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Katherine Piper, a long term BS3 Energy Group volunteer, shares how she manages to stay positive amidst the climate crisis in the hope her insights will benefit you too.
The fact that you are reading a BS3 Energy Group blog would suggest (hopefully) that you care about our planet and would like to minimise any negative impacts on our local and wider environment. But how do we ensure that we do not burn out or feel paralysed into inaction when faced with some of the shocking statistics related to climate change?
Facing the facts
In 2015, I undertook a Masters in Sustainable Development and despite having always been environmentally conscious, it was only then, during the first module of the course that I realised the truly terrifying future that we all seemed to be sleepwalking into. I found myself crying to friends, guilty of my impact with every action, angry with colleagues who didn’t get it and self-conscious as coming across as preachy when speaking to people.
I decided that I needed to feel that I was doing something and not just learning facts at university. A quick Ecosia search and I had found Bedminster Energy Group (BEG); a local group of volunteers working to reduce the impact on the environment and alleviate fuel poverty through home energy efficiency measures for the people of BS3. This was perfect! Something I could do that was very practical to run alongside my studies plus it was local. I submitted a website enquiry to express my interest in volunteering.
Taking action
To cut a long story short, I was informed that all those who had been active volunteers in previous years had either moved out of the area or had other commitments and I, in effect, WAS Bedminster Energy Group!!! So, with the help of a Bristol Community Energy Fund grant and advice from former BEG volunteers, I set up weekly environmental talks and films in The Tobacco Factory’s Green Room. These were very well attended and at each event, I would deliver a shout out asking for volunteers to join me...and they did! Just the knowledge that others were equally concerned enough to come to the events was a relief and it was even more heartening to know that some, like me, wanted to also volunteer.
We are now a dozen strong and have delivered lots of exciting events and projects such as delivering free LED lights to Monica Wills House, facilitating discounted solar panels and bulk purchasing draught proofing for local residents.
Positive impact
Being active within my community has helped me enormously in terms of my own mental wellbeing. Not only could I see that my actions were having a positive impact locally and were helping to reduce the carbon footprint of my neighbourhood, but also I was making new friends in the area AND I was learning more and more about other actions I could take to further reduce my own carbon footprint.
So, despite our name change (we are now BS3 Energy Group to better reflect our reach), the group is still going strong. Whether with BS3 Energy Group or an alternative environmental organisation, I would highly recommend volunteering as a means of reducing one’s own anxiety levels around the climate emergency. Being a part of the group, I now have a sense of real optimism and hope for our collective futures.
At the time of writing, our events are on hold due to COVID-19 but please do get in touch if you would like to volunteer as there is plenty going on behind the scenes which you could get involved with. I look forward to meeting you soon!
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