Hethersett a norfolk village on the web

A number of initiatives are being considered in order to turn Hethersett into a green village. Some of the possible actions that will be considered include the following:

The parish council is taking the lead by considering the following:

	Possible restrictions on street lighting including the turning off in the early hours of the morning.
	Possible us of renewable energy for street lighting
	Changing the present dog litter bags to cheaper and more environmentally friendly ones.
	Keeping an account of litter collected in the village by the Hethersett Environmental Action Team with the public being informed of the amounts collected.
	Using recycled paper wherever possible
	Establishing a link to residents to report on progress.
	Distribution of non-plastic bags with leaflets
	Contact with school, businesses, shops and other groups to urge them to "go green."
	Lobbying planners and new developers to be environmentally aware and efficient

The public is being urged to join in by making possible savings in a number of ways including the following

	Insulating of cavity walls and loft to prevent heat loss
	Installation of double glazing to prevent heat loss
	The use of economy light bulbs
	Reducing the heat level of water by reducing current practice by one or two degrees.
	Keeping central heating at a reasonable level.
	Turing off lights when not in use.
	Not leaving television sets, computers and other equipment on stand-by.
	Using water more efficiently by not leaving taps running
	Installing rainwater tubs
	Using cars and vehicles sparingly and using alternative modes of transport including public transport, cycling, walking, sharing lifts and the Park and Ride scheme.
	Planting a tree or shrubs
	Doing away with plastic bags and using re-usable ones.
	Buying locally produced food wherever possible
	Re-using items when possible and re-cycling as many as possible

Below we expand on some of the ways you can help:

Is your home letting out heat unnecessarily? What about insulation - cavity walls and loft? If they need doing or improving you may be eligible for a grant towards the cost. Find out by contacting South Norfolk District Council. They can carry out a carbon footprint assessment.

How do you heat your home and is it controlled and not wasteful? Why not check the temperature control(s) and reduce them by a degree or two.

Are your electric lights fitted with economy bulbs? Remember the Government is proposing to terminate the sale of ordinary bulbs by 2011. So you might as well get used to the energy saving ones now. Each bulb lasts years and uses a small amount of energy compared with the old ones.

Do you leave lights on unnecessarily? If so switch them off when not in use.

Similarly switch off television sets and computers and other electrical equipment rather than leaving them on stand-by.

Water is cheap and readily available but brining it to you requires the use of energy. Clean drinkable water is constantly on tap, but only through the energy used to get it clean and then to pump it into your home. So don't let it go to waste. If you are making a cup of tea just boil sufficient water. Make sure you don't let the tap run when you are cleaning your teeth. On average four pints are washed away unnecessarily every time you clean your teeth and leave the tap running. That can amount to over 180 gallons being wasted every year ( and that figure is based on just one teeth clean per day!!)

Do you collect rain water for your plants or do you use water more than once e.g why not use water in which you have cleaned vegetables to water your hanging baskets, plant tubs etc.

Stop using plastic bags. Get some re-usable cloth bags for shopping.

Ask yourself whether you really need to use that car. Walking will help you to get fit as well as on energy

Review everything you do and try to find different and economic ways to achieve things.