Winners of a competition to find the greenest projects in the UK have been awarded £600,000 in funding.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has chosen 17 community projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions and developing clean, local energy sources to receive grants of up to £20,000 each.
A low-carbon co-operative in Manchester, a project to deliver local hydro power from water mills near Bath, and a plan to install renewable energy technologies on local farms around Winchester, are among the projects to receive funding under the ‘Big Green Challenge Plus’ partnership.
The applicants originally competed for prize money of £1 million as part of the Big Green Challenge and 10 finalists were short-listed, with the winner to be announced in October. However, DECC was so impressed with the calibre of applicants, 17 projects that didn’t make the short-list have been given additional funding.
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband, who announced Government plans for a low-carbon future on Wednesday, said: “Local solutions to the global problem of climate change are vital if we are to make the shift to a low-carbon future. The winners of Big Green Challenge Plus provide an example of the grassroots action we need to encourage in order to meet our goals.
“I was impressed by the quality of the short-listed projects – and heartened to see so many people and groups across the country showing real initiative and ingenuity in their approaches.
“We want to support people in their efforts so they can reap the benefits of cleaner energy, a better quality of life, and stronger, cohesive communities.”
NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) will offer support packages, including business advice and workshops, to the projects. NESTA Chief Executive Jonathan Kestenbaum said: "We think that the Big Green Challenge Plus is an inspiring project and that’s been reflected in the high standard of innovative ideas that have been submitted.
“Community involvement is a vital element in tackling climate change but it’s one piece of the jigsaw that is often ignored by policy-makers. So it’s great news that this kind of approach is being recognised by Government.
“We know there is no ‘miracle cure’ to the environmental challenges that we face but giving people the opportunity to get actively involved has to play its part.”
The projects to receive funding are:
1) Rebuilding Communities, London - a pilot project in Croydon will work to reduce emissions from the building industry
2) Climate Friendly Food, St Helens - will develop a carbon accreditation scheme for local primary food producers
3) South Manchester Carbon Co-Operative - helping local households buy carbon reduction measures such as insulation
4) Transition Together, Totnes - expansion of the successful scheme to promote low-carbon lifestyles within local communities
5) Community Renewable Energy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne - promoting community-owned renewable energy projects
6) Islington Carbon Reduction Club, London - will roll out a Carbon Club programme, with participants agreeing to an annual carbon allowance
7) Sidmouth Carbon Challenge - a project based at the local school, with students acting as low-carbon leaders in the community
8) Farm Energy Project, Winchester - helping local farmers install renewable energy technologies on-site
9) Oxfordshire Eco-Renovation, Oxford - project aiming to make eco-renovations accessible to householders
10) Redcliffe Carbon Challenge, Bristol - a local school will become a low-carbon community hub
11) Marlborough Climate Pledge - local householders join together and pledge to take action on climate change
12) Do the Green Thing, London - online social networking project aimed at encouraging up to one million people to make the shift to low-carbon living
13) River Power Millers, Mendip - installs micro-hydroelectric turbines in disused water mills, providing clean, local energy
14) Get on the Greenside, London - training ‘Green Champions’ in inner-city housing estates
15) The CLEAR Centre, Hamstreet, Kent - funding will establish a community resource centre at the local school
16) Julie’s Bicycle, London - working with a group of 10 local musicians and DJs to reduce carbon emissions, covering touring, merchandise and other areas
17) Face your Elephant, London - Woodcraft Folk members will receive training to conduct energy audits across the organisation’s centres and the wider community.
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