Action in the UK - Green Neighbourhoods
To demonstrate how communities can live a low carbon lifestyle the Green Neighbourhoods initiative, launched on 2 April 2008, aims to give a green makeover to up to 100 neighbourhoods in England, with the aim of reducing their carbon footprints by more than 60 per cent. (See also Benn takes the fight against climate change Into homes and communities - Defra news release, 2 April)
Delivered by the Energy Saving Trust and backed by potentially more than £10 million over the next three years from the Government’s domestic Environmental Transformation Fund, this initiative will call for local alliances between householders, community groups, local authorities, energy suppliers, private companies, and banks to bid for funding.
To receive funding, bidders will need to join together and commit substantial levels of funding from their own resources to help transform the environmental performance of a street or local area. This will demonstrate to others what can be achieved and how much money householders can save in the longer term by working together and taking a holistic approach to energy saving.
The initiative will include a focus on hard to treat homes such as Victorian terraces and poorly insulated tower blocks which often have solid walls or no loft space, in addition to properties that use oil or coal for heating as they have no connection to the mains gas network. Other actions inside and outside the home will be encouraged too, including efficient street lighting and community energy projects, as well as better water efficiency and more recycling.
The Energy Saving Trust aims to launch a competition for funding proposals by the end of 2008, with the first successful projects being funded from April 2009.
Further information:
Page last modified: 2 April 2008
Page published: 2 April 2008