Scotland: National Rural Network
The Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust have won the UK Gold Award at the recent Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy. Judges were impressed by their outstanding achievements in cutting energy consumption and devising a unique electricity capping system, dramatically reducing household carbon emissions by nearly 50 percent.
Planning Aid for Scotland (PAS) has launched a new mentoring scheme to help community groups take advantage of their local resources in areas such as a renewable energy scheme, community hall, allotments, or affordable housing by offering free planning advice and training to rural community groups.
The launch of the scheme demonstrates the growth and development of Planning Aid for Scotland and the increasing demand for impartial planning advice, information and support.
The E.ON Sustainable Energy Fund supports the development of efficient and sustainable energy measures for community organisations.
The fund offers grants of up to £20,000 to community groups and not for profit organisations who wish to consider and implement sustainable energy projects in their buildings - from energy efficiency through to micro-generation.
Your organisation must benefit specific groups namely:
A double workshop session of the International Rural Network conference held in Udaipur India in August 2009 explored how community owned and managed energy systems could improve rural livelihoods. Training of community engineers in the Barefoot College was a thread that ran through the presentations.
Lead applicant: Rousay, Egilsay & Wyre Development Trust
Following the inspiration and example of the transition town network the Community Powerdown project has been established Community Energy Scotland. Funded by the Scottish Government Climate Challenge Fund the Powerdown group covers communities from Fair Isle to Langholm, plus the Development Trust Association Scotland.
Provide hall committees with the help to research and implement renewable energy projects. The support will be in the form of a community development worker with knowledge of renewable energy systems who will support individual groups, encourage sharing of experience between groups, assist with technical data, and support funding bids.
Two issues are never out of the news of late - the credit crunch, and climate change. I am writing to you to help us take the Highlands and Islands through the current economic problems while making our region a cleaner, greener place to live.
