2025 Halesworth Climate Action Energy Weekend
What if we never had to worry about energy price rises again? What if Halesworth generated its own electricity, reducing energy costs for homes and businesses? What if schools and churches had solar on their roofs which fed electricity into the community? What if all our homes were insulated so well that our energy costs were under £100 a year?
This weekend is about our energy future, and how can we can get there.
Halesworth Climate Action Energy weekend is a positive, practical event. As well as imagining low energy bills, we will present Halesworth Energy Pathway towards Net Zero. Central to this will be Opergy’s presentation of Halesworth’s baseline study. Opergy are sustainable energy experts who Halesworth Town Council has commissioned.
This action weekend is for communities in and around Halesworth, together with our neighbouring market towns of Bungay and Beccles. Through our partners, Blyth Valley Churches, we are working directly with local schools to engage the next generation with practical workshops.
We couldn’t do this without support and funding from:
Halesworth Town Council
Suffolk Climate Change Partnership
East Suffolk District Council Enabling Budget
and private donations
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What is a baseline study?
To find a route map to achieve Net Zero carbon or adapt to climate change effectively, the first step is to know the current and future carbon emissions of the area. This tells us what emissions would be if we did nothing, ie the business-as-usual scenario (BAU); it gives us a baseline from which to work.
A baseline study will enable us to:
– Know where the most effective interventions are
– Allow for an accurate comparison after 5 or 10 years.
The parameters for the study include:
– Housing/buildings
– Transport
– Agriculture
Opergy have already successfully undertaken a baseline study for Leiston and 6 Norfolk towns.
What if? Friday evening
September 26
How do we see our energy future? How can we balance food with solar on our land? Why are our energy bills so high and can we lower them?
Set out in cabaret style, this event will give lots of chance for interaction with guest speakers to inspire and challenge.
- How can political systems inspire and support us to net zero?
Adrian Ramsay MP - ‘Energy Landscapes’ and Climate Change: Adapting to extreme weather events
Professor Peter Hobson - The Charsfield Story of community energy
John Collins -
John Taylor,Community Energy, UK
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Introduced by Josiah Meldrum from Hodmedods
What if? Action day Saturday
September 27
Fed up with Net Zero? And anyhow what does it mean? How will it affect me? Why should I change my boiler? Confused with where to find grant funding? How bad are bananas for the planet?
This is the event for you!
Following the launch of Halesworth Net Zero – the Opergy Report, there will be various workshops from which you can select. You can check out the workshop timetable here and book yourself in.
If now? Sunday
September 28
The phew day! Lining up the geese. Collecting together what we’ve learned and creatively adding to the 5 year energy plan for Halesworth.
10.00 Sunday Service at Halesworth St Mary’s
11.00 Coffee
11.30-12.30 Discussion What Next, summary of the events and pathway forward
1.00 Shared lunch
What if? Schools
September 1 to Sept 26
Working with all four of the Blyth Valley Churches, we’ve connected to the local schools to run workshops for various school years.
Halesworth Day Nursery, Wenhaston Primary, Bramfield Primary, Bramfield Preschool, Bramfield School House, Holton Primary, Holton Nursery, Holton Kinda Forest School, Brownies and Scouts.