Dott Blog - Low Carb Lane

Low Carb Lane Debate - Speaker Transcript

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:07:00+0100

More and more of us would like to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, especially at home. But how do we do it? Wind turbines? Fuel cells? Solar panels? Wood-chip? How can we do it affordably? Low Carb Lane tackled these challenges head-on, in a real street: Castle Terrace in Ashington. This debate reviews the project from household, local government and industry points of view, asking: how can we save energy, money and carbon – one house at a time?

Read the transcript or listen to the audio files of the guest speakers at the Low Carb Lane Debate below. [More]

Zone Into Energy at the Dott 07 Festival

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:40:00+0100

Who doesn’t feel bombarded by the call to reduce domestic power use and cut carbon emissions? It’s all moving so fast and I’m still trying to locate my carbon footprint let alone put it on the scales... confession of a carbon newbie over, I am happy to report that during the Dott 07 Festival, the Energy Zone is geared towards making energy simple to see and understand in a fun and interactive way.

Energy! Energy! Energy! We all use it, need it, love it - but how do we sustain this relationship without contributing to global climate change? We know the story: burning finite fossil fuels emits harmful gases, so just how do we reduce our dependency on them? The Dott 07 Energy Zone aims to provide some answers to this urgent question. As part of the Dott 07 Low Carb Lane project, service design company live|work have been developing pioneering technology that communicates energy in a very understandable way so that we can ‘see’ ‘touch’ and ‘control’ the energy we use. Their ‘inventions’ will feature in a mock-up 2-D-3-D house where visitors can wander and experiment for themselves: not possible? Yes, I tell you, enter the TARDIS of the Energy Zone and you walk in to the future of domestic energy where no man or woman has gone before; where energy has no escape and money returns to the wise. In a funky, original space designed by artist Bethan Laker, we will be treated to the trip of a lifetime that promises to push anyone’s footprint knowledge off the Richter scale. [More]

Not So Low Carb Lane

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 11:28:00+0100

I have a confession to make. I know nothing about design and I know even less about my carbon footprint. Ok, I adore my pink slim line iPod and I know that at some point in its perfect design, people with ideas have huddled in groups behind closed doors. That's about the extent of my design knowledge: I like it, I buy it! While I recycle newspapers and things I have no idea what my carbon footprint looks like: I imagine it is a great big black blob on my ecological soul but just how thick, oozing or large is it? Who knows! So, I am a little nervous about meeting Alex Webb Allen from Live|Work to catch-up with him about his design project, Low Carb Lane. On the surface, Low Carb Lane is a project aimed at cutting the carbon emissions in a residential street, Castle Terrace in the town of Ashington in Northumberland. However, as I am soon to learn about design: nothing is quite what it seems. [More]

Low Carb Lane Family Wanted!

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:49:00+0100

Low Carb Lane are looking for a family to move in to their eco-friendly property in East Ashington, Northumberland. Work has started on renovating the two-bedroom house. The new tenants will be asked to open the door to show others how to live a greener life and save money on fuel bills. If you are interested in becoming the family of Low Carb Lane contact: Janet or Sanchia on 01670 854 422, or pop in for an application pack to East Ashington Development Trust, 82 Beatrice Street, Ashington, Northumberland. Don't miss Low Carb Lane featuring in 'Climate Change Make a Difference' on ITV, 17 April.

Low Carb Lane

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 12:27:00+0100

It's a grey drizzly day in Ashington, and sitting in an armchair in Bill Wilkinson's flat on Castle Terrace I can definitely feel a chilly Northumberland breeze whipping round my ankles. As we discuss the fact that 'it's a bit nippy in here', Bill shows me the large vent in the wall, necessary because of the gas fire almost permanently on to stop Bill turning into an icicle. It's a vicious circle, gas fire means vent, vent means burning more gas. And huge gas bills. "I'd cover it up" he says, "but I dinna want to die of carbon monoxide poisonin'". At least, he says, he's filled all the holes in the skirting boards. It took seven tubes of Mastick, but it was worth it. It's the poor people who get it every time, he says, "We can't afford all this energy efficient stuff so our bills are high, and there's got old people dying every year in this country because they can't afford to keep themselves warm." [More]

Low Carb Lane Update

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 12:16:00+0100

The Low Carb Lane team have spent the last few weeks gaining first hand experience of the challenges facing the project. Visits to Low Carb Lane (Castle Terrace in East Ashington), and the property that will be renovated have revealed the extent of the issues that prevent people in areas such as Ashington from engaging with energy efficiency, despite the impact it can have on the personal finances of the householders. [More]

Low Carb House

Thu, 23 Nov 2006 12:40:00+0100

The Low Carb Lane team are up and running! We plan to renovate this house (on the left) to a super high standard of energy efficiency. It should be a great home, easy to keep warm and low bills. The House has been provided for the project by owners East Ashington Development Trust who will let it to local residents when it is ready. The team - Wansbeck Local Strategic Partnership, NaREC, National Energy Action and WarmZone - will be designing the refit and work will start in the new year.