Energy Saving Trust launches online hub for Green Communities

The Energy Saving Trust today launched Green Communities - a brand new hub for UK communities, offering free online tools and advice.
 
The online service includes a carbon footprint tool which allows registered members to pinpoint exactly how their community can reduce carbon emissions and save money.

Once registered, members have access to the Green Communities Carbon Footprint tool, which has been developed in partnership with East of England Development Agency (EEDA).

The tool allows users to generate a free impartial, personalised report showing exactly how their community can stop wasting carbon and money.  All Green Communities will be able to follow and promote their progress on a unique webpage which charts their projects’ individual carbon savings. 

Members will also have access to free expert advice from the Energy Saving Trust: training workshops and 1:2:1 consultation on project ideas; online resources such as case studies of other successful projects.

Furthermore, following feedback from ‘Green Communities’ members across the UK, the Energy Saving Trust is now offering:

• Advice on managing the planning process when it come to installing renewable technologies;
• Advice on overcoming the challenges when dealing with older or listed buildings
• Advice on securing funding outside of environmental trust funds including social enterprise initiatives.

Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said:  “We already have 2,000 community groups signed up across the UK and interest is growing daily. We still speak to individual householders but our research shows that the average person has 169 people in their social networks.

"Britons are already acting as advisers to 10 people on energy-related issues. We know that by working with communities the potential to influence friends and families is huge."

Joan Ruddock, MP, Minister of State, DECC, said:  “Community-wide action is vital if the UK is to meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets and make the transition to a low-carbon future. We know that lots of people want to take action but aren’t sure where to start – the Energy Saving Trust’s Green Communities programme will play a valuable role in helping achieve collective change, street by street, in every community.

"This autumn will also see the start of the Government’s Community Energy Saving Programme, which will provide real help to around 90,000 homes across the country, including energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies. Programmes such as these will help families and communities save energy, reduce emissions and keep energy bills lower.”

Expert in community engagement, Professor Erik Bichard, University of Salford, said: “Our most trusted advisors are often the people we find closest to us. Community strength to tackle climate change needs to start somewhere.  The Energy Saving Trust’s Green Communities programme is a way of compelling community leaders to kick-start local action.

"People are generally happy to do something if they feel that others are already doing it, and that their actions would meet with the approval of those around them. This powerful motivating force is tailor-made for community action-based climate change initiatives. All that is needed is the catalyst to get a small group, and a popular initiative going.”

Communities across the UK are invited to register for free membership today at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/community or call 0844 848 0077.