Breadcrumbs
The Countryside Agency welcomes 'Power from the People' - 29 March 2006
This strategy fits with the ethos behind the Countryside Agency’s Community Renewable Initiative* (CRI). The CRI has supported community based renewable energy installations such as solar panels for village halls and biomass heating for schools for four years and has recently secured funding for a further 12 months.
Tony Hams, Countryside Agency board member and Chair of the CRI National Advisory Group said: "We are delighted that the Government recognises the important role that small-scale renewable energy can play in tackling climate change. The Community Renewables Initiative (CRI) has demonstrated the benefits of this approach both to the environment and local communities for the last four years.
"The CRI helps people to work together to reduce their impact on climate change, building community spirit through their involvement in renewable energy projects. We would like to see the Microgeneration Strategy make small scale renewable energy generation more common place, giving people a central role in generating clean energy."
Community Renewables Initiative case study: Brill Primary School
The CRI worked with the local community and partners TV Energy and Bucks County Council to introduce small-scale renewable energy at Brill Primary School.
The project included solar photovoltaic panels, solar thermal collectors and a wind turbine. Ground source heat pumps are due for installation this spring. The community have been supportive, both financially and through physical assistance with installing the wind turbine.
The solar thermal system provides heating for a swimming pool over the summer and hot water for kitchens in the rest of the year. It is estimated to be saving the school around £800 per annum in oil bills.
The success of the project owes much to the commitment of the school's head teacher , who was a driving force behind the project, and the enthusiasm of the pupils, who take this knowledge back to their homes and out into the wider community.
The project is now known far and wide and the school has applied for an Ashden Award for sustainable energy this year.
-ENDS-
For more information or examples of other CRI case studies please contact the Countryside Agency press office on:
Matthew Heard: 01242 533476 or 07900 608 168
Beth Rose on 01242 533306 or 07900 608 052
Notes to editors
1. *The CRI is co-ordinated by the Countryside Agency, with funding from DTI, Defra, Countryside Agency and Forestry Commission. It is backed by many other groups including the Environment Agency, CLA and CPRE, though the Initiative's National Advisory Group.
The Community Renewables Initiative has delivered 91 community renewable energy developments since it began and taken over 250 projects to a well-advanced stage – and there have been over 2600 inquiries to date. Renewable energy schemes include windpower, solar photovoltaic panels and hot water, ground source heat pumps, and biomass for electricity and heat generation schemes. The Community Renewables Initiative provides expert advice and support to develop and deliver renewable energy projects with local people as part of their wider agendas. Projects are delivered at a local and regional level by a network of ten Local Support Teams covering over 70% of England.
2. The Countryside Agency is the statutory body working to make the quality of life better for people in the countryside and the quality of the countryside better for everyone. It is a non-departmental body sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The Agency is changing as the result of Defra's Rural Strategy (published in July 2004) and the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill which is expected to complete its passage through Parliament in spring 2006. The Bill includes changes to:
- establish a Commission for Rural Communities that will act as a rural advocate, expert adviser and independent watchdog, with a particular focus on disadvantage. Currently operating as a division of the Countryside Agency, the Commission will become an independent body when the Bill becomes law.
- form a single new body - Natural England - that will integrate the Landscape, Access and Recreation division of the Countryside Agency with English Nature and most of Defra's Rural Development Service (RDS). Natural England will work for people, places and nature, with responsibility for enhancing biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas; promoting access, recreation and public well-being, and contributing to the way natural resources are managed - so that they can be enjoyed now and by future generations.
These changes are expected to come into effect in October 2006, at which point the Countryside Agency will cease to exist.
We may be changing, but our skills, knowledge and enthusiasm will continue to benefit people in rural England. To find out more about our work, and for information about the countryside, visit our website: www.countryside.gov.uk
