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A recent meeting between members of the Hethersett Environmental Action Team (HEAT) and the Energy Saving Trust set down the ground rules for taking the village forward on green issues.

HEAT’s bid to gain support from the Energy Savings Trust has been successful and Hethersett is due to become the third community in Norfolk to undertake the green communities programme after Bunwell and Upcher (Sheringham).

“We will be working together with the Trust to develop a programme to help Hethersett become more energy efficient and help residents to reduce carbon emissions,” said Gray Wyatt who chaired the meeting at Hethersett Methodist Church.

HEAT has been established for over 10 years and regularly undertakes litter picking, bulb planting and other environmental work in the village,. It also oversees the village open gardens event and entries in Hethersett and Anglia in Bloom competitions. It was also instrumental in holding a Green Information Day in Hethersett Village Hall.

“We would very much like to expand into energy efficiency and re-cycling,” Mr Wyatt added.

Suggestions already put forward to save energy have included turning off areas of street lighting during the night, involving the Jubilee youth clubs and schools in projects and educating local people on using their cars less for short journeys within the village. The group is also looking to develop an energy plan questionnaire for distribution in the village and also to work with South Norfolk District Council to make personal energy monitors available for borrowing from the local library.

“We are here to help and support your efforts towards making real carbon savings. This will include writing action plans and helping you to develop specific projects,” Matt Wicks, Norfolk County Manager for the Energy Saving Trust, told the meeting.

“Our aim is to get as many people in the community involved as possible by educating them in how to save energy through loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, replacing old inefficient boilers, using energy efficient light bulbs and many other initiatives that can make a difference,” Mr Wyatt said.