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News from members February

Low Carbon Community Challenge

Twelve communities that are to be awarded a grant as part of an ambitious new programme, have been announced. The new Low Carbon Community Challenge (LCCC), is a new two-year research programme from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and is designed to test delivery options for achieving ambitious cuts in carbon emissions at community level.

Launched late last year, 10 winners were originally announced and a dozen more have now been added to the list of communities who will be receiving up to £500,000 to install green technologies, such as solar panels, hydro turbines and energy saving insulation.

One community benefitting is Halton, near Lancaster, who are already members of the Green Communities network and are looking to install a hydro turbine, three solar roofs, and incorporate carbon saving measures in Halton Mill. The profits, generated from the Government’s clean energy cashback scheme, and from rents, will be ploughed back into further carbon reduction projects such as Halton Energy Network which will help households reduce their domestic carbon emissions.

Chris Coates, from Halton Carbon Positive, said: "We’re excited to be part of a national programme looking at the best way to deliver renewables at a community level. We are going to be piloting community models for solar PV, small-scale hydro and refurbishment of low carbon workspace using biomass. The Green Communities support is really useful in plugging our skill and knowledge gaps.”

It is hoped the LCCC programme will help government understand the potential role of communities in the transition to a low carbon future, and what is required to make this possible. It will also help to establish positive models for community action, and enable the sharing of ideas, stories and information to inspire other communities to launch their own low carbon initiatives. Find out more about the programme

Carbon Ambassadors – free energy audits for communities

A new programme at Leeds University which has trained students to a professional standard to allow them to perform energy audits on non-domestic buildings has recently been launched. The university has teamed up with NUS Services Ltd., to create the new service.

Usually costing more than many organisations and groups are able to afford, the new student service is offering the audits for free. Having one carried out on your building can also help you to save huge amounts of money, with the audits finding inefficiencies in a building’s structure and improving energy efficiency – especially important during the cold winter – drastically reducing heat and energy costs.

The students are now looking for venues to perform the audits on, and are interested in churches, schools, pubs, mosques, synagogues, community centres, local businesses and any other non-domestic building that could benefit from a free audit. If you, or anyone you know in Leeds, is interested in receiving a free energy audit, contact: univandc@leeds.ac.uk.

If you are in Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Preston or Sheffield, look out for the scheme from a union in your city or for more details, go to: www.nus.org.uk/CarbonAmbassadorAudit

Sustainable Streatham Launches Energy Group

In its ongoing efforts to work with local residents to help Streatham become a greener community, Sustainable Streatham (SuS) has started a new Energy Group dedicated to domestic and commercial energy reduction.

SuS is a community organisation which began when a small group decided to act locally on climate change, and they already boast a Food Group and a Film & Campaigning Group, alongside the new Energy Group. SuS also sees individuals leading drives to map green spaces in Streatham; running clothing swaps and making groups; and engaging with the community and local government to promote sustainable living in Streatham.

The launch of the new Energy Group will take place on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 March, between 1pm and 4pm at St Leonard’s Church, Tooting Bec Gardens, Streatham, London SW16 1RB. Private companies, not-for-profit organisations, community groups and key speakers have all been invited to attend the event.

The focus of the event will be educating local residents on the necessary steps to reducing energy consumption, leading to financial savings for them and less CO2 to the planet. They will focus on:

1. Educating residents about how the new Feed In Tariff, launching in April 2010, and how this can generate money and enable green energy, like solar panels, to be affordable

2. Providing information about a range of renewable energy options, technologies, grants, loans and payment schemes that are available and making renewable energy accessible to us all

SuS is also hoping to launch a Re-duce, Re-use, Re-cycle Group, an Outreach and Education Group, and Transportation Group. If residents are interested in taking action and volunteering, they can email: info@sustainablestreatham.org.uk. Alternatively they can visit: http://sustainablestreatham.wordpress.com, or the SuS page on the Project Dirt website at: www.projectdirt.com/group/sustainablestreatham