YouGen

Featured last month on this blog Futures Forum: My Green Directory, YouGen is the award-winning Sidbury-based on-line business providing clear information about renewable energy choices:


The need for YouGen struck Cathy Debenham in 2005, when she was doing up her house. There was so much information about renewable energy on the internet, but none of it answered the really practical questions she needed help with to be confident that she had chosen the right technology, the best product and a trustworthy installer. The idea just wouldn't go away, and eventually it grew into a business plan, a blog, and finally the full site you see here today was launched in April 2009. 

Our vision is of a UK where homes are energy efficient and local power generation from renewable sources is the norm.

Our purpose is to make it easy for people to get the information they need to make the best choices when improving the energy efficiency of their home or business or generating renewable energy; and find an installer they can trust.

Awards

Winner: WWF Green Game Changer Award, International Green Awards 2012.

Shortlisted for the SW Green Energy Awards 2012. 

Finalist Entrepreneur of the Year, PEA Awards - March 2012 (People and Environment Achievment). 

Shortlisted for Ethical Blog category of Observer Ethical Awards 2011 in association with Ecover - May 2011

Included in the BusinessGreen Twitter Top 100 (Green Guru category) - April 2011

Winner Green Web Award (Ethical living site) 2009 - January 2010

What people say

"All of our staff across 6 offices love YouGen and everyone here thinks that it is great to have an independent site with useful and clear information to send people to! Our customers really appreciate good honest advice and YouGen provides it by the Bucketful." - Vicky Treen, Southern Solar

See Southern Solar's profile

"YouGen is doing a fantastic job helping to make renewable energy more accessible for people and the customers who come to us through YouGen are always very well informed and serious about having renewable energy systems installed." -Ellen Rodger, SunGift Solar

See SunGift Solar's profile

"To find a reputable installer … look on the excellent website yougen.co.uk… The site describes how each technology works, the costs and any pitfalls. It also has a forum on which individuals can recommend installers they have used, all with an Amazon-style rating." - Miles Brignall, The Guardian

Read the full article

YouGen | Find & Compare Renewable Energy Installers, Suppliers and information on Eco Friendly Green Energy Homes, Community, Microgeneration, energy efficiency, Wind Turbines, Solar Panels, Micro Hydro, Biomass Boilers, Heat Pumps | YouGen, Renewable Energy Made Easy

YouGen is a website giving independent advice to people who want to reduce their energy bills at their home or work through energy efficiency or renewable technologies. It brings together researched information and expert advice and helps consumers to make good decisions and negotiate with suppliers. Based in Devon, the site covers the whole of the UK, enabling experts, installers, existing microgenerators, and people new to renewable energy to help each other. Its aim is to make decisions easy, by providing practical, easy-to-read information on energy efficiency, solar panels, wind turbines, wood pellet stoves, biomass boilers, heat pumps and the financial incentives to help install them.

The website offers a range of information and services both for people interested in renewable energy and for manufacturers and installers of all the renewable energy technologies. 
Consumers can:
- read about the technologies
- ask an expert a question
- share their experience of renewable energy by adding a profile or learn from others
- find a recommended supplier. 

YouGen was founded in 2008 by Cathy Debenham a former journalist, with a background in marketing. When renovating her home in 2005 she found there was plenty of help in choosing between renewable energy technologies, but virtually no support for people in identifying trustworthy renewable energy suppliers and products and making the 'commercial decision' to go ahead. YouGen's 'recommend your supplier' scheme aims to help people make good decisions at the point of sale.

Renewable Energy Company in Sidbury, Sidmouth (UK) - YouGen

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Regen SW: delivering sustainable energy

A couple of months ago the VGS showcased an event at Westpoint:

Renewable Energy Marketplace

When: 10:00 AM 19th March 2013

Where: Westpoint Arena, Exeter

The Event covers renewable energy, efficiency measures and generation

Renewable Energy Marketplace is organised by Regen SouthWest, and it is the Region's biggest energy event covering a variety of solutions and demands from a number of sectors.  It is geared towards learning, sharing and innovating.

Vision Group for Sidmouth - Renewable Energy Marketplace

And next month the same event, but in Bournemouth:

Renewable Energy Marketplace

Are you investigating the opportunities that renewable energy has for you? I’m sure at some point you may have considered reducing your businesses energy costs. Find out how at Renewable Energy Marketplace

18 June, BIC, Bournemouth

What we do

Regen SW is a leading centre of sustainable energy expertise and pioneering project delivery.  We enable business, local authorities, community groups and other organisations to deliver renewable energy and energy efficiency and build a prosperous low-carbon economy in the south west of England.
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Sid Vale Energy Action Group

SVEAG, the energy action group of the VGS, has been active for some time:

Sidmouth Carnival welcomes renewable energy section

Friday, August 29, 2008

The Sid Valley Energy Action Group are hoping to make the town's carnival a greener event next month and have invited townsfolk to join in their efforts.

Festivities on September 6 will include a renewable energy section from The Sid Valley Energy Action Group (SVEAG), which is part of the Vision Group for Sidmouth.

The procession will feature cycle driven trailers, with wind turbines and solar panels on show as well as five electrically powered Segway devices. 

SVEAG organisers are hopeful that a fuel efficient Toyota Prius will also take part.

The SVEAG aims to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy and reductions in dependence on fossil fuels as well as raise awareness of energy issues which lead to climate change.

SVEAG carnival co-ordinator Derek Chant said: "Traditionally the carnival is based on lots of diesel engines and lights, we are trying to show there are alternatives, all we hope to do is promote renewable energy and energy saving. "

Entrants are invited to make fun, portable devices which generate light and/ or sound and operate from green or sustainable energy.

Sidmouth Carnival welcomes renewable energy section - News - Sidmouth Herald

It meets once a month, focusing on a particular topic, for example:

Leftovers renewable energy idea is food for thought!

Stefan Gordon January 31, 2013 

TURNING leftovers into renewable energy provided food for thought for a green-minded gathering in Sidmouth.

Sid Valley Energy Action Group (SVEAG) kicked off what is set to be a busy 2013 when its first meeting of the year at the Anchor Inn welcomed Will Kirkman, of React on Anaerobic Digestion. “With the potential to hugely reduce food waste transport distances and produce local energy, the possibility of installing a small anaerobic digestion system locally was discussed,” said the SVEAG’s Joel Venn.

Representatives from the district and county councils also attended.

Biogas Fuel Renewable Energy | International Solar Contractor | Sky Renewable Energy | Sky Renewable Energy

Joel added: “This is one of the many projects under discussion at the moment and it was good to see a number of new members attending, all with a common goal of exploring energy conservation and developing renewable energy sources in the Sid Valley.”

The meeting took place on Tuesday, January 8.

Leftovers renewable energy idea is food for thought! - News - Sidmouth Herald

 SVEAG hands out prizes on a regular basis too:

Year 7 students win SVEAG Sustainability Shield (19.10.12)

There’s been a competitive edge to Science lessons for students in Key Stage 3 over the last few days. As part of Sidmouth’s Science Festival, the Sid Valley Energy Action Group (SVEAG) gave all Key Stage 3 students the opportunity to take part in a competition to deliver the best renewable energy project.

Working in teams of no more than three, the students were asked to research their ideas and then produce a display that showed their knowledge of renewable energy. Representatives from SVEAG then visited the College on Wednesday this week to judge the winners of each year group and the overall winning team.

From using lemons to generate electricity to creating a working meccano and lego wind turbine, the students were really enthused by the project and produced some excellent work. Chair of SVEAG Derek Chant, who helped judge the competition, commented, “We’ve been very impressed with the overall scope and standard of the students’ work. Their breadth of thought, effort and sheer enthusiasm have been tremendous.”

Each winning team was awarded £20 worth of vouchers and the overall winners will have their names inscribed on the SVEAG Sustainability Shield. Science teacher Miss Hazel Goodier congratulated all the students and passed on her enormous thanks to SVEAG for making this event possible.

News at Sidmouth College

Sidmouth Science Festival - Presentation of the SVEAG shield

SVEAG meets next on Tuesday 11th June at the Anchor Inn.

Vision Group for Sidmouth - SVEAG monthly meeting

Vision Group for Sidmouth - Energy

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Cycling: get ready for the Tour of Britain coming to town

Residents asked for  ideas on Tour of Britain in Sidmouth

Stephen SumnerWednesday, May 15, 2013 

Residents and business owners have been urged to help Sidmouth capitalise on the town hosting the start of the Devon stage of the Tour of Britain.

Civic leaders have been playing a lead role in organising events, and town clerk Christopher Holland said they are looking far and wide for inspiration.

The councillors hope shops and hotels will keep reminding tourists that the tour – and possibly the likes of Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish – is coming to the town, as ‘it will be September before you know it’.

Speaking to the chamber of commerce on Wednesday, town clerk Christopher Holland said: “It’s one of the biggest events to come to the town ever.

“We want to show Sidmouth in the best possible light.”

He said the Tour of Britain has ‘whizzed’ through in the past, but this year the cyclists will set off from the Esplanade, before going up Fore Street, through Sidford, Sidbury and into Honiton.

It will finish up at Haytor in Dartmoor – the first time a stage has ended in a hill climb.

Mr Holland said the cyclists and their teams will have a more enduring presence than when the Tour passed through the town, as they will be warming up before racing properly when they reach Sidbury.

He added: “There are 60 riders - they can stay here with their teams, families, friends and VIP guests.”

He spoke of putting up themed decorations and having a television screen, possibly on the Ham, in the run-up to the final stage to drum up interest.

But he said that the time to put on events was before the race rather than afterwards, as many visitors were likely to leave as quickly as they arrive.

The cycling club are planning to bring forward their Peak Hill climb, and the chamber of commerce has longstanding plans to hold a classic car show the following day.

How will you be celebrating the race? What events should be put on in the town? Email your ideas to stephen.sumner@archant.co.uk.

Residents asked for ideas on Tour of Britain in Sidmouth - Sport - Sidmouth Herald

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Open Day at Port Royal

Crowds are all at sea for fun in the sun

Crowds whet their appetite for the water as Sidmouth's seafaring groups put on taster sessions on Sunday [5th May].
Clubs from across the town shared their skills to show what Port Royal has to offer and give advice on their chosen sports.

Sailing off Sidmouth
The gig and sailing clubs were fully booked all day and the new surf lifesaving club took out more than 40 youngsters on paddleboards.
Originally planned in rainy April, the event was rescheduled and benefited from the bank holiday sunshine.
The running club and the fishing club braved the heat and offered advice on technique, and refreshments were on sale at the Sidmouth Sailing Club clubhouse.
"The balcony was the perfect spot to enjoy the sunshine and watch the demonstrations put on by the Sidmouth Lifeboat and the helicopter."
Home - Sidmouth Herald

What did you do at the weekend?

Sidmouth Lifeboat - YouTube

The past week has seen plenty of sailing at Sidmouth Sailing Club culminating in a very successful Open Day on Sunday.

Steve Birley Thursday, May 9, 2013 

On Sunday the club, along with a host of other clubs running out of Port Royal, held an open day which proved to be a great success and thanks are due to Hope Broadie for organising things. As a result a good deal of interest was shown by potential new members.

Johnson edges out Clapp in thrilling contest on the sea off Sidmouth - Sport - Sidmouth Herald

Sport Event at Port Royal Sidmouth

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Ottery Food+Families Festival

Ottery’s first food and drink festival

Claire | Wednesday, 22 May 2013

A food and drink festival takes place in Ottery next weekend - Friday 31 May and Saturday 1 June - the first ever held in the town.

It is aimed at showcasing what Ottery has to offer and will involve all sorts of activities, including food tasting and live music.

The winner of the competition to find the most mouth-watering children’s recipe will be announced on Saturday morning.

The order of play is as follows:

- Friday 31 May 
Four course food safari

- Saturday 1 June
A food and drink street market in Mill Street, from 9.30 - 5pm

Sainsbury’s car park - in a large marquee is the children’s recipe winner announced, from 10am
Cookery demonstrations by a number of local chefs, supported by River Cottage
Fish auction, hosted by Ottery’s fishmonger, Simon

Entertainment in Batts Lane, including live music, children’s activities and street theatre, including morris dancing and Ottery’s silver band

Activities in the Institute, including cookery demonstrations by River Cottage, Tim Maddams, focusing on leftovers

Opportunity to sample local food in Ottery’s pubs and restaurants

There will be a “cook-off” between the Rusty Pig’s Robin Rea and Tim Maddams, in the Rusty Pig

- Sunday 2 June
Afternoon “Miss Marple” tea served in Ottery St Mary parish church

For more information visit http://www.facebook.com/otterystmaryfoodfamiliesfestival or contact info@mazzardfarm.com or call 01404 815492

Claire Wright - Your Independent East Devon District Councillor for Ottery Rural

Mazzard Farm | Mazzard Farm

It wasn’t that long ago that if you mentioned ‘Ottery St Mary’ and ‘Eating out’ in one sentence, with the exception of our two Indian restaurants, people would shake their heads. Pubs and restaurants came and went, and any attempt to bring a half decent eatery to Ottery seemed doomed from the outset. And to make matters worse, even buying fresh ingredients for a decent, healthy, home cooked meal was getting harder and harder, with a deli and the green grocers closing down, the farmers market going, and Sainsbury’s seemingly becoming the sole destination for anything related to buying food and drink.

And yet, there were still individuals who - foolhardy as it seemed - were prepared to give it a go, seemingly against all odds. But how marvelously they did. Just look where we are now! New restaurants that opened actually seemed to be making a name for themselves, pubs are re-inventing themselves, a new green grocer opened shop, a fishmonger even. Indeed, if you want to go out for something to eat, or source fresh ingredients, Ottery is all of a sudden not such an unlikely place to go!
It is this we want to celebrate on May 31st / June 1st 2013 in the Ottery St Mary Food and Families Festival. And those businesses of course who - despite many challenges thrown at them - stuck with it, and who - together with the new ones - make Ottery the place it is: a healthy foundation from which hopefully more new and successful ventures are willing and able to prosper.
See it as a huge ‘open day’ for Food & Drink in Ottery. In next month’s Ottery Gazette we shall be telling you a little more about the exciting programme, but for now allow us to encourage everyone to mark the dates in their calendars. There will be a lot going on, involving the young as well as the not so young. Detailed plans are developing as we speak, and in next month’s Ottery Gazette we shall be telling you more. See you all on at the festival on May 31st / June 1st.
Want to get involved? E-mail info@mazzardfarm.com, or keep an eye on us on facebook: http//www.facebook.com/OtteryStMaryFoodFamiliesFestival 

Ottery Food and Families Festival

Ottery St Mary Food & Families Festival - Saturday 1 June 2013

We at Taste of the West are delighted to announce our involvement with the first ever Ottery St Mary Food & Families Festival. This is a true community event founded on help, advice and volunteers from throughout this popular East Devon town’s foodie neighbourhood.

The fun starts on the evening of 31st May with a special food trail throughout the town in the local pubs and restaurants and continues throughout Saturday 1st June with a market stall running the length of Mill Street, a cookery theatre, live music, beer (and cider) tent, children’s competitions and much more. There's even going to be a fish dancing competition! Dancing with fish? Dancing like a fish? More details soon!

There'll be cookery demonstrations in the pop-up kitchen featuring local chefs showcasing the very best way to use local ingredients. You can keep up with all the latest news and plans for the Festival on the Facebook page and follow the event on Twitter @OtteryFoodDrink.

Taste Of The West - Ottery St Mary Food & Families Festival - Saturday 1 June 2013 - Taste Of The West

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Chelsea Flower Show: sustainable landscaping within an urban setting

Awards announced at Chelsea

Trailfinders Australian Garden presented by Fleming's has been awarded Best Show Garden at the 2013 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

The Trailfinders Australian Garden by Fleming's is always a very popular exhibit at Chelsea. And this year was no different, with a design encompassing a studio space that looks like it is floating above the garden in a flower-like structure.

Trailfinders Australian Garden presented by Flemings

• Sponsored by 
  Trailfinders, Fleming’s Nurseries, Victorian State Government, Phillip Johnson Landscapes
• Gold medal winner

• Best Show Garden

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• Phillip Johnson has designed this innovative and sustainable garden that offers a relaxing and inviting ecosystem within an Australian urban environment.
• Showcasing the possibilities of sustainable landscaping within an urban setting, a studio structure integrates seamlessly into this tranquil, relaxing garden, alongside a natural billabong and waterfalls.
• Native Australian plants are used throughout the design. From lush ferns to bright kangaroo paws and bottle trees, the varied environments and weather conditions that make up the Australian landscape are represented by the planting scheme.
• Watch a video of garden highlights from the Best Show Garden  
• See our gallery of key plants for this garden

Un Garreg (One Stone)

• Sponsored by 
  Vital Earth
• Gold medal winner
• 
• This garden is inspired by the growing separation between man and the natural world.  It demonstrates Harry and David Rich’s passion for restoring this connection by creating a humble, naturalistic space crafted from one stone.A balance of stone and oak blends naturally below the tree canopy, softened by the textures and tones of the planting.   Two large rocks protrude from the dry stone walls that form an irregular boundary.  A sculpted oak bench firmly rooted between the rocks provides a small seating space for relaxing.Dry stone walls, woodland and old stone paths depict a vision of the Welsh landscape. Using one quarry and one stone to craft the hard landscaping shows how a garden’s carbon footprint can be kept to a minimum.
• Find a garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2013 / RHS Gardening
• Chelsea Flower Show 2013: meet the first-time designers - Telegraph

Eco-design at Chelsea Flower Show 2013

by Hazel Sillver

9 out of the 15 main show gardens will focus on the environment in some way This is the centenary year for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and eco-sound landscaping is taking centre stage.

Many eco-gardens incorporate water features, aiming to emphasise the importance of saving this precious resource. 

Above: The Resurgence Peace Garden by award winning Garden Designer James Towillis. Image courtesy of James Towillis. www.jamestowillis.com 

Although eco-sound landscaping is a thriving part of US garden design, it has been dragging its heels here. So it’s great news that at next week’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London (21-25 May), sustainable garden design will take centre stage. 

Several of the gardens on display, at what will be the centenary year for the legendary flower show, will feature environmentally sound materials and systems. 

Collecting rainwater

In the Trailfinders Australian Garden, landscaper Phillip Johnson will showcase an impressive system for capturing rainwater, complete with waterfalls! Water is channelled into a tank and a natural pool and filters through permeable landscaping (such as sand and pebbles) so that the garden doesn’t require watering. The space also features sustainably sourced timber, reclaimed pylons, solar-powered electrics and wildlife habitats. 

The centrepiece of the RBC Blue Water Roof Garden is another good-looking system of collecting and storing water. This has been created by Professor Nigel Dunnett (who wowed us all with his meadow flowers at the Olympic Village) and features a wetland that captures rainwater runoff. Nigel aims to demonstrate how we can bring greenery and wildlife onto rooftops and save water. 

Regenerating urban spaces

Designer Kate Gould is presenting a show garden called The Wasteland, which demonstrates how derelict, unloved spaces in towns and cities can be transformed into havens for wildlife and the community. Industrial waste (such as corrugated steel panels, old timber and stone) has been recycled and used as the garden’s hard landscaping materials.

In the East Village Garden, designers Michael Balston and Marie-Louise Agius follow suit, illustrating how an urban area can be regenerated in a stylish way. 

Native plants

Studies show that native plants are more appealing to wildlife (such as honeybees). Award-winning designer Robert Myers has planted the Brewin Dolphin Garden with native UK plants, showing how they can be used ornamentally. 

Elsewhere, in both The Daily Telegraph Garden and The Fera Garden, designers will try to hit home the dangers that our native trees and shrubs currently face. 

All in all, 9 out of the 15 main show gardens at Chelsea will focus on the environment in some way. Such a strong emphasis on green gardening at the world’s foremost gardening show is great news. Long may it continue! 

Hazel Sillver is a freelance journalist and a contributor to the Ecologist Green Living section; email: hazel@theecologist.org 

Eco-design at Chelsea Flower Show - Green Living - The Ecologist

BBC Two - RHS Chelsea Flower Show

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