do? To limit the most damaging impacts of climate change, greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced globally: temperature rises of 2oC above pre-industrialisation levels have long been regarded as the gateway to dangerous warming. The Climate Change Act 2008 made the UK the first country to establish a long-term legally binding framework to cut carbon emissions by 2050. A wider legal commitment – The Paris Agreement of 2015 - agreed to limit global temperature rises to well below 2oC (the USA has announced its withdrawal from the agreement). Britain is to host a follow up international meeting (COP 26) in Glasgow in November. Scientists and policymakers are now arguing that limiting temperature rises to 1.5oC would be safer. Interestingly, Britain, for the first time since the Industrial Revolution, is obtaining more power from zero-carbon sources than fossil fuels. National Grid says that in 2019 clean energy nudged ahead with 48% of generation, against 47% for coal and gas. The rest is biomass burning. What can we do at a personal level? We cannot influence China, India or the United States, but we can influence our own environment. We have heard much about walking more, taking the bus or train and avoiding car journeys. Pure electric cars are becoming increasingly popular and after 2035 these may be the only cars we can buy new. A new electric car charging station is being currently being built to replace the existing Shell petrol garage in the Fulham Road. In the garden think water butts and composting. If the targets for zero carbon are to be achieved, however, we should be thinking now of how this can be done in our own homes. But before you even contemplate the subject of 'renewable technologies' the first move is simple – insulation, and lots of it, check the attic, old extensions may need an upgrade. If you are contemplating a refurbishment or even building a new house from scratch, you might think of going further than the current Building Regulation Standards and consider one of the following. All of them are available today so with a little thought, planning and investment you could be generating your own energy and doing your bit to slow climate change. You should check with your local authority if planning permission is needed before starting any work. • Photovoltaic (PV) Panels (solar panels) There are no longer government incentives for householders to receive payment for electricity generated by PV panels but they are still worth considering as the cost of the panels has been coming down exponentially in recent years. • Small Domestic Wind Turbines (windmills) For many of us this would conjure up a mental picture of a small wind turbine attached to David Cameron's house in Oxfordshire! Domestic wind turbines work best in rural areas rather than conurbations as for the generators to work efficiently they require 'clean' air flows which tend to get disrupted when there are high buildings nearby. There is also a potential noise issue although there Fulham Society Newsletter February 2020 Page 2 are some new turbine blade designs which have the potential to make them quieter and more efficient in urban areas but these have long 'pay back' periods. H&F Council will require planning permission for the installation of PVs, panels or turbines. So far PVs and panels have generally received it but turbines are less likely to for obvious reasons. • Solar or Sun Tubes You see many of these such installation in Mediterranean countries. Generally, they are simple glass tubes sited on the roofs of houses and connected to an insulated water storage tank. The systems are usually gravity fed and use the sun's rays to heat domestic hot water - simple and quite efficient on a clear spring or summers' day even in the UK. If you are considering such an installation, with the right orientation, you should be able to achieve a reasonable 'pay back' period. Planning consent may be required for such a roof installation. • Ground and Air Source Heat Pumps Most of us in London do not have sufficient open ‘ground’ within our ownership to be able to consider ground source heat pumps as a solution but you may consider them in the country. The technology works on the same principle as a refrigerator although in reverse. A liquid filled loop is placed in the ground either horizontally (known as a slinky) or vertically down a bore hole. The temperature a metre or so below ground stays quite constant throughout the year at around 12 degrees. The heat pump simply 'magnifies' this energy. For the use of 1 kw of electricity you usually get three back. The 'pay back' period obviously depends on the ease of installation although generally it is reasonable. No planning consent is needed although you must seek the approval of Thames Water for any bore hole. Air source heat pumps could be a more practical solution although the units do require an outside air circulation space that will not suit all Fulham homes. Heat from the air is absorbed at low temperature into a fluid. This fluid then passes through a compressor where its temperature is increased, and transfers its higher temperature heat to the heating and hot water circuits of the house. Technology is improving the efficiency and size of these units all the time. You might be able to get a renewable heat incentive grant for an air to water heat pump. If you wanted some idea of how energy efficient your home was, you could get an EPC (only legally necessary for rented houses and on selling). If you are interested to discover your own carbon footprint, there are lots of calculators on line, for example: https://www.carbonfootprint.com/minimisecfp.html or https://www.wearepossible.org/ The LBHF Climate & Ecological Emergency Commission On 17 July 2019, LBHF adopted a commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and to significantly enhance biodiversity across the borough to combat climate change. The Commission, made up of local residents, will think big and bold to define the art of the possible, and create a compelling, attractive vision of the future. Paul Beaty-Pownall, a former member of the Fulham Society Committee, has become chair of the Resident’s group overseeing LBHF’s efforts. The commission will scrutinise all aspects of Council policy and operations, both its own areas of direct control (eg parks and buildings) and use its wider influence to encourage progress where it only has partial control (eg TfL).