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Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats:Covering the constituencies of Twickenham and Richmond Park |
Street champions will promote energy saving
March 8, 2010 10:38 AM
• EVERY road in the Ham and Petersham Low Carbon Zone will have a volunteer Street Champion to promote energy saving measures to their neighbours, in the next step towards significantly reducing the area's carbon footprint.
Following the launch of the zone in February, Richmond Council's partners Richmond Environment Network (REN) and Ham United Group (HUG) will be recruiting champions for each street, in a move supported by the Council. They will be given a range of training opportunities to become Street Champions and will then be on hand to give advice about how to cut energy usage. They will also be able to explain how different types of sustainability measures will work.
Cllr Geoff Acton, Richmond Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, said:
"The Council is absolutely committed to protecting our environment, and we will be seeing this in action in the Low Carbon Zone. The easiest way we can get the message out to people about how to save money through reducing energy consumption, is by having someone knowledgeable in their street to talk to about it. During the next few months 100 street champions who will have enough understanding to give advice and show people how they can make savings will be recruited by REN and HUG."
Colin Cooper from REN said: "The Street Champions scheme offers an excellent opportunity for residents in Ham and Petersham to help their neighbours to save money on their energy bills and make their properties more efficient. The champions are perhaps the most important aspect in making people aware of the Low Carbon Zone and the many benefits to residents in participating in the scheme, not least saving money and creating warmer, more efficient and cosy homes. To become a Street Champion we are looking for enthusiastic people interested in acting neighbourly and not necessarily people with an interest in the environment."
Anyone interested in becoming a street champion, should contact Colin Cooper of Richmond Environment Network on colin.cooper@richenvironmentnet.org.uk or 020 8892 0590.
The Low Carbon Zone, which covers both villages, has been funded by Richmond Council, the Mayor of London and the British Gas Green Streets project. Following a residents' reception, 150 people signed up to support the project. They, and another 350 people who register during the course of the year, will have their homes assessed by an energy advisor, to work out their carbon footprint. They will be shown a range of energy saving measures and will be offered discounts or interest free loans to help make their homes more energy efficient. Within the zone, the aim is to encourage an estimated 28 % reduction in carbon emissions by July 2012 and 60 % by 2025.
Residents in the zone can register through the Council's go green website: for more information go to www.richmond.gov.uk/low_carbon_zone
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