Severn Wye Energy Agency
Key Points
Holistic, fully supported approach to energy efficiency for the benefit of the whole prison community
International recognition of all actions that support energy efficiency and sustainability in prisons
Support to achieve improvements and gain an award that addresses:
- Prison Buildings and Energy Management
- Offender Education and Staff Training
Background
E-SEAP - the European Sustainable Energy Award for Prisons - is a three year project, supported by Intelligent Energy Europe, which seeks to boost energy efficiency and sustainability within the prison commmunity.
Prison sites consume a great deal of energy because of their size, building stock and constant usage pattern. Added to this, the increasing cost of energy and focus on cost-effective services, point to a real need to use energy as efficiently as possible. A pilot study carried out with 9 prisons in Wales and SW England confirmed the value of working closely with the prison service to achieve a significant increase in energy awareness and energy savings. It also highlighted a need to recognise prisons for all their efforts in energy sustainability, not just savings, so that action towards efficiency receives greater encouragement and higher profile.
With funding from the European Commission and a partnership of 8 organizations, including HMP Hewell, bringing specific, relevant skills to the project, Severn Wye is pleased to introduce E-SEAP in an effort to address these concerns.
>> The full project website is live at www.e-seap.eu
Concept
E-SEAP will see partners working very closely with participating prisons in order to support their energy efficiency activity and through this process inform the development of an award scheme that recognises achievements in the areas of; buildings and their management; education and training (staff and offenders) and community outreach.
Through these three elements E-SEAP aims not only to address technical and practical energy issues to achieve savings but also; to raise awareness, increase skills and improve access to support. These social benefits are targeted at staff, offenders, and their families through the provision of training, accredited educational courses and access to advice services and grant support for the domestic sector.
Awards will be levelled at bronze, silver and gold and internationally recognised through the establishment and promotion of the E-SEAP brand and the collaboration that enables the scheme to pioneered on a European level.
Aims
- To establish a long term award and assessment framework that encourages intelligent energy use and proactive energy related behaviour in prisons
- To implement the award on a European level, raising the profile and promoting prison achievements in addressing energy issues
- To achieve energy savings and increase access to support for energy efficiency for prisons, their staff and communities
Funding
The project has been 75% funded by the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation's Intelligent Energy Europe programme. Severn Wye is seeking match funding for the remaining 25% and will utilise a number of strategies to achieve this including sourcing other funding, use of our reserves and the possibility of charging a small fee to prisons wishing to participate.
Severn Wye is a strictly not for profit, registered charity and will only make charges to meet our costs for delivering this work.
Ways to be Involved
1) As a participant prison
Join us in the pioneering of this scheme and make sure the award suits your needs whilst being assured of full support to becoming one of the first prisons to achieve an E-SEAP award level.
2) As a member of the advisory panel
If you are keen to have your input to this award, or have useful networks and connections, then being in touch through the advisory board will be a good opportunity to influence and learn about the action. Meetings are scheduled to be once every 6 months during the project and will be carefully organised to ensure minimal inconvenience to those involved. Unfortunately, SWEA will not be able to make financial contributions for time or expenses to advisory members.
The sole responsibility for the content of this document lies with the authors. It does not represent the opinion of the European Communities. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
Coordinator
Mike Brain - Head of Business Services
![[email]](site_graphics/icon_email.png){kind=icon} | mike |  |
![[phone]](site_graphics/icon_phone.png){kind=icon} | 01452 835074 | |
Related Projects
2) As a promoter of the project
If you would like to give this project support but have limited resources for a more active role then declaring your interest in dissemination will mean that you receive regular updates on the project work that you can pass through your networks.
3) As a sponsor of the project
The high profile of this international action and the potential relevance to a number of sectors means E-SEAP delivers opportunities for commercial, and investment organisations. If your organisation could be interested in promotion through our websites, materials, award ceremonies or film then let us know.
Project Partners
The E-SEAP project consortium comprises 8 partners from 7 European countries:
Severn Wye Energy Agency, UK
Projects in Motion, Malta
University of Zagreb, Croatia
Ekodoma, Latvia
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Building and Civil Engineering Institute ZRMK, Slovenia
Her Majesty's Prison Hewell, UK