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National news January

Make a New Year’s resolution to cut 10%

The start of the new year has seen thousands of people across the country making their resolutions – by pledging to reduce their energy use by 10%.

The pledges are being made as part of the 10:10 campaign, a project being run by the makers of the film, ‘The Age of Stupid’, which is encouraging as many people as possible to join with them and reduce their carbon emissions by 10% over the course of a year. Signers-up include universities, local authorities, premier league football clubs, engineering firms, and public figures such as Delia Smith, Kevin McCloud and David Cameron.

To find out more about how you, your business, or your organisation can get involved and make your pledge, visit: www.1010uk.org

New Boiler Scrappage Scheme offers benefits to thousands

A new scheme has been launched by the Government this month to help upgrade thousands of household heating systems across England. The Boiler Scrappage Scheme aims to encourage people to upgrade from an old boiler to a new, more energy efficient one.

There are currently around 125,000 households with the old G-rated systems, and this new scheme allows people to trade these in through the Energy Saving Trust for a voucher entitling them to £400 off the price of a new A-rated boiler. The voucher also allows people to fit a new renewable heating system, such as a biomass boiler or a heat pump.

To find out more about the scheme and whether you can benefit, or to apply for a new boiler, visit: www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/consumers/saving_energy/boiler_scheme/boiler_scheme.aspx

E.ON Sustainable Energy Fund re-opened

After securing funding for 2010, the E-ON Sustainable Energy Fund is now open to receive new applications. The deadlines in 2010 to receive new applications are Friday 2 April and Friday 8 October.

The E.ON Sustainable Energy Fund has been developed to support community energy projects which either result in the production of energy from a sustainable source or which reduce the amount of energy used by a community organisation. The fund supports the development of efficient and sustainable energy measures for community organisations and is made up of two parts – a web resource and access to grant funding.

The fund is available to community groups, charities and not for profit organisations across England, Scotland and Wales and they invite applications for grants of up to £20,000. Examples of the types of organisations that have been granted funds in the past include schools, local and national charities, and special education colleges.

For more information visit their website: www.eon-uk.com/about/sustainableenergyfund.aspx or email: sustainableenergyfund@eon-uk.com

Neighbourhood Renewal and Sustainable Communities Training

Holden Publishing is an organisation which supports good practice in the field of neighbourhood renewal and sustainable communities. They publish the journals of neighbourhood renewal, and culture and urban development, and they are now launching a dedicated training programme for practitioners in these fields.

Training sessions in 2010 are to be held across a range of UK locations on the following topics:

• how to effectively evaluate neighbourhood renewal and sustainable communities projects and programmes
• how to appraise neighbourhood and sustainable communities projects
• how to develop effective programme management systems for neighbourhood renewal and sustainable communities programmes

To find out more contact the Neighbourhood Renewal and Sustainable Communities Training Team at: neighbourhoodjournal@googlemail.com or visit: www.neighbourhoodjournal.com/page_1255424252071.html