Practice Guide - Fife Council (1)

 
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Practice Guide - Fife Council (1)

SUSTAINABILITY IN ACTION – PRACTICE GUIDE
FIFE'S ENERGY EFFICIENT VILLAGE PROJECT - CROSSGATES


BACKGROUND

This project was aimed at putting the Aims and Values of Fife Council and the principles of the Council's Sustainability Policy and the Home Energy Conservation Act into practical action at a community level. Central to the project is a partnership based on community involvement and participation. The project is about the community, Fife Council and private enterprises working together to change patterns of energy consumption in the community. The village of Crossgates in West Fife was chosen as the location after a detailed statistical analysis of housing including energy efficiency ratings (NHER), mix of tenure, property types and community size. This pilot project was launched when the Crossgates community gave a positive response to an approach through the local office network to determine the level of interest there would be in developing such a project.


PROJECT AIMS

1. To reduce energy consumption and therefore energy costs for the members of the community at the same time reducing carbon dioxide emissions
2. To reduce the number of people living in fuel poverty
3. To support the local community to make lifestyle changes that will result in energy savings and a more sustainable use of energy
4. To raise awareness of the need for energy efficiency through education, training and widespread publicity
5. To encourage investment in energy efficiency initiatives by all partners in the project
6. To carry out continuous monitoring and evaluation to ensure effectiveness and appropriate targeting.
7. To disseminate the information and results generated by the project to a wider audience locally in Fife and hopefully at national level.


PROJECT OUTPUTS / TIMESCALES / ACHIEVEMENTS

The project commenced in March 1998 and a key area of its success has been the level of community involvement in the project. A thriving Community Management group was established in October 1998 and members of this group have benefited from training in committee skills and energy efficiency measures. The Management Group has ensured that local needs have shaped the direction of the project during its lifespan.

The public launch of the project was held at Crossgates Community Centre in October 1999. On the night over 200 residents attended the launch, signed up to be part of the project and completed DIY Home Energy Checks. Free energy efficient lamps (CFLs) were distributed and since then all elderly residents within the village have been given CFLs. The project targets energy efficiency improvements in local authority housing, homes in the private sector, public buildings, local school and businesses.

The project is currently in the third of four phases:
Phase 1: Pilot programme and establishment of community involvement
Phase 2: Energy efficiency works and awareness raising and education
Phase 3: Further energy efficiency works, consolidation of awareness raising and education. Environmental and social improvements in partnership with the community
Phase 4: Completion of project, information dissemination and review.

The outcomes to date have included:

  • The completion of a baseline survey of all public buildings within the village and which identified potential energy saving measures. Subsequently, investment work was carried out on all of the public buildings as follows:


    • Building Improvements:
    Primary School: Loft Insulation. Window replacement. Thermostatic Radiator Valves. Lighting Controls
    Community Centre: Thermostatic Radiator Valves, Draught-stripping, Loft InsulationSource of use water heater.
    Library: Timer clock for hot water system
    Crossgates House: Solar panel heating system, loft insulation, Heat recovery fan, Draught-stripping, Pipe insulation

  • Crossgates Primary School has developed an Energy Policy and are monitoring energy use to see effect of the work improvements have had. It has also incorporated the ScottishPower Energy Efficiency Education Pack into the school curriculum. Pupils in Primary 6 & 7 conducted energy efficiency audits at home and these were analysed by ScottishPower and results returned to the pupils.


  • Baseline National Home Energy Rating (NHER) surveys on council housing stock and 100 owner-occupied homes have been conducted


  • Fife Council obtained a grant of £36,000 from ScottishPower Standards of Performance Funds enabling work (including Cavity Wall and Loft insulation) to be carried out on 26 electrically heated houses in the village.


  • All local householders have been encouraged to take advantage of grants available for energy efficiency works under the Scottish Executive's Warm Deal scheme and ScottishPower's Homes 200 Plus scheme.


    • The project was the winner of the Scottish Gold award at the UK Green Apple Awards 2000.


    EVALUATION

    Details of reductions in energy used are being recorded and it is proposed to evaluate

    (a) the energy saving benefits of the work that has been carried out to improve energy efficiency in the villages homes and public buildings and
    (b) the applicability of the project's applicability elsewhere in Fife.


    Contact: Charles Dorrance
    Tel: 01592 416 876


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