Severn Wye Energy Agency
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 borough to take action on energy, and to investigate renewables for their own homes
Enable community groups to make contact with installers/suppliers
TCRI Project
Tewkesbury Community Renewables Initiative
Severn Wye Energy Agency (SWEA) is working in partnership with Tewkesbury Borough Council (TBC) on a project to promote the use of renewables by community buildings, as well as helping them increase their energy efficiency. The project runs from July 2007 to March 2008, and the aim is to visit 10 community buildings and carry out detailed energy surveys. These 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 national and local 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.
Coordinator
Alastair Stevens - Project Manager
![[email]](site_graphics/icon_email.png){kind=icon} | alastair |  |
![[phone]](site_graphics/icon_phone.png){kind=icon} | 01594 545364 | |
Related Projects
In addition to the 10 site visits and reports, SWEA offered presentations and talks on renewable energy to community groups, and gave 3 of these during the project's existence. There will also be a full-day renewables seminar and advice surgery, which offers local groups the chance to meet suppliers and installers, and to view further presentations from various groups. Finally, there will be a study tour day, including visits to two local renewables installations, with lunch and transport provided.
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.
Study Tour
At the end of April, SWEA took 10 participants, including several members of Tewkesbury Borough Council, on a study tour day in Cheltenham. The group visited the award-winning headquarters of the Chelsea Building Society, which has one of the UK's largest ground source heat pump systems, and also the Greensteps Horticultural project, which uses a domestic-scale heat pump.