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Community Partners Needed for Solid Wall Insulation Project

If you are interested in this opportunity please send an email to Simon Ross: simon@mea.org.ukno later than 5pm Wednesday 6th June 2012.
 
  • Does your community include homes which are using electricity or coal for heating?
  • Would you like to help those in your community on limited incomes to access free solid wall insulation?
  • Would you like to earn some money for your community group?
Marches Energy Agency, the Midlands-based charity which provides the CCAN-e newsletters, is working with British Gas on an exciting new solid wall insulation project. We are looking for a limited number of ‘Community Partners’ (e.g.: local community groups who are focused on climate change/low carbon and/or working with low income groups) from across Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire to help us find eligible households who could get fully funded (free!) solid wall insulation. The eligibility criteria for receiving solid wall insulation are set by the Office of Gas & Electricity Markets (OFGEM) and focus on maximising carbon savings in the ‘hard to treat’ homes of the most vulnerable. The funding comes from the Government’s Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) obligation on the big energy utilities. The funding is only available to owner-occupiers or those renting from private sector landlords. Those living in homes rented from registered social landlords are not eligible for the funding.

British Gas are looking for solid wall homes heated by electricity or coal with at least one member of the household receiving a specific benefit (see eligible list of benefits at the bottom of this email).

We are able to provide support directly to successful ‘community partners’ who want to help us find eligible householders, and we can also cover the cost of local activity which might include targeting solid wall homes with a leaflet mail shot, using local volunteers to contact householders directly,

 running a solid wall insulation coffee morning or attending an existing event
 
We are also able to pay the Community Partners a ‘surveying fee’ (paid when British Gas Home Energy Plan assessors completes a solid wall survey of an eligible home) and an ‘installation fee’ (paid when a solid wall installation is complete).  

As a first step to gauge the level of interest from CCAN members we would like to hear from any potential Community Partners who – in principle – wish to explore next steps. Depending on the level of response and interest we will either arrange a series of briefing sessions with British Gas or contact individual groups directly to answer questions; hear your ideas for finding eligible householders; outline project timescales; the levels of support available for community partners; and the next steps.

If you would like to express in principle interest then please send email to

simon@mea.org.uk no later than 5pm Wednesday 6th June 2012.

Transition West Bridgford to Launch Home Video

Transition West Bridgford are set to launch a video in June about how to make homes in the area more environmentally friendly. It will be around 20 minutes long and include tours of homes in West Bridgford that have been retrofitted to make their more energy efficient.
 

Newark Retrofit Households Achieve Energy reduction of 78.6%

 Two houses in Newark that were retrofitted with renewable technologies and energy saving features in 2010 have achieved energy use reductions of more than 75%. One of the two homes has the same tenants who were living in it before it was retrofitted. In the last 12 months they have used 78.6% less energy than they did before the work was done. This equates to a 57.9% reduction in carbon emissions.
 
Read more about the project here: http://hhpnshretrofit.wordpress.com.

Gardening Opportunities in Chesterfield

Transition Chesterfield is involved in a gardening project called Garden Buds. The project allows people who have gardens they don’t look after, for whatever reason, to offer the space to someone who has the time and inclination to tend it. The scheme is being trialled in Holmebrook and Rother ward and needs both gardens and gardeners. Gardens must be in the ward, but gardeners can be from anywhere (although preference will be given to those who are more local).
 
If you are interested please contact Helen Stockton: Helen.Stockton@derbyshirecountypct.nhs.uk.

3000 People Sign up for People Power!

 A Derbyshire based not-for-profit organisation seeking to lower people’s energy bills has recruited 3000 people who would like take part in a collective energy switch. Once 5000 people are signed up the organisers will negotiate lower energy bills for everyone involved.
Anyone can sign up at: www.thePeoplesPower.co.uk.