In February 2010 we successfully secured funding for Low Carbon Berwick through the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), Low Carbon Communities Challenge fund.   The project aims is to assist Berwick's residents to identify where they use most energy and then help them find ways to reduce their energy bills, saving them money and ultimately reducing their carbon footprint. To help with this work, we have purchased a number of energy monitors that local residents can borrow so they can check their energy use around their own homes
 
A second part of the project is to undertake Home Energy Surveys that will help residents see where they can make their homes more energy efficient. For this part of the project we have recruited local people to volunteer to become part of our trained Neighbourhood Energy Watch Team and then survey the homes of friends, families and neighbours. The survey will produce a personalised energy report for each household which will identify measures that might be taken to improve home energy efficiency and any grants that might help with the cost. If you want to be trained to become part of our Neighbourhood Energy Watch Team please contact Marjory Tharme.

Many households in the area are already involved in the scheme, but we need more residents to take up our free offer to loan a home electricity monitor and free home energy survey.  Local residents may be missing out on up to £3,500 of government grants to improve their home insulation and heating systems and we want to help them access these funds.  These measures can alleviate people from fuel poverty-a situation where 10% or more of the household income is spent on maintaining a comfortable warm home. Some of the grants are dependent on the householder receiving benefits however one fund offers free loft and cavity wall insulation for anyone over 60 years old or with a child under the age of 5. 

It is estimated that these two energy saving measures alone can save you nearly £250 a year on your heating bills.  We are hoping to hear from anyone interested in reducing their energy bills, please contact the Berwick Community Trust for details; 01289 330955 or email the project officer Marjory Tharme mtharme@berwicktrust.org.uk.  You might know family, friends or neighbours

The Low Carbon Berwick project also supports the Transition Town's group, Sustaining Berwick.  In Berwick-upon-Tweed and the surrounding area, momentum is gathering in a number of areas of environmental sustainability and community resilience; through renewable energy projects, recycling activities, composting and growing your own, and the annual Border Green Festival. To find out more have a look at www.sustainingberwick.org.uk