The UK's Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has today announced the first 82 local energy projects to win funding from the new £10m Local Energy Assessment Fund.
Winning bids include opening show homes to demonstrate solid wall insulation to the public, schemes to check the energy efficiency of homes and invest in renewable energy, and events to promote the uptake of energy efficiency in local communities.
Chris Huhne said: “We face a gigantic challenge in the coming years to keep the lights on and energy bills down. This means nurturing cleaner, more secure, homegrown energy sources here in the UK so we are not so dependent on imported gas, and boosting the energy efficiency of our homes and businesses to cut out waste.
“Local communities, with their energy, drive and innovation, are going to be at the heart of this effort, and I hope that this funding acts as a booster rocket to the winning projects.”
The funding comes as the Government gears up for the launch of the Green Deal later this year, the first scheme of its kind in the world, aimed at radically overhauling the energy efficiency of millions of homes across the UK.
Organisations including parish councils, voluntary associations, development trusts and faith groups are all eligible to apply for LEAF funding. Around 200 projects are expected to benefit in total and there is still time to apply – the second round will close to applications at noon on 20 January 2012 with successful communities notified at the end January.
LEAF is managed by a consortium of community networks administered by the Energy Saving Trust. Money is intended to be used for understanding energy efficiency at a local level and renewable energy generation issues. There is on average £50,000 available for each successful bid but money allocated depends on the proposals put forward. Any work needs to be completed by end of March 2012.
Peter Lipman, Chair of Communities and Climate Action Alliance said: “Hundreds of communities responded fantastically to the opportunity afforded by LEAF with imaginative and innovative schemes. It’s wonderful to see that many of them will be funded and so will have a chance to show just what those communities can deliver.”
Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said: “Showing people that ‘going green’ is practical and realistic is essential if we’re to successfully refurbish the housing stock, and enabling people to see energy efficiency measures installed in real homes in their area is a key part of this. It’s also absolutely crucial that residents of local communities have a say in what will work best in their area, so they can have a stake in our more sustainable future. LEAF, on both counts, sets the groundwork for success.”
The list of the 82 successful community projects:
ENGLAND – NORTH WEST
Action for Sustainable Living
Manchester
Alt valley
Merseyside
Ashton Hayes Community Energy
Cheshire
Bayston Hill Parish Council
Shropshire
Church Stretton
Shropshire
Green Vale Homes
Rossendale
Kirkbride
Cumbria
Low Carbon Lymm
Cheshire
Parksway bungalows
Manchester
Sustainability and Energy Network in Staveley
Derbyshire
Bolton community homes
Bolton
Groundwork
Oldham
Whalley Community Hydro
Clitheroe
K-SET
Sedbergh
MERCi / East Manchester
Manchester
ENGLAND – NORTH EAST
Holy Island of Lindisfarne
Northumberland
Sherburn Hill Community Association
Durham
Sitlington
Wakefield
Sustainable Saltaire
West Yorkshire
Weaverthorpe
North Yorkshire
Witton Park Community Association
Bishop Auckland
ENGLAND – SOUTH CENTRAL
Chipping Norton
Oxfordshire
Energy Alton
Hampshire
Oxford
Oxfordshire
South Kenton Preston Park Residents Association
Wembley
Sustainable Wallingford
Oxfordshire
The Environment Centre (TEC)
Southampton
The Willow Hills Residents Association
Guildford
Transition Eynsham Area (GreenTEA)
Oxfordshire
Tring Environmental Forum
Hertfordshire
Winchester Action on Climate Change
Winchester
ENGLAND - LONDON
Brixton Energy
Brixton
Community Education Forum
Fulham
The HEET Project
London
The Sustainable Home Survey Company CIC
London
Transition Town Peckham
Peckham
Waterloo Community Development Group
Lambeth
ENGLAND – SOUTH WEST
(PURE) Polperro Community Group Ltd
Cornwall
Bedminster
Bedminster
Bishops Lydeard, Nr Taunton, Somerset. Quantock Eco Community Group
Somerset
Bridport Renewable Energy Group
Bridport
Bristol Green Doors Community Interest Company
Bristol
Climate Friendly Bradford on Avon
Bradford on Avon
Exeter
Exeter
Future Fit Bristol
Bristol
Low Carbon Gordano
Bristol
Moretonhampstead Development Trust
Devon
BWCE
Bath
Rame Peninsula
Cornwall
St Gennys
Bude
Taunton Transition Town
Taunton
Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust
Torbay
Transition Penwith
Penzance
Transition Town Totnes
Totnes
Whitney Village Hall
Hereford
Woolhope Dome Cooperative
Hereford
Wraxall & Long Ashton
Somerset
ENGLAND – SOUTH EAST
Barcombe Energy Group
East Sussex
OVESCO
East Sussex
Rural Kent
Kent
ENGLAND – MIDLANDS
Act on Energy
Warwickshire
Fillongley Carbon Reduction Club
Warwickshire
Harbury Energy Initiative
Warwickshire
Northfield Ecocentre
Birmingham
Orbit Heart of England
Coventry
Sustainable Bridgnorth
Shropshire
Sustainable Moseley
Birmingham
Sustainable Youlgrave
Derbyshire
Transition West Bridgford
Staffordshire
ENGLAND – EAST ANGLIA
Kelsale cum Carlton
Suffolk
Reepham Green Team
Norfolk
Shipfield
Norwich
Trust Links Ltd
Southend
WALES
AAT
Caerphilly
Caerau Development Trust
Maesteg
Cwmdu Sustainable Energy Group
Powys
Cymydmaen
Caernarvonshire
Cambrian Mountains
Powys
Friends of Taff Bargoed Parc
Treharris
Llangattock Green Valleys
Brecon
Monmouthshire Community Climate Champions
Monmouth
Transition Monmouth
Monmouth
Robert, Plymouth around 4 months, 1 week ago