Community energy company is launched

PEOPLE living in Emersons Green, Lyde Green and Pucklechurch have the chance to get involved with a new project aiming to make clean, affordable energy available to everyone.

Emersons and Lyde Community Energy CIC (ELCoE) is being launched to help local communities develop their own green power supplies and take on the threat of climate change.

It is starting with a challenge to get more people to fit solar panels and an event where people who have fitted renewable or energy-saving systems show other residents how they work in real life.

The chair of ELCoE is Chris Sunderland, a member of the Friends of Emersons Green Park and lead organiser of the area’s Earthfest festival.

Chris said: “There is so much that can be done.

“This autumn we hope to launch our ‘Every Roof Challenge’, where we encourage everyone with an appropriate roof in our area to install solar panels.

“Imagine every house and every public building covered in solar panels: energy bills would be cut at a stroke, and we would all gain a huge sense of pride in being an area that was actually taking action on climate change.

“It seems that the price of solar PV is now so low that savings on our energy bills can often outstrip repayments from borrowing to make the installation.”

The company also wants to explore the possibilities of large-scale projects, such as one investigated by South Gloucestershire Council to use warm water in mine workings below homes in the area as a source of warm water, as well as big wind or solar installations.

ELCoE has a partnership with Bristol Energy Network, which installed a wind turbine in Lawrence Weston which is now providing an income to support that community.

ELCoE members have been talking to people about their views on renewable energy at public events, and looking at ideas that can be tried locally.

Their first public event will be the Green Homes Open Day on November 16, when some residents will open their homes for visitors to see what is actually involved in domestic renewable energy projects.

Chris said: “There will be a home with a heat pump, another with a heat pump alternative called a Zero Emissions Boiler.

“There will be solar panels, batteries and all sorts to talk about. Everyone is welcome to view these homes. 

“The Green Homes Open Day is part of a strategy to help us talk about renewable energy, insulation, and the cost of it all.”

ELCoE community engagement worker Grace Courtney will host meetings in the New Year to “ask the hard questions” about energy projects.

She said: “People can find the idea of retrofitting their homes quite daunting at first. We believe that talking to others who have done things successfully is a great way to dispel our fears!

“We are also delighted to be partnering with Retrofit West who have all sorts of experts on hand to help us.”

The project will also be open to residents of Westerleigh, Mangotsfield and Staple Hill. 

For more information visit www.elcoe.co.uk.