Page 42 - link magazine

42 swindonlink.com • October 2009
Purton business ready to help you prepare for the future

With energy prices spiralling, a pioneering Purton-based company is helping homes and businesses become more energy self-suffi cient with
cutting-edge renewable energy technology, writes Mark Mallett.
Although Huntersbrook age - beginning with a con-
House, the HQ of Rain, sultancy service and free
Wind and Sun, looks like quotations,” said Tracey.
an ordinary West Country “We aren't tied to any one
cottage conversion, there are distributor, so we can pro-
important clues to what lies vide people with unbiased
beneath the surface. assessments and source
Rain, Wind and Sun has and install technology
Orchard Garage, 24 Turnpike, turned it into a showcase that's exactly right for their
Blunsdon for renewable energy and property. We also provide
A free, fun, family day with great water-saving innovations comprehensive after sales
food, children’s activities, live including systems for har- service. The technology
music, free electric scooter rides vesting and using rainwater, used can be complex, es-
and interesting things from local solar panelling and devices pecially if the house is old,
eco-businesses. that source heat energy from so it's vital people are fully
Details from 708020
below ground. The only aware of all the costs - and
Tracey Butler, knowing where the winds of the future
real evidence of the new are coming from potential benefi ts."
technology in the house, Sue and Steve Pickering,
which provides almost all of its ergy performance ratings used to from Oakhurst, are satisfi ed cus-
own heating and hot water require- compile Home Information Packs, tomers. "We can highly recommend
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT? ments, comes from the monitoring the house's carbon footprint has Rain, Wind and Sun,” said Sue. “The
RAINWATER HARVESTING
Collection and e cient use of rainwater equipment and boiler units - which reduced by almost 70 per cent since solar panels they installed provide
SOLAR WATER HEATING take up spaces hardly bigger than the installation." us with constant hot water at a
Collection and e cient use of the sun’s energy conventional devices. So the technology works, but fraction of the cost of conventional
SOLAR ELECTRICITY
Reduce your dependency on the national grid General manager, Tracey Butler, that tells only half the story. The sources, and we feel we are doing
HEAT PUMPS says, "renewable energy technology company's builders and engineers our bit for the environment."
Space heating /cooling using heat from the air has come on in leaps and bounds. all hold qualifi cations in renewable To fi nd out more, and to arrange
or ground
WIND TURBINES Not only is it a viable long-term technology. It also sources local a visit to Huntersbrook House for
This is not practical everywhere – but we can investment - especially if you're products where possible and draws your school or organisation, see
tell you if it will work for you
If so, come and meet the team at a viewing of the building a home from scratch - it's on the expertise of tradespeople the advert left, or meet the team
demonstration technologies and discuss what ideas you also very effi cient. from the community. at Swindon’s Eco Sunday on 27
may have or the technologies you are interested in. “According to the offi cial en- "We provide the complete pack- September.
Take a look at www.rainwindsun.com,
or call 01793 772277, or e-mail:
[email protected]
Link deliveries get electric effect
The Link has teamed up with Swindon’s same day electric scooter
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Instead of the magazine being taken to public places like com-
Part time munity centres, retirement homes and dental surgeries in a diesel
fuelled car, now Ben Bell glides around the area on the almost
playworker at silent Ecolink scooter to make the monthly drop-offs.
The service was launched in June by Blunsdon based fi rm
West Swindon Mainlink Couriers. Ecolink will deliver documents and packages
Children’s Centre within Swindon for only £3.95 which is probably the cheapest
service in town. If you’re in business and need a quick delivery, or
15 Gainsborough Way want to send fl owers, a bottle of wine or surprise somebody with
Freshbrook, Swindon a love letter, call 708010.
Tel: 01793 - 871303 www.eco-link-swindon.co.uk
Right, Ecolink director Mark Nelson, left, with delivery rider Ben Bell
16 hours per week
(Tuesday – Friday)
to work with children Get ready to declutter at West Swindon exchange
aged 0 – 11 years in Recycle the contents of your cupboard in November
a variety of groups
e.g. crèche, after school Gateway Church at the Trinity Centre in Westlea is borrowing Twiggy’s Frock Exchange idea from the
groups & playscheme BBC on Friday 27 November, 7.30pm to 9pm, to hold their own event, with a bit of pampering thrown in
for good measure, writes Joy Aldred.
Ideally you will be out-going Anyone is welcome to the event, which is an op- become a regular event.”
and enjoy being with children portunity to declutter your wardrobe by bringing A space will be available with mirrors to try on gar-
NVQ3 (CCLD) or equivalent clothes and accessories you no longer wear and in ments which will be priced at 50p. Potential buyers
(We will consider level 2 return get a new outfi t or two. will attach a label on items they want to take home.
with commitment to train) Along with a cafe offering drinks and home-made If there is more than one label, a mini-auction will
cupcakes, there will be a dressmaker on hand to give take place.
For an application inspiration and advice on altering and re-styling All money raised will go towards the cost of the
pack, please contact garments, and an opportunity to have a mini beauty evening and charitable projects run by the church for
Beris Drew, Centre treatment or two. those in need locally.
Administrator on 871303 Organiser Dawn Prosser explained, “in the UK, one Items for sale should be clean, ironed and prefer-
No CV’s. million tonnes of old clothes and textiles get thrown ably on hangers. They should be dropped off in the
away each week, much of it ending up in landfi ll. Our week before so organisers can get them on the rails
West Swindon Children’s Centre frock exchange will help prevent that happening and in size order. Call Anne Leggott on 526130 to arrange
is committed to the welfare and will enable people to shop ‘til they drop and reinvent a drop-off time.
safeguarding of children
their wardrobe for as little as 50p. If it goes well it may www.gatewaychurchswindon.org.uk

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