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Funding will help communities reduce energy bills and emissions
Three communities across Bristol will receive funding to help transform local energy systems.
The money will be used to generate clean local energy, reduce energy use, cut energy bills, improve home comfort and create green jobs.
It’s been awarded as part of Transforming Energy Together which is a Mission Net Zero project run by the Bristol Climate and Nature Partnership, the Centre for Sustainable Energy and Bristol Energy Network, and supported by the council.
is needed now More than ever
Knowle West Media Centre, Southmead Development Trust and Eastside Community Trust will each receive £100,000 to co-develop the community projects with local residents.
The three organisations have already produced community climate action plans, enabling them to identify climate priorities in their communities.
Bristol’s One City Climate Strategy sets out plans to reduce citywide climate emissions. Meeting the ‘carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2030’ goal in a fair way that benefits local people is central to the council’s Just Transition declaration that places community needs at the heart of climate action.
In their community climate action plan, Southmead Development Trust identified priorities around local buildings and energy.
Residents said they wanted warm, dry, energy-efficient homes and low-carbon community buildings, schools and businesses.
They requested more support for residents to install solar panels, insulation, heat pumps and draught-proofing.
Amy Kinnear, the Trust’s CEO, said: “After launching our community climate action plan in April we’re excited to be able to focus on specific priorities which our community raised.
“Our aim is always for our projects to be strongly rooted in the Southmead community. To be resourced and supported to do that, especially on technical subjects like energy and buildings, is a great opportunity.”
Conversations with residents in Southmead helped to identify priorities around improving the local environment and lowering carbon emissions – photo: Southmead Development Trust
In the Easton community climate action plan, residents said they would like to see affordable energy bills with extra protection for renters.
They suggested local energy learning hubs could raise awareness of ways to reduce home energy use and funding for carbon reducing-improvements such as insulation and solar panels.
Stacy Yelland, Eastside Community Trust CEO, said: “Eastside….has a long history of both working with communities and innovation in clean energy, and we look forward to using those skills and experiences on this new project.
“The climate crisis is an important issue for local people, and we are excited to work closely with residents on how we can create solutions locally to this global challenge.”
Knowle West’s climate action plan put the amount of emissions generated by household gas and electric use at 21 per cent.
The plan’s summary highlighted saving energy and making homes more energy efficient as an “aspiration in the community.”
It went on to say, “People are overcoming the cost barriers of installing technologies through DIY draught proofing, being clever about heating their homes efficiently in winter and saving energy through other means.
“There are big ideas to make Knowle West more energy independent, like sharing energy and other new technologies between residents and community buildings.”
Martha King, creative director at Knowle West Media Centre, said: “We are thrilled that Knowle West is part of Transforming Energy Together.
“The programme puts communities front and centre of generating creative and investable ideas to address the climate emergency.
“It opens the opportunity to go beyond one-off pilots, towards scalable, system-level change and make real progress towards a just transition for people and planet.”
Workshops with residents in Knowle West helped develop ‘big ideas’ to make residents more energy independent – photo: Ibolya Feher
The financial boost was welcomed by Martin Fodor, chair of the council’s Environment and Sustainability Committee.
“Mission Net Zero is an important part of the approach our city is taking towards meeting our climate and sustainability goals,” he said.
“We hope to unlock further financial support that leads to the delivery of tailored climate action and the creation of green jobs to support our evolving sustainable economy.”
If you live in one of the three neighbourhoods, you can get involved through your local community organisation, or by signing up as a Bristol Energy Network Energy Champion.
Stay up to date with future opportunities by signing up as a member of Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership, a network of 1200 member organisations working towards a zero carbon, socially-just Bristol where communities and nature thrive.
Main photo: Eastside Community Trust
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