British towns plot an energy revolution

A British Gas Green Streets community in Tackley, Oxfordshire, has plans to cut its energy use by 25 per cent using a variety of technologies and efficiency strategies.

The community has revolutionised the way it generates and uses energy thanks to solar panels and a ground-source heat pump installed by British Gas on the local village hall, and through the use of nearly 600 energy-saving measures, ranging from efficient light bulbs to energy monitors, in local homes.

The measures, combined with simple changes in behaviour, such as switching off appliances when not in use, has had a big impact on the community.  As well as dramatically cutting electricity costs, the village solar panels generate an income of around £2,900 a year through the feed-in tariff scheme, which pays the owners of solar panels for the renewable electricity they generate and use.  The village hall’s ground-source heat pump cuts its heating costs and also earns a yearly income of £1,800 through a similar scheme called the Renewable Heat Incentive.

The hall is a registered charity and run for the benefit of the village and is at the heart of the community.  It offers facilities for hire, function rooms and a successful community shop and cafe.

Through its Green Streets project, British Gas has invested £2 million into microgeneration and energy efficiency measures in 14 communities around the UK.  Each of the 14 communities is competing to see which one can save the most energy as well as generate the most renewable energy.  The winner will receive a further £100,000 to invest in a local green energy project of its choice.

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