Key Points

Raise awareness of the potential of renewable technologies

Help community buildings save energy and money, reduce their carbon footprint, and improve comfort

Inspire others in the district to take action on energy, and to investigate renewables for their own homes

Enable community groups to make contact with installers/suppliers

North Wiltshire
Energy Saving Project

Overview

Severn Wye Energy Agency (SWEA) is working in partnership with North Wiltshire District Council (NWDC) on a project to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of community buildings, as well as considering renewables. The project runs from April 2008 to March 2009, and the aim is to visit up to 50 community buildings and carry out detailed energy surveys.

These audits will be followed up by a full written report, outlining key energy efficiency measures, the suitability of the building for one or more renewable technologies, and offering advice on grant funding availability from NWDC and other local and national sources. SWEA will also provide post-visit support to community building managers, with regard to seeking quotes, accessing grant money, dealing with planning issues and helping improvements happen as quickly as possible.

In addition to the 50 site visits and reports, SWEA will offer a package of marketing and publicity efforts.

The project is supported by a promotional campaign, involving advertising, press releases, case studies and radio interviews, and this aspect may continue after the formal end of the project.

Current Status

SWEA received a total of 39 applications, and of these, 36 were selected for audit. All visits and reports are now completed, and SWEA is working with NWDC to allocate funding. Measures worth a total of around £400,000 were identified. The project team used an interactive map system to track the location and progress status of each site, as shown to the right:

Coordinator

Alastair Stevens - Project Manager

[email]alastair
[phone]01594 545364

Related Projects

Raising Awareness of Renewable Energy in the Cotswolds

Tewkesbury Community Renewables Initiative

Most of the sites are now working to obtain quotes for the required work, under the guidance of NWDC and with input from SWEA. Works will begin soon and are expected to be mostly complete by the spring of 2009.