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Media Release Back to News
Monday 12th November 2007
for the meeting on Tuesday November 20th
Elham aims for a 20% carbon cut
Launch of village project to find energy savings
On
Tuesday 20th November residents from Elham near Canterbury are being
invited to the launch of the Elham Low Carbon Initiative (ELCI) which
aims to reduce the collective carbon emissions of the village by 20%
over the first year.
Elham is one of four villages in Kent,
chosen and supported by Kent County Council with assistance from the
Kent Energy Centre to pioneer local efforts to cut carbon emissions.
The
initial stages of the programme , which will be outlined to residents
at the meeting on the 20th November, will involve collecting baseline
data from Elham households about their carbon emissions. This
information will be used to achieve the reduction target. Villagers
will also be asked to suggest community projects which will enable ELCI
to reach its 20% target by 2009.
A low carbon community ‘tool
kit’ is currently in development which will enable the project to be
run and managed by the community itself. The Kent Energy Centre is
offering ongoing specialist support and advice where and when required
and has developed a methodology to be able to calculate the current
carbon emissions of the village.
The Elham Environmental Group
(EEG) has been set up to steer the programme and report on its
development over the coming months. The Reverend Canon David Ratcliff,
chairman of the EEG says: ‘This is a wonderful opportunity for Elham as
one of only four areas chosen by the County Council to trial this
concept of a community working together to collectively reduce energy
use, reduce carbon emissions, and of course save money off fuel bills’.
Mike
Bundy from the Kent Energy Centre says: ‘There are several low carbon
community initiatives happening around the UK at present, and we are
encouraged by the enthusiasm we have encountered here in Kent during
our search for suitable areas in which to run this programme’. He adds:
’With energy prices increasing by over 100% in the last 5 years, and
issues such as the availability of supply likely to get worse rather
than better in the medium to longer term, this is a great opportunity
to discover if saving energy through a community approach will work in
Kent.’
The launch event, on 20th November, starting at 7.30pm in
Elham Primary School, Vicarage Lane, will feature advice on saving
energy and renewables technologies, a short film showing the
development of a similar project in Cheshire, and will give residents
the opportunity to discuss details of the programme.
A free low
energy light bulb will be given to all who attend and complete a survey
form on their household emissions. There is also a chance to win an
energy monitoring device in a prize draw that will happen on the night,
together with information and displays.
Regular updates on the progress of ELCI will be available during the year.
ENDS
Enquiries:
David Ratcliff, Elham Environment Group 01303 840624
Mike Bundy, Kent Energy Centre 01233 646806
Editor’s Notes
a.
Kent Energy Centre (KEC) is part of CEN, a not for profit organisation
set up in 1997 and delivering a range of services to engage
householders, businesses and communities in environmental and social
improvement. KEC was set up in 2000 and is supported by all Kent local
authorities and provide a range of free and impartial services to
householders on behalf of the Energy Saving Trust.
d. Elham
Environment Group (EEG) is a community group which was set up in
October 2007 to co-ordinate the low carbon initiative. For information
please contact David Ratcliff, 9 The Orchards, Elham, Canterbury. CT4
6TR tel. 01303 840 624, e-mail archdeacon.david@zen.co.uk |
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