Home Energy
Throughout the country RCAN members are working with communities to address home energy consumption issues. For example by helping communities to set up projects, setting up group buying schemes for fuel oil and being involved in the Calor FREE project which is helping non mains gas customers to save money and cut their energy consumption.
The following are some examples of RCAN work in supporting communities to address home energy issues. There is also more information about our work under the fuel poverty section of our website, including information on the Calor FREE Project.
Community First, Herefordshire and Worcestershire has undertaken a three month pilot project in Herefordshire as part of a wider partnership resourced through the Local Authority Area Based Grant. Their role is to work with communities to develop their own ‘energy descent’ plans, supporting communities to cut their energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Leicestershire and Rutland RCC is involved in a two year Community Climate Change Project in partnership with De Montfort University. Ten preselected communities will work up action plans with the support of a Climate Change Officer based at the RCC. This is part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership project, led by De Montfort University and including all local authorities, providing a focus on this agenda across Leicestershire and Rutland.
Oxfordshire Rural Community Council has been closely involved in the production of additional climate change guidance in the resources that support Community Led Planning around the country. Other initiatives include development of a scheme to improve the delivery arrangements for domestic heating oil for communities that do not have mains gas, in order to achieve a significant reduction in the carbon footprint. They are also running a project promoting community-based action on climate change in partnership with a local Oxford University-based organisation, ClimateXchange.
