Good Energy is proud to have a wide range of Affiliate Partners who share our goal of changing the way energy is made and used in the UK. In order to demonstrate the great work that others are doing to help the UK reach a 100% renewable future we’re showcasing a few of  them on our blog.


  
First up in the Affiliate spotlight is new partner the Museum of British Surfing. Founder and director Peter Robinson has spent more than a decade researching the UK’s surfing history and curating the collection, which includes almost 200 surfboards, some dating back to more than two centuries ago. Green Energy Republic spoke to him about how the Museum’s mission aligns with Good Energy’s.

1. What is the Museum of British Surfing?

The Museum of British Surfing is the national registered charity established to celebrate and preserve UK surf heritage. The Museum will be based in Braunton, North Devon and is due to open next summer thanks to a £250,000 funding package. It has a vast collection of surfboards and memorabilia tracing more than two centuries of the nation’s involvement with this ancient water sport. We're also looking to the present and future and are keen to encourage youth volunteering and involvement too. The plan is to create a carbon neutral building that will reflect the charity’s core aims to encourage the preservation of the natural environment – especially the coast and sea.

2.  Why did the Museum decide to become an Affiliate Partner of Good Energy and is there any part of our mission that particularly resonates with you?

It is one of our aims to become carbon neutral and Good Energy is, as far we're aware, the only truly 'green' energy supplier out there. We like the fact you don't just pay lip service to the environment - you do exactly what you describe when it comes to renewable energy. It's a clear and simple message.

3. Is renewable energy an important part of the Museum’s mission?

Yes, we plan to install sustainable energy technologies such as solar, air source heat, grey water collection and re-use at our museum. The main focus is on making sure we can achieve carbon neutral status, but if we can put renewable electricity back into the grid that will be a good thing.

4. Do surfing and the environment go hand-in-hand?

Absolutely, every time we surf we walk across beaches and enter the sea - and where we are based is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Everything from global warming and sea level rise, to marine and land based pollution have a big effect on our wonderful pastime. The wave in our new logo is to get the message across that the focus needs to be on the wave, not the surfer, and we must all act to protect our environment or we face the possibility of future generations not being able to surf.

Below: Left, Chairman of the charity’s trustees, Richard Gregory with Founder and Director, Peter Robinson. Photo, Rob Tibbles www.robtibbles.com