How does the project meet local objectives?

This project directly meets many of Stroud District Council’s policies including one of the key priorities of the Corporate Delivery Plan (2007-2011): “helping the community to reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions and adapt to the consequences of climate change”.

The Environment, particularly the threat of climate change, was also considered the top issue locally in the Council’s household surveys. The Council’s Environment Strategy sets out various ways the Council seeks to tackle climate change and energy.

The Council’s Community Aspiration is to reduce total carbon dioxide emissions from all sources by 60% by 2050 and install on average 1.5MW of energy generating capacity per annum up until 2020. The Council also states it “is committed to achieving its objective of improving the energy efficiency of all the housing in the District and is pursuing this through a combination of working in partnership with other agencies, schools and local businesses, as well as provision of grant aid for energy efficiency improvements”.

The Council’s measures include investing £400,000 up to 2010 to move the existing housing stock towards the 40% house model (ie reducing households emissions to the practicable minimum). There is also a ‘one stop shop’ for advice on energy efficiency and micro-generation.

The Climate Change Panel Report to Cabinet on 31st January 2008 set out concerns regarding future energy supplies, rising energy prices and the latest position on climate change. It raised many points including wanting “to see an increasing move towards decentralised energy solutions that makes sense at household, community and commercial scales.” The Panel made various recommendations including noting the need to look at what ‘incentives’ and ’support’ can be given to householders to make the required investments and behavioural changes to reduce domestic emissions.

Indeed there is increasingly available advice about energy efficiency measures and renewables, but there are few opportunities for the valuable experience and information that can be gained by sharing between householders. This project will fill that gap and also we hope prompt wider discussion and action by householders.