Rising to the Low-Carbon Challenge

Finding the best green energy solution for different UK communities.Low-income households in a deprived part of Nottingham are saving £5-10 a week, thanks to an Living With Environmental Change-accredited initiative that’s changing how 22 communities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland meet their energy needs. “It’s incredible,” says Jacky Dobson of Nottingham’s Meadows Partnership Trust. “People who’d never normally dream of installing solar panels are making significant cuts in their energy costs as well as their carbon emissions.”Co-ordinated by Alex Masri from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Low-Carbon Communities Challenge is exploring how community-level action can supplement steps taken by individuals to install carbon-cutting energy technologies. By highlighting what kinds of financial or other support deliver the biggest all-round benefits, the initiative is expected to generate findings of real value to policy-makers, local authorities and equipment manufacturers, and to inspire more communities to cut their carbon emissions.   The test communities involved have different socio-economic profiles and range from inner cities to rural areas. Some are focusing on small-scale technologies, others on larger-scale projects such as community-owned wind turbines and district heating systems. It’s already clear that, acting together, energy users can achieve economies of scale which bring green energy technologies within the reach of more people, and can deliver ambitious projects of direct benefit to their communities.  Cwmclydach in South Wales is an excellent example. “We’re building a 55kW hydro scheme and plan to reinvest the profits from electricity sales into a variety of community projects,” explains Phil Jenkins. “The Low-Carbon Communities Challenge is making the difference between the idea staying on the drawing board and becoming a reality.”