Building & Design

The UK Government yesterday issued a challenge to local communities to be at the forefront of the low-carbon economy.

Twenty local communities will share £10 million to support low-carbon schemes such as retrofitting homes with energy efficiency measures, constructing a local biomass plant or installing electric car charging points.

In return, residents will help government agencies determine which low-carbon measure could most benefit the whole country. Measures that prove successful in the Low Carbon Communities Challenge could be rolled out nationally.

Currently, around a quarter of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions come from lighting, heating and powering our households. The Government’s pledge to cut emissions by 80% by 2050 will require major improvements in the energy efficiency of the country’s housing stock.

“The UK has the most ambitious emissions reduction commitments in the world and projects like this will develop the policies we need to be successful,” says Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Ed Miliband. “We’re searching for communities across the country to kick start the low carbon revolution.”

The winning communities will be assisted by the Government, as well as the Energy Saving Trust, Carbon Trust and WRAP to come up with low-carbon action plans. To be eligible, communities will have to demonstrate that they are already committed to carbon reduction through renewables, energy efficiency refurbishments or green transport plans.

For further information:
www.decc.gov.uk
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/consumers/lc_communities/lc_communities.aspx
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/
www.carbontrust.co.uk/
www.wrap.org.uk/

Related stories:
UK outlines plan for cutting emissions (16-Jul)
UK Housing Minister promises new standard for zero-carbon homes (20-Jul)