Neighbourhood projects offer opportunity to ʻgreen Britainʼsʼ households
• Microgeneration could help reduce enery costs
desire to make a difference to climate change, most said helping their local area was their main motivation. The UK has the least energy efficient housing stock in
A
new report by the Institute for Public Policy Research shows that communities working together are more likely
to encourage reduced domestic energy use and increase the popularity of renewable energy technologies than individual green pioneers or even government campaigns. The finding comes from an independent assessment of the ‘British Gas Green Streets’ community challenge, an initiative which saw 14 communities receive funding and expertise to install micro-generation and energy efficiency measures in households and community buildings. The report is based on an analysis of more than 400 houses and 30 community buildings, and interviews with around 1,300 individuals across the country. The results show that a ‘multiplier effect’ was felt within communities involved in the ‘Green Streets’ projects once low carbon technologies such as solar panels were installed on visible buildings. Interest in energy saving and technologies increased when they were seen to be having a positive effect in the local area. Of all those householders who lived near to and had heard of a ‘Green Streets’ project: 61 per cent said they would be more likely to take action on energy efficiency and renewable energy in the future as a result of hearing about the project . 46 per cent have been inspired and have already taken action on energy efficiency and renewable energy as a result. Of these: 50 per cent said they had been inspired to take action on insulation as a result; 23 per cent said they had been inspired to install a new boiler as a result; 11 per cent said they had been inspired to install solar panels on their property as a result; While some of the householders became involved out of a
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Europe, with solid walled properties, such as Victorian terraced houses, a major problem solid wall insulation is costly and undesirable to many householders and yet without this measure, installing renewable technology may not be cost effective. A lack of knowledge and incorrect perceptions by planners and local councillors can affect planning decisions and make it difficult to get micro-gen installed. To overcome these barriers and help unleash the potential of community energy IPPR recommends that: Capital funds for community energy should be derived from private sources through a proposed ‘community energy fund’. Government, national and local, should make loan capital available at concessional rates. Government should provide ex ante impartial technical advice on micro-gen to communities to ensure cost-effective and satisfactory deployment. Government should launch a solid wall insulation competition
to challenge academic and private sector innovators to come up with ‘break through’ technological solutions. Government should fund an educational outreach programme
on renewables for planning officers and local councillors. ‘The Green Streets’ report is available to download from
www.ippr.org/publications/2. For more details on the ‘Green Streets Challenge’ go to
http://www.greenstreets.co.uk
Indigenous introduces ʻspa inspiredʼ Tavertine Bathroom Collection
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Four Shires PROPERTY & HOMES
Four Shires PROPERTY & HOMES
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