We all know we need to reduce our energy consumption to help combat climate change and protect ourselves from the rising fuel costs. But how many of us actually know how much energy we need to power our lives? At the moment our energy intensive lifestyles are powered by fossil fuels, but the age of cheap oil is coming to an end. Will we be able to carry on in the same way when we don’t have cheap electricity at the end of the plug? It’s been estimated that to power one British person’s life for one day it would take 70 people cycling in the back garden!
Clare Davies the originator of the festival said “saving energy will help us through tough economic times, and benefit the planet. But we need to understand how we use energy, so we can make the changes that will really make an impact.”

The festival will help us to do just that, with lots of imaginative and entertaining ways to learn about energy – not just a load of boring facts and figures.

On the day there will be fun for all the family with live music, dance and a treasure hunt for the kids. We will find out just how much energy goes into our food, clothes and everyday household items with Transition Nottingham’s quizzes and games. We will hear ideas about how to save energy in our homes from eco-home refitters Penney Poyzer and Gil Schalom. We can generate our own power with V3 Power; and learn about how Nottingham City Council are thinking about energy in our city.

To make sure it’s not too serious for a fun day out, local bands will be playing up some amazing sounds,and Walking Tall stilt walkers will add to the carnival atmosphere.
So if you have used anything with a plug connected to it in the past 24hours, Midsummer Energy is for you!
Contact:  clare.davies@urbancottage.co.uk(Mobile: 07914 183457).

Notes:
1. Facts and figures for the festival are based on the book by David JC MacKay – ‘Renewable Energy without the hot air’. The book is available for free at www.withouthotair.com
2. Transition Nottingham was established in the summer of 2007 to provide a grassroots response to the problems of peak oil and climate change. We are working to turn Nottingham into a city which is less reliant on fossil fuel energy and a better place for us all to live.
3. We are one of 100 initiatives in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, USA and Chile.
www.transitionnottingham.org.uk