Transition Montpelier

Residential buildings account for 26% of UK CO2 emissions and 50% heat loss in a typical home is through walls and loft. By improving our homes, we can all contribute to Montpelier becoming a less carbon-hungry neighbourhood.

Community groups have a major role in improving domestic energy efficiency and with free training for local, approachable, known “energy champions”, can as research shows, genuinely make a difference.

Are you interested in being part of a group which can help householders in both rented and private sector throughout Montpelier access support, advice and grants to improve their domestic energy efficiency and in some cases move away from fuel poverty?

A Community Energy Efficiency Programme like this would be one of the things an energy group could start working on immediately and I am really keen to get it running. For me such a project embodies so much of what Transition is about in terms of a community working to improve its sustainability and, with the resources available, I am sure we can really do it well here.

Through my MSc I have discovered that similar projects accross the country have been the basis for really exciting community renewable projects and with the excellent support for us in Bristol from The Centre for Sustainable Energy to help us with training and to set this up I really feel we can make a significant step towards this. What’s more, I’m not the only one, as there was a really excellent response to this idea at the July meeting and I am keen to add to the list of interested people and get this going soon.

Last week I met with the Easton Energy group to discuss a joint training package and this could see both groups working on similar projects accross the city. This would be really good.

Below are a few pointers of how it could work

• Meet as energy group and consider a programme for those renting and owning homes with emphasis on lower income streets
• Set up training from CSE / Green Communities
• Run the programme before winter kicks in
• Visit neighbours and encourage take up of quick fixes and then give advice and support on medium term solutions such as insulation
• Reduce fuel poverty
• Lower energy use and CO2  emissions
• Build community
• More insulated, warmer homes throughout Montpelier

The energy group has the potential to be practical, dynamic and really make a difference to people. Does this interest you?  If it does, please get in touch using the link below.  You may also have other ideas on what an the group could be doing. Lets hear them! We can meet up soon and get it moving.

Take a look below if you want to know more and if you are thinking of changing your electricity supplier to Good Energy (100% renewable supplied) please wait a little while as we are just in the process of fixing up with their ‘affiliates scheme’ whereby if you sign up to them through a  link on our website, we get a commission.

Many thanks

Dan Weisselberg

See also:

Training proposal from CSE / Green Communities

What encourages community energy efficiency programmes in Bristol?