250 people, 9 communities... big decisions
In Spring 2009, 250 people from nine communities across the UK (from Lisburn to Harrow, Exeter to Cockfield) started meeting and talking about changing the way we insulate, heat and power our homes and communities.
Together we’re learning about new low carbon technologies and efficiency measures, visiting real-life examples, and discussing the different options for supporting the Big Energy Shift. Our findings will be presented to Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, in April.
Ipsos MORI has set up this website for us to share our experiences and questions with each other and with you.
Video / Welcome from Ed Miliband
The Secretary of State for the Environment and Climate Change explains why this discussion, and our comments, are so important.
News / Latest news - Government launches 'Low Carbon Communities Challenge'
Today Government launched the Low Carbon Communities Challenge, a two-year programme to provide financial and advisory support to 20 ‘test-bed’ communities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that are seeking to cut carbon emissions.
The findings from the Big Energy Shift public dialogue suggest that households could benefit significantly from joined-up ‘packages’ of support, delivered locally in the community, to help them reduce home energy consumption and make deep cuts in their carbon emissions. Such packages could include, for example, smart meters, home energy audits, access to local demonstration homes, leadership from local schools, businesses and public buildings, and more hands-on support navigating advice and determining which energy efficiency measures and renewable technologies are right for them.
The Government believes that this type of integrated approach, involving technological solutions alongside community and household-level behaviour change, and delivered via new collaborations between local public, private and third sector organisations, will be critical to achieving the carbon emission cuts we need. However, as yet there is no blueprint for effective action or clear sense of how much can be achieved through this route – hence the Challenge, which is designed to test the success of different plans.
The Challenge will allow the experiences of people living and working in communities that take part to be shared publicly, along with the quantitative data on carbon and energy savings. The information will be used to offer continuous learning and improvement, and the lessons learned will be made available to other communities across the country. The learning will also inform government's wider delivery plans on energy and climate change. To find out more visit the DECC website http://decc.gov.uk/
News / Latest news - Message from Joan Ruddock, DECC Minister
As a participant in the Big Energy Shift, you will know that Government has been preparing a plan of action on energy security and climate change. In our conversations with you as a group, you told us what you thought should be in the plans, such as immediate progress in Government buildings, and a package of support measures in your area. The kinds of measures you liked included smart meters, technologies in schools and village halls, home advisory services and better financial support.
Over the last few weeks, Ministers and officials from Government have been reflecting on what you said. There are some challenges: cost and complexity, and the fact that each of you will have different needs for your homes and communities that will need to be catered for. We are keen, however, to take up your recommendations. For this reason, we have decided that it is best to start with a trial.
I'm delighted to let you know that the Government's plan – the Low Carbon Transition Plan – was published today and announces plans for this trial. The green villages, towns and cities challenge, as we have called it, offers £10m in total to 15 communities and their local authorities who are interested in working with us to explore your recommendations in practice. The trial will start in January next year and we expect it to cover urban and rural communities in different parts of the UK.
The green villages, towns and cities challenge is a direct result of your contribution to the Big Energy Shift. We are grateful to you for your help.
If you would like to stay involved and follow the progress of the trial, then please visit the website www.bigenergyshift.org.uk Over the months, the website will be adapted to give details about the challenge, and portray the experiences of residents and employees living in the trial areas.
Thank you once again for your contribution.
Best wishes
Joan Ruddock
News / Latest news - Big Energy Shift report now available
We are pleased to announce that the Big Energy Shift report is now available. The report was written by Ipsos MORI, who conducted the research, and covers all of the issues discussed (such as new energy technologies and how to finance them) during the research events in the nine communities and at the final event held in London.
It is quite a thorough document and there is a summary of the key findings at the front of the report. Click here if you would like to download a pdf version of the report.
Page 1 of 9
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next > End >>
- The Big Energy Shift is funded and supported by Sciencewise http://www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk/
- For information on Saving Energy and lowering your carbon footprint use the links below:
- If you are based in England, visit the Government's ACT ON CO2 website http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk
- If you are based in Wales visit
http://wales.gov.uk/walescarbonfootprint/
Copyright © 2009 Big Energy Shift. All rights reserved. Privacy / Terms & Conditions.
