Local charity St Catherine’s Hospice has had a difficult year after announcing it needs to make cost savings of £1.5 million to sustain its future hospice services.

About this event Join us for a fun filled evening at the Reed Charity Quiz Night in support of St Catherines Hospice. Test your knowledge and enjoy a night of friendly competition at Gatwick Manor. Reed are inviting our local clients and community to come together for an evening of fun, competition and philanthropy. All monies raised on the night will be donated to St Catherines Hospice. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis. Tables fit 10. A special bar code for your table will be provided on the night for donations to be made to St Catherines Hospice. If you would like to make a tribute to someone special on the night, we will be displaying messages & photos on a screen during the evening. Please email details to maxine.bastin@reed.com

Don’t get your tinsel in a tangle over recycling your Christmas tree! Let St Catherine’s Hospice tick a job off your January to-do list, by collecting your Christmas tree on Friday 10 or Saturday 11 January 2025.

Thank you to Mandi for introducing us to a range of incredible charities through Gatwick Diamond Business so we was able to make a change this Christmas.

Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) is proud to have received two national awards - Campaign of the Year and Innovation of the Year - at the prestigious Air Ambulances UK Awards of Excellence, hosted by ITV presenter Charlotte Hawkins and held at Coventry Building Society Arena.

Calling all local Charities.... This year The Europa Hotel are donating a range of Christmas Lunch accessories ; Crackers, Paper Napkins, Streamers, Party Hats and Party Poppers. We have a large amount left to donate, so if your charity is looking for some, please pop us over an email at sales714@britanniahotels.com Everybody deserves to have a special christmas.  

Local charities and support organisations in Sussex are urged to apply for funding from the Gatwick Airport Community Trust which is now open again for applications.

Do you think Solar Renewable Energy is a scam? If so, think again . . .   Like with any industry, there are individuals and businesses that discredit their sector. And, again, like with anything in life, perpetrators are very much in the extreme minority but spoil and ruin it for individuals and businesses that are 100% legitimate and fully accredited, ensuring quality and best practice.   Electrotec Power Solutions Ltd are proud members of and accredited by the EPVS (Energy Performance Validation Scheme): www.epvs.co.uk   Before you make a purchase decision, it's important that you get a quote from an installer that shows how the product will perform and how much it will save. You can also get a longer-term estimate of how much you could earn by investing in the product.   The running costs of new products are a crucial aspect of any decision-making process.   As consumers, we thoroughly check these things.   You trust the sales professional to deliver the promised savings, but he or she may not be able to provide you with the correct details about the product and the running costs.   You should also ask if the quoted savings will apply to your household's needs.   EPVS is a program that was designed to address this issue. Through an independent assessment, it can provide you with the necessary information to make informed decisions.   Through its monitoring programme, EPVS members are able to provide their customers with accurate estimates of their financial savings and performance.    

At the end of October 2024, there were 71,459 electric vehicle charging points across the UK, across 36,060 charging locations and 108,633 connectors.April 2023, there was 68,512 EV charging station locations across the country as of April 2023, which is 35% more than in 2022.There are various types of public charging stations that are being established all across the country. Some of these include dedicated hubs that allow multiple cars to charge at the same time, while others are placed in lampposts and in residential areas. These developments are expected to help ease the transition to electric cars for more people.* Charging speedThe latest EVs can be charged up extremely quickly, and the newest 360kW chargers can add up to 100 miles to a car’s range in just five minutes. These chargers are the cream of the crop, so they gain the highest score here, while the slowest chargers – barely any faster than a household three-pin plug – get the lowest score. However, if a network fails to provide the stated charge rate and users end up paying for a very fast charge but don’t receive one, marks should be deducted.* Ease of paymentThe popularity of public charging stations has led to the development of more convenient methods of accessing them. In the past, people had to register using an RFID card to access the facilities. Nowadays, many of them still require users to use an app or an online registration method. The best ones are easy to use and require little effort to register. On the other hand, the worst ones can be very time consuming and frustrating to use.Newer devices allow people to make payments using contactless credit cards or pay by phone. These are the most convenient and can be used without an account being created.* ReliabilityIt’s frustrating to turn up at a charger and find it broken, so maintenance is an important factor. If a network’s chargers are frequently out of order and not fixed quickly, it will lose marks here. A responsive and helpful customer service centre that can be called when assistance is needed will help a provider to redeem itself.* Value for money It’s no surprise that many of the quickest chargers are the priciest to use, but the tariffs shouldn’t be prohibitively high. Those that don’t charge as quickly should be cheaper to use, and the slowest should be the cheapest so they are affordable for overnight charging for those who don’t have access to a home charger.For further advice and guidance in relation to how and where to seek independent unbiased data, and reporting statistic, please email me at jeremy@electrotecpowersolutions.co.uk

Please refer to my LinkedIn post for today, which is a poll: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jeremy-ramsden-electrotec_crawley-solar-solarenergy-activity-7262379175703887874-Oero?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop I would appreciate your vote and share your insight to kick off. Thank you.

https://www.charitytoday.co.uk/humanimal-trust-announces-250k-cancer-research-fund/

#Question   Despite the rapid emergence and evolution of solar photovoltaics, which are now widely expected to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, many scenarios still do not consider the technology's potential to play a significant role in the decarbonisation of the global economy.   Do you agree?   I’d appreciate and value learning your thoughts.

St Catherine’s Hospice will be holding its much-loved Tree of Light services on Sunday 8 December, giving people in the local community the chance to join together, honour someone special and hang a star of remembrance for a loved one.

Although Trump's election has a negative impact on the country's efforts to combat these issues, it is not clear how long the effects of his policies will last.

The Global Supply Chains and forced labour organisations have highlighted the vulnerability of the solar PV industry to modern slavery. According to the Global Slavery index, which was released in 2023, over $14 billion of solar PV imports from the G20 countries are at risk of being affected by this type of exploitation. In response, the US has taken various steps to address this issue, such as implementing the Uyghur forced labour prevention act.By 2050, solar PV is predicted to become Europe's primary source of electricity. Today, investments in solar PV surpass those of oil production. There will also be over $1.7 trillion allocated for clean energy projects.When it comes to solar PV, the small photovoltaic cells are composed of a semiconducting material known as silicon. One of the most important materials used in the production of solar PV is polysilicon, which is a high-purity type of silicon. This material is melted to produce ingots, which are then sliced into wafers and used in the assembly of solar cells. Due to its excellent stability and numerous applications, polysilicon is used in almost all solar PV modules.Over the past decade, China has been able to develop its manufacturing capabilities for solar PV. It has been able to achieve a significant market share in every stage of the production process.China's Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region, which is the largest producer of polysilicon in the world, accounts for approximately 35% of the global supply of this material. All of the region's polysilicon plants are powered by coal, which creates a high-carbon polysilicon product. By 2025, China's share of the global market is expected to reach almost 95%. Other regions of the country, which are not affected by the XUAR, are expected to contribute to the polysilicon market's growth.Despite China's dominance in the solar PV manufacturing industry, other countries are starting to develop their manufacturing capabilities.If you are buying solar PV panels, please consider ethic procurement. Here are two businesses, both UK based, supporting the UK economy and operate a strict anti-slavery policy,* UKSOL Ltd - https://www.uksol.uk/ * Anglo Solar - https://www.anglosolar.com/

Have you ever asked yourself how and why some Solar Energy firms can fit your system at such widely low cutthroat prices?

We are looking to grow our team at Wolo Foundation! We are a young, fast-growing and dynamic charity, having a huge impact on people’s lives. Become a Wolo trustee and help make a difference to families all over Sussex affected by cancer.

#ukbudget   Although the UK's first Labour budget in 14 years provides a positive signal on climate action, it falls short of being an "environment-friendly" budget. There is still a lot of work to be done to decarbonize the UK economy and reach net zero by 2030.   The UK's capital budget will be set over five years and will be extended every two-year review. This provides greater clarity and predictability regarding the government's plans. The government also plans to spend over £35 billion on economic infrastructure over the next decade.   The government's commitment to green technology in the next decade is welcome, such as the allocation of £3.9 billion for the development of carbon capture and storage technologies. However, it is still important that the focus is on reducing emissions. In addition, it committed another £2.7 billion to the development of the Sizewell C nuclear power plant.   The National Wealth Fund's high-level ambition is commendable. It aims to generate over £70 billion of investment and achieve returns that are equivalent to gilts.   The Bank of England's decision to reinstate climate as a priority was a positive step. It also confirmed that the UK will proceed with its plans to establish a carbon border adjustment mechanism, which will cover various sectors, beginning in January 2027. This will provide investors with more certainty and encourage low-carbon investments.  

How much does it cost to light a Christmas tree? Tomorrow (November 1st), for the vast majority of people living in the UK, it’ll be time to start thinking about Christmas decorations. Before you start putting up a tree, it's important that you know how much it costs to illuminate it. Since we're still dealing with cost-of-living issues, it's also important that we adopt energy-efficient measures at home. The new and best Christmas lights are expected to use less energy than their old counterparts. Whether you prefer an artificial tree or a real one, in this article, I address the costs of lighting up your tree this holiday season. I’ve based my advice on the current energy price cap. Knowing how much you'll have to spend to illuminate your tree will allow you to make informed decisions regarding your finances in the future. The cost of running Christmas tree lights can vary depending on the type of tree and the energy consumption. Most people use two sets of 100 Christmas tree lights, which can add up to around 80 to 80 Watts of energy. This figure is based on the assumption that the lights are not LED bulbs. You can determine the specific Wattage of the set by taking the number of each string of lights and multiplying it by 0.001. If you're planning on keeping your tree lights on for six hours a day, then you'll need a total output of 0.48 kW. After the price cap for electricity was lowered to 27p per kW, you'll be spending around £5.05 for every six hours of Christmas tree lighting. This is expressed as a function of output of 0.48 kW multiplied by 0.27 for cost and 39 days. If you're not sure how much you'll have to spend to illuminate your tree, then use an online calculator to get an estimate. It's important to remember to switch off the Christmas lights before you go to sleep to avoid a triple cost if they're left on for an extended period of time.   I’m aware that many individuals value the practicality of being economical during this holiday season, which is why I’ve come up with a variety of budget-friendly Christmas decorating ideas.   The average cost of running Christmas tree lights is about £5 each day. Less than a glass of mulled wine. This is a small sum that most individuals are willing to pay for the ambiance that a lit tree provides at night. But, there are plenty of ways to lessen this expenditure.   Switch to LED Christmas lights According to James Longley, the managing director of Utility Bidder, switching to LED lights can help you lower your energy consumption by around 10%.   Amit Juneja, the managing director of The Christmas Workshop, believes that the cost of lighting a Christmas tree can be as low as a penny a week.   Martin Lewis, a finance expert, claims that LED lights are inexpensive to run. He adds that these can help households keep their energy bills under control.   Christmas lights that use LED technology can run for around 0.0002p per hour. That's equivalent to around a penny a week, based on a string of 100 lights.   Since most households have two sets of 100 lights, this would cost around 0.12p an hour to run. That's equivalent to around 5 pence a week, assuming that you keep your lights on for six hours each day.   2. Use battery-powered lights   According to Connor Campbell, a financial expert at NerdWallet, you can opt for battery-powered lights for those who have extra batteries in their cars or in their homes.   Unlike incandescent lights, battery-powered models can last longer and use less electricity. This means you'll be able to save money on batteries as well.   3. Opt for different settings   The cost of outdoor and indoor lights varies depending on the type of product. I suggest using varying settings to save money.   4. Keep usage to a minimum   Another way to save money on Christmas lights is by reducing the amount of electricity that you use.   Our personal traits and the product itself can also help us save money. Most households in the UK add decorative or holiday lights to their homes over the Christmas season. They should be switched off at night or when one is not home.

In cold weather, the output of solar panels can be boosted. In addition, proper care and positioning can help maximise the winter sunshine. To estimate the potential savings that a battery and solar system can provide, please contact me, via email, at jeremy@electrotecpowersolutions.co.uk