Energy and Environment Open Data Challenge

[Bridget Newbery]

Tess flagged this up - might be some brilliant Bemmie / Bristol ideas people want to put forwards? The deadline is quite soon... Bridget   From: Tim Borrett [mailto:ma...@bristol.vuelio.uk.com] Sent: 05 March 2014 15:03 To: Tess Green Subject: Bristol City Council - Deadline on the horizon for Energy and Environment Open Data Challenge   Dear all Please see the following press release about Bristol's Energy and Environment Open Data Challenge. A logo for the challenge is available to download via the link at the bottom of the release. Kind regards Tim   02 March 2014   For immediate release   Deadline on the horizon for Energy and Environment Open Data Challenge   Innovators from across Europe have just over a week left to put forward their project ideas for community energy solutions as part of a pioneering Open Data Challenge run by Bristol City Council, Nesta and the Open Data Institute (ODI). Bristol is acting as the test-bed for the project, which encourages people to use open data to come up with fresh ideas for schemes which allow people to group-buy the energy to save money, take action in the community to improve energy efficiency or even start communities generating their own energy. Anyone can take part but it is hoped that entries will come from a range of teams including businesses, start-ups, social enterprises, individuals, community groups, academics, students and special interest groups, all of which will use open data to build products and services that support the aim of the project. Project idea need to be submitted by Sunday 16 March for a chance to make it through to Bristol’s Creation Weekend (22-23 March) where teams get together and pitch to become one of the three finalists for the last stage of the Challenge.  The Challenge Weekend is a major milestone in the programme of events that Bristol is putting together as part of the British Energy Challenge. To take part people can submit their project idea on the participant platform online at http://collabfinder.com/groups/energy-environment-open-data-challenge. Anyone who wants to find out more can book for the Nesta and ODI Energy + Environment Open Data Challenge Meet Up, which takes place tonight (Monday 3 March) from 6pm – 8:30pm at The Kitchen at The Station on Silver Street, Bristol.  Tickets are free and can be booked at: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/energy-environment-open-data-challenge-meet-up-tickets-10616342767. Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson said: “Bristol is increasingly being recognised as a test-bed for new ideas and this is one of many practical projects where the city will benefit from encouraging new ways of doing things. “As European Green Capital for 2015 it’s absolutely fitting that we spend this year looking for energy saving projects and methods to benefit communities.  Bristol will be the first to benefit from the results, though of course the winning schemes will be ideas that can be applied nationally and across the world.” In order to give participants a stronger opportunity to develop ideas from open data ODI and Nesta will also provide business mentoring support after the Creation Weekend for the three finalists. They will get support from the ODI in the form of data expertise and Nesta will provide help potential businesses hone and market their products and provide evidence of their likely impact. Ed Parkes, Programme Manager for the Open Data Challenge Series, Nesta, said: “Open Data is increasingly playing an important role in our public services and many are making more available. Community energy is one such area in which we believe open data can support fascinating products and services that get more people directly involved. We are looking forward to working with Bristol City Council and seeing the range of prototypes people come up with.” Anyone with an idea for a project which could help towards meet the aims of the Challenge and could develop into a sustainable organisation can add their profile and idea to Challenge participant platform by Sunday 16 March for a chance to make it through to the Creation Weekend in Bristol. ENDS   Notes to Editors: 1. Bristol has a highly active community energy sector, brought together by Bristol Energy Network (www.bristolenergynetwork.org) who have produced a Bristol Community Strategy for Energy (www.bristolenergynetwork.org/strategy) which was launched by Bristol's Mayor in June 2013. The Challenge Weekend will form a key milestone in the programme of events that Bristol is putting together as part of the British Energy Challenge (http://blog.decc.gov.uk/category/the-british-energy-challenge). 2. This work builds on activity which has come before. For instance, Nesta undertook the Big Green Challenge (www.nesta.org.uk/project/big-green-challenge) which was a £1 million challenge prize designed to stimulate and support community-led responses to climate change. The Energy Saving Trust (www.energysavingtrust.org.uk) has made available a number of tools and how to guides (www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Communities/Support-and-guidance/How-to-guides) available to groups wanting to run their own community energy projects. Building on this work, Nesta and ODI are hoping to spur innovation with open data which could be used to support this activity. Through using a challenge prize methodology they are bringing together interested partners and provide a focus for activity and a range of further support.       Link to Photos Open Data Challenge Series   Unsubscribe. [#RL-95:635296284626192506#] Council services online: http://www.bristol.gov.uk/service Keep up to date with the latest council news and sign up to our monthly email newsletter: http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ournews Have your say on consultations and view our webcasts: http://www.bristol.gov.uk/consult

 

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