Dorset gets Green Energy Centres

By Sue Paz BBC Dorset

Visitors will be encouraged to fit energy saving products

Two Green Energy Centres are coming to Dorset - one in Christchurch and one in Ferndown.

Designed to help promote renewable energies, they are the first of their kind in the country.

It is hoped they will be used as education centres for school groups, as well as by members of the public.

The products on display will include ground and air source pumps, timber windows, cavity wall insulation and low energy lighting.

People will begin their visit by inputting their various lifestyle choices [related to energy] into a computer, which will then issue them with their own 'carbon footprint' [the amount of carbon dioxide they emit].

They will then be encouraged to consider fitting all relevant energy saving solutions in their homes, in order to reduce carbon emissions.

Energy education

The Green Energy Centres have been set up by Dorset Energy Advice Centre, Warmerhome Southern Ltd and Boyland Joinery.

The centres are about "promoting renewable energy"

Danny Godfrey, the Managing Director of Warmerhome Southern Ltd explains that the centres are not simply about asking people to go in, buy the products and then leave.

He said: "We really wanted to establish and develop a centre whereby people can experience the many different ways they can become green in their own homes, and drastically reduce their energy consumption.

"It's about promoting renewable energy as much as possible."

"[We want] to educate home owners, and more importantly the young people of today.

"We are looking to launch lesson plans for schools and invite them into our centres as part of their studies."

"Amazing response"

So are these centres really the first of their kind?

Danny, originally from Bournemouth, said: "There are centres which promote one or two products, but there's no centre like these, which offer a complete range.

It is hoped the centres will soon launch throughout the UK

"All the products in the centres have been carefully nominated and have all been manufactured in the UK.

"I established these centres in Dorset first and foremost to 'test the water'.

"We've already had such an amazing response from people visiting the centres and leaving such great feedback, that we are already looking to launch them in other areas of the UK."

Staff at both centres will be trained to NVQ level in 'renewable energy'.

The Green Energy Centre in Christchurch will open on 7 November 2009 at 0930.

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