100% Renewable Energy Source Community Project
The 100% RES Community Project aims to drive the region towards greater environmental sustainability by assisting small communities. Project run by Community Energy Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway Council (Galloway and southern Ayrshire biosphere reserve).
Dumfries & Galloway Council and Community Energy Scotland (CES) became part of the 100% RES (Renewable Energy Scotland) Communities Project in 2012. An integral part of this project is becoming signatories of and committing to achieve the targets of the Covenant of Mayors (20% reduction in domestic GHGs by 2020). Dumfries & Galloway Council were the only Scottish local authority selected, because of their experience in community sustainability projects, but also because the region has the second highest incidence of fuel poverty.
The project is funded by the EU’s Intelligent Energy Europe programme and runs for a three year period, starting from April 2012. The Council is working in partnership with CES and ten rural communities to develop and implement a joint Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP). The project also involves the twinning of participating territories across Europe to share best practice and expertise.
The overarching aim of the 100% RES Communities project is to reduce domestic carbon emissions by 20% by 2020 set out by the Covenant of mayors.
The objectives focus on factors within the region which contribute to their emissions:
- Dumfries & Galloway has the second highest incidence of fuel poverty in Scotland due to small, isolated rural communities.
- Many homes are ‘hard to treat’ and cannot be insulated as easily as new builds.
To reach the 2020 target is required:
- Significantly reduce fuel poverty within the region.
- Significantly reduce the reliance of the region on fossil fuel based energy and move towards energy independence and a low carbon society.
The potential to harness the success of community energy projects was identified in 2012 and suggested as a way of reducing targets and lessen the burden on local residents. This is where the 100% RES Communities journey began with: D & G Council, Community Energy Scotland (CES), Intelligent Energy Europe and 9 SEAP Communities.
Each community developed a Sustainable Energy Action Plan to highlight present and future energy saving initiatives. Support was needed to help develop the SEAPs and implement focus areas. Community councils expressed concern at the lack of support funding available for this.
Access to some home improvement funding has been hard to find as many houses are old stock and are in Conservation Areas. Home analytics software and HEEP-ABS programmes have been used to support the lack of available stock data.
Key contacts: Chris Wood-Gee, Team Leader, Sustainable Development, Dumfries & Galloway Council, 01387 260378 chris.wood-gee@dumgal.gov.uk
Current participating communities within the D&G Council 100% Renewable Energy Source Community Project: Auchencairn, Closeburn, Creetown, Crocketford, Haugh of Urr and Hardgate Dalbeattie, The Glenkens (Dalry, New Galloway, Balmclellan, Carsphairn and surround), Eastriggs, Eskdalemuir and Hutton, Gatehouse of Fleet, Langholm, Kirkcudbright, Moffat, Wanlockhead, Whithorn.
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Facebook: 100% Renewable Energy Source Community Project
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