New funding round supporting South West communities’ energy events opens this month
Up to £5,000 is available for groups to put on energy saving open homes and energy fairs events to promote domestic energy efficiency and microgeneration.
Ready for Retrofit, the programme run by the Energy Saving Trust, that supports energy efficiency in social housing, businesses and the community has opened up a new round of funding for community groups.
Jon Rattenbury, Ready for Retrofit Manager said: “The Ready for Retrofit project has already funded nine Energy Saving Open Homes events across the South West since September 2013 attracting 100s of visitors. We are pleased to announce a new round of funding for community groups and are looking forward to working with many more applicants.”
Eleven homes in Sidmouth will open their doors over the weekend on the 15th– 16thFebruary, while Frome in Somerset will be holding an event on 15thand 16thMarch.
Successful Open Doors and Energy Fair events have already been held in North Devon, Minehead, Ottery St Mary, Tavistock, Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo. Homeowners open their doors to the public to showcase energy saving ideas and technologies, while showing visitors how easy it is to save money and be energy efficient at home.
Energy Fairs will feature local businesses that provide energy efficiency and microgeneration products and services. Speakers will provide more information to visitors who get the opportunity to find out simple tips and products that can help them save money on their energy bills.
Open Homes Events have proved particularly successful for Ready for Retrofit. An event in Tavistock on the 18thJanuary attracted around 150 visits to 15 homes and the Eco Fair on the following Saturday saw over 200 local people come through the door to talk to exhibitors and participate in talks.
Kate Royston, Co-ordinator of Transition Tavistock said: "If you are interested in conserving energy, generating it from a renewable sources or even just finding out how to save some money on your energy bills, Open Homes and Energy Fair events provide an opportunity to learn from others already using the technology in their homes or to speak directly to the experts”.
Jon added: “Energy Fairs run by community groups like Newton and Noss Environmental Group and Transition Tavistock provide great opportunities for visitors to talk to installers and we hope, become inspired to make their homes more efficient and save money on fuel bills.
“We want to see groups across the South West come forward and work with us to promote energy efficiency and retrofitting across the region.”
The £8 million three year Ready for Retrofit scheme funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), administered by the Energy Saving Trust, enables social landlords to apply for funding to retrofit renewable heat and electricity measures, as well as improving energy efficiency in their homes and supporting local contractors to make them more competitive. The programme also supports local businesses and community groups to help inform people about energy efficiency and microgeneration in the home.
To find out more about community funding and information on how to reply, please contact readyforretrofit@est.org.uk or visit http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/ReadyforRetrofit
To find out more about the Sidmouth Open Homes event, please visit www.sidenergy.co.uk/open-homes/
ENDS
Notes to Eds:
For more information, please contact Julie Everett at Coast Communications on 01752 847135/ 07866 002635 or email julie@coastmarcoms.co.uk
For more information on Ready for Retrofit please visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.
Ready for Retrofit
Ready for Retrofit is a three-year project offering a new funding opportunity for social landlords in the south west of England (except Cornwall) to improve the energy efficiency of their existing stock. The aim of the project is to grow the local supply chain for low carbon building retrofit by stimulating demand and supporting local SME businesses, in order to create a sustainable domestic energy efficiency and microgeneration sector. We are also helping to grow the market locally by working with local authorities and community groups.
ERDF
The Ready for Retrofit project is part financed by the SW Competitiveness European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf