Cutting down with the Joneses

Green Neighbourhoods scheme to turn existing communities into beacons of low carbon living

Who’s showing the way on cutting the carbon footprint of the UK’s existing housing stock? Under a new government initiative, 100 communities across Britain could become shining examples of what’s possible - and achievable by ordinary people in ‘bog standard’ homes.

Promoting local cooperation, the Green Neighbourhoods scheme will encourage communities to come forward with proposals whereby householders, community groups, local authorities, energy suppliers, private companies and banks can combine their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of their local area. On the carbon front, they’ll be expected to match up to a demanding target, achieving CO2 emissions cuts of at least 60% in line with the government’s sector-wide long term objectives.

By way of incentive, the 100 successful bidders will be able to tap into a pot of potentially more than £10 million over the next three years through the government’s new domestic Environmental Transformation Fund. The Energy Saving Trust will also be on hand to help communities achieve the necessary reduction, offering practical advice on suitable steps to cut back their emissions.

There are currently no concrete guidelines for entrants, and bids from communities of all sizes are welcomed. Successful bidders will almost certainly need a strategy for greening notoriously hard to treat homes such as Victorian terraces and poorly insulated tower blocks. Properties that use oil or coal for heating and have no connection to the gas network will also be a priority.

Outside the home, other actions to reduce environmental impacts will be encouraged, including efficient street lighting and community energy projects, better water efficiency and more recycling.

Neighbourhoods still have plenty of time to unite and organise their bids, with the Energy Saving Trust aiming to launch a competition for funding proposals by the end of the year and the first successful projects being funded from April 2009. - Tom Bamford

15 April 2008

Tom Bamford