Fwd: Kent Low Carbon Community Partnership Update - Summer 2012

[Jules Cousins]

Jules

Begin forwarded message:

From: "climate...@kent.gov.uk" <climate...@kent.gov.uk>
Subject: Kent Low Carbon Community Partnership Update - Summer 2012

Introduction

Around Kent

National News

New Funding Initiatives

Upcoming Training and Events


Introduction


Welcome to the Summer 2012 edition of the Kent Low Carbon Community Partnership!

A quick update to let you know about some exciting projects happening around Kent, a review of national news, recent funding initiatives and upcoming deadlines plus events taking place in the South East.



Highlights include: Sustainable Edenbridge's Eco-Fair, new green planning tools produced by DECC and information on the upcoming deadline from the Green Energy Trust Fund.  



Your stories

If you have any good news about projects you are working on, or want to promote a community event you are running please email climate...@kent.gov.uk <mailto:climate...@kent.gov.uk>  and we can include you in the next update.  Deadline for submission is 1 December 2012.




Around Kent  


On the Pulse: Eco-Café in Sittingbourne

The Pulse Café and Meeting Place was launched in December 2011 to help bring Sittingbourne community together and model eco-friendly living. It is funded through grants and is part of the Skillnet group, a social enterprise firm based in Kent.



The Pulse aims to be as green as possible. The café runs on solar power with 24 solar PV cells on the roof and operates a zero-waste policy by recycling and composting, while the on-site Eco-shed makes products from recycled goods. It is also developing a small permaculture garden and plans to add rain-water harvesting tanks to flush its toilets. Pulse serves food and drinks using local and fair-trade products and with the Eco-shed offers workshops and training accessible to all.



For more information please contact: jo....@skillnetgroup.co.uk <mailto:jo....@skillnetgroup.co.uk>

More information is also available on the Pulse Café and Meeting Place Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Pulse-Cafe-and-Meeting-Place/240102729383865 <http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Pulse-Cafe-and-Meeting-Place/240102729383865>



Sustainable Edenbridge's First ever Eco-Fair

In 2010, Sustainable Edenbridge was set up to promote sustainable living through buying local goods, reducing energy use and caring for the natural environment. It has been very successful, helped by strong community links and hosting a number of projects and events. Continuing in this fashion, on Saturday 22nd September 2012 Sustainable Edenbridge are very excited to be holding their first ever Eco-fair. At the fair there will be business and community stalls including animals, local food, beauty and art. There will also be music and fun for kids, talks and an Ecobiz exhibition with insulation, biomass boilers and cycle pods.  The eco-fair hopes to be a fantastic way to gain new ideas and be a fun day out for everyone!



For more information about Sustainable Edenbridge or their Eco-fair please contact Ben Brownless at ben.br...@gmail.com <mailto:ben.br...@gmail.com> .



Deal With It  

The Deal With It environment group has been making progress with a number of environmental endeavours in Deal. Their latest developments include the formation of a co-operative of technical specialists to give practical help and advice to the community. Other projects are to develop winter garden solar mass heat rooms, wind powered generators, water heater solar systems, fuel from waste oils and sustainable design for residential electric power.



For more information please visit: http://www.transitiondeal.blogspot.co.uk/ <http://www.transitiondeal.blogspot.co.uk/>



Good news from Transition Canterbury

Transition Canterbury was started in 2010 by the community to help Canterbury become sustainable. After a few quiet years Transition Canterbury held a well attended public meeting in May. At the meeting, this 2 minute film <http://www.intransitionmovie.com/>  was screened and followed by a discussion about what the community would like to see happen in Canterbury. The result was to develop links with other transition groups in east Kent and another public meeting will be held in September; great news for community groups across the county.



For more information or to get involved contact, please contact: transition...@gmail.com <mailto:transition...@gmail.com>



Kent placement portfolio

The Kent Placement Portfolio is an online notice board where Kent community groups, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private companies linked to climate change and sustainability can advertise for work placement students who are studying environment related courses or have skills to support environment groups. The Portfolio has so far been very successful. One of the placements included student George, who was working to improve the portfolio for both students and placement hosts. Look out for the improvements and if you think you have an environment-related opportunity which could benefit your organisation and Kent's future talent, then it's simple and free to become a placement host.



Simply visit: http://www.kent.gov.uk/jobs_and_careers/starting_your_career/the_kent_placement_portfolio/placement_hosts.aspx <http://www.kent.gov.uk/jobs_and_careers/starting_your_career/the_kent_placement_portfolio/placement_hosts.aspx>



Interested in starting a new group or project?

The Kent County Council website provides more information on how to form a group or take on a new project.  For more information and advice please visit: http://www.kent.gov.uk/environment_and_planning/environment_and_climate_change/climate_change/taking_action_in_a_group.aspx <http://www.kent.gov.uk/environment_and_planning/environment_and_climate_change/climate_change/taking_action_in_a_group.aspx>



Need inspiration or want to know more about environment groups in Kent?

A database of local environmental groups and projects can be found on the Kent County Council Website.  On the site are links to local project groups and case studies.  We are looking to develop these pages and add more information the great environmental work being done in Kent.  If you have case studies or links that could be included on this website, please email climate...@kent.gov.uk <mailto:climate...@kent.gov.uk> .  For more information and advice visit:

http://www.kent.gov.uk/environment_and_planning/environment_and_climate_change/projects_in_your_area.aspx <http://www.kent.gov.uk/environment_and_planning/environment_and_climate_change/projects_in_your_area.aspx>




 National News


RHPP Communities Scheme Launch

One of the ways the government is aiming to meet carbon reduction targets is by encouraging the production of heat from renewable sources. The Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) aims to make this affordable for communities. The scheme encourages communities to buy in bulk with the potential to gain discounts and will focus on communities where energy is provided off the gas network. By installing renewable heating systems communities can benefit from reduced carbon emissions, savings on energy bills and strengthened local bonds.

For more information please visit: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/gb_rhpplaunch/gb_rhpplaunch.aspx <http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/gb_rhpplaunch/gb_rhpplaunch.aspx>

Or http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_087/pn12_087.aspx <http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_087/pn12_087.aspx>



New tools for community groups created by DECC

DECC has developed two new tools to help communities assess local and national energy demand. The 2050 pathways calculator <http://2050-calculator-tool.decc.gov.uk/pathways/1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111/primary_energy_chart>  aims to give a better understanding of how the UK's carbon reduction target of 80% can be met by 2050, while the National Heat map <http://ceo.decc.gov.uk/nationalheatmap/>  interactively shows the different density of heat across the UK. These tools aim to help groups identify potential for a community heating scheme.



For more information about both schemes please go to: http://www.planlocal.org.uk/news <http://www.planlocal.org.uk/news>  



Getting Green Deal ready

The Green Deal is the governments' new scheme to encourage energy efficiency measures in households and businesses. The Green Deal is a finance mechanism enabling energy efficiency measures to be installed at no upfront cost; the installation cost should be less than or equal to the savings in the energy bill. The Centre for Sustainable Energy has won funding to develop a range of community resources to enable communities to start preparing effectively for the Green Deal and encourage low-carbon housing. This will follow the PlanLocal resource pack <http://www.planlocal.org.uk/>  available on their website.  The Kent and Medway Green Deal Partnership has formed to support Kent residents and businesses to take advantage of both the Green Deal and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). The partnership has met twice and is finalising an action plan for Green Deal and ECO.



For more information about The Green Deal, please visit:  http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/tackling/green_deal/green_deal.aspx

More Information about the new community resources can be found here: http://www.cse.org.uk/news/view/1667 <http://www.cse.org.uk/news/view/1667>




 New Funding Initiatives




£8 million fund for low carbon community energy launched

In response to the RHPPs community scheme, an £8 million fund for low carbon community energy has been launched and the deadline to apply is 7 September 2012. Community groups can bid for a share of the fund to install low carbon heating systems such as solar thermal panels, biomass boilers and heat pumps into homes and other buildings in their local area.



To find out more information please visit: http://www.cse.org.uk/news/view/1666 <http://www.cse.org.uk/news/view/1666>

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The Community Generation Fund - the FSE group

The Fund has developed a loan for community interest companies in deprived areas of the UK seeking to develop renewable energy generation infrastructure. Potential projects need to encourage social engagement and provide long term investment in social impact initiatives in the community. The first round of funding has now closed but a pre-application form can be submitted to get ahead of the next round.



For more information visit:  http://thefsegroup.com/funding/social-funds/community-generation-fund/ <http://thefsegroup.com/funding/social-funds/community-generation-fund/>



PURE community Energy Fund

This loan is available to charities, community groups and non-for-profit organisations to provide financing for community renewable energy projects in the UK.  The maximum loan available is £50,000.  



For more information visit: http://www.puretrust.org.uk/index.jsp <http://www.puretrust.org.uk/index.jsp>



Sustainable City Awards

These awards promote and reward sustainability across all sectors of the UK. There are 12 award categories including Climate Change; Sustainable Travel and Transport; Resource Conservation; and Sustainable Buildings. Entries can be submitted from 3 September 2012 to 12 November 2012.

For more information visit: http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/SCA

Microgenius

Microgenius is a new funding website established to help communities to find investors for local sustainable energy projects.  The full website is being developed, but if you have energy generation plans requiring funding, or if you're interested in investing in the green energy market, you can register your interest to get updates at:  http://www.microgenius.org.uk/communities/ <http://www.microgenius.org.uk/communities/>


UPCOMING DEADLINES




Green Energy Trust - ScottishPower

The next deadline for applications to the Green Energy Trust is in October.   The fund is open to not-for-profit organisations, local community groups and charities. The trust supports the development of new renewable energy sources across the UK and aims to encourage renewable energy projects and education in communities. Most projects receive funding of approximately £10,000.



For more information visit: http://www.scottishpowergreentrust.co.uk/content/ <http://www.scottishpowergreentrust.co.uk/content/>



Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy

The deadline for 2013 awards is 30 October 2012. These awards highlight outstanding renewable energy projects in the UK.  Projects should promote local sustainable energy, which have environmental, social and economic benefits.  Funding varies from £10,000 to £40,000.



For more information visit: http://www.ashden.org/apply <http://www.ashden.org/apply>



For more information on community funding opportunities visit: Kent4Community <http://www.open4community.info/kent/Default.aspx>  




 Upcoming Training and Events


Open house London 2012

Open House London an opportunity to explore different building designs is taking place on 22- 23 September 2012. 187 of the sites feature low carbon solutions including buildings with the "green sky thinking" programme. Admission is free and it is open to everyone. At each site there will be someone to show you around and answer any questions.  You can search online to find the nearest open house to you by selecting the "Green" feature in your search.



For more information visit: http://www.openhouselondon.org.uk/design/green.html <http://www.openhouselondon.org.uk/design/green.html>



The Big Dig Open Gardens day

On Saturday 15th September 2012 in London and Brighton, the Big Dig Open Gardens day is on!

Gardens will be open to the public to taste food and be inspired to get involved in growing food and community projects. There will be garden tours, talks, games, barbeques, and food stalls selling produce. In both cities there will also be bike tours; a great way to explore new areas.



For more information visit:  http://www.bigdig.org.uk/news/ <http://www.bigdig.org.uk/news/>













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