Communities urged to check how much energy they waste with new online tool

COMMUNITIES URGED TO DO THEIR SUMS WITH NEW, FREE CARBON FOOTPRINT TOOL

Communities encouraged to check how much energy they waste, to see how to save money

New Green Communities advice line available to help community leaders take action

Today, the Energy Saving Trust, the UK's leading organisation set up to help people fight climate change launches Green Communities - a brand new hub for UK communities, offering free online tools and advice.

The online service includes a carbon footprint tool which allows registered members to pinpoint exactly how their community can reduce carbon emissions and save money. Communities across the UK are invited to register for free membership today at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/community [1] or call 0844 848 0077.

Once registered, members have access to the Green Communities Carbon Footprint tool, which has been developed in partnership with East of England Development Agency (EEDA). The tool allows users to generate a free impartial, personalised report showing exactly how their community can stop wasting carbon and money. All Green Communities will be able to follow and promote their progress on a unique webpage which charts their projects' individual carbon savings.

Members will also have access to free expert advice from the Energy Saving Trust: training workshops and 1:2:1 consultation on project ideas; online resources such as case studies of other successful projects. Furthermore, following feedback from 'Green Communities' members across the UK, the Energy Saving Trust is now offering:

• Advice on managing the planning process when it come to installing renewable technologies
• Advice on overcoming the challenges when dealing with older or listed buildings
• Advice on securing funding outside of environmental trust funds including social enterprise initiatives

Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said: "We already have 2,000 community groups signed up across the UK and interest is growing daily. We still speak to individual householders but our research shows that the average person has 169 people in their social networks. Britons are already acting as advisers to 10 people on energy-related issues. We know that by working with communities the potential to influence friends and families is huge".

Joan Ruddock, MP, Minister of State, DECC, said: "Community-wide action is vital if the UK is to meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets and make the transition to a low-carbon future. We know that lots of people want to take action but aren't sure where to start - the Energy Saving Trust's Green Communities programme will play a valuable role in helping achieve collective change, street by street, in every community. This Autumn will also see the start of the Government's Community Energy Saving Programme, which will provide real help to around 90,000 homes across the country, including energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies. Programmes such as these will help families and communities save energy, reduce emissions and keep energy bills lower."

Expert in community engagement, Professor Erik Bichard, University of Salford, said: "Our most trusted advisors are often the people we find closest to us. Community strength to tackle climate change needs to start somewhere. The Energy Saving Trust's Green Communities programme is a way of compelling community leaders to kick-start local action. People are generally happy to do something if they feel that others are already doing it, and that their actions would meet with the approval of those around them. This powerful motivating force is tailor-made for community action-based climate change initiatives. All that is needed is the catalyst to get a small group, and a popular initiative going."

For free access to Green Communities help and advice visit: www.greencommunitiescc.org.uk, telephone: 0844 848 0077 or email greencommunities@est.org.uk.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• Green Communities' website: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/community
• Green Communities carbon footprint tool: www.greencommunitiescc.org.uk
• Green Community case studies: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/communities/casestudies

About the Green Communities Carbon Calculator
The award-winning Green Communities online tool was developed by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) to help communities measure their carbon emissions. Until now the system has only been available to communities in the East of England via the Cut your Carbon campaign, but is now be available to communities across the UK via the Energy Saving Trust¿s Green Communities hub.

About the Energy Saving Trust
The Energy Saving Trust is the UK's leading organisation set up to address the damaging effects of climate change by helping everybody to cut carbon dioxide emissions - the main greenhouse gas causing climate change - from their homes. We promote the efficient use of energy and a more low carbon lifestyle.

The Energy Saving Trust, through its network of "one-stop-shop" advice centres, provides free and impartial advice to consumers on saving energy, domestic renewables and greener transport, and is beginning to include water saving and waste reduction advice in its remit.

The Energy Saving Trust also works with retailers, builders and industry to make sure that energy efficient products are available for people to choose as well as advising government on policies that are needed to cut greenhouse gases.

The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Hilary Benn announced in December 2007 a new range of services to help people 'green' their homes. The Energy Saving Trust has been tasked with developing and delivering this vision through its extended services.

For more information visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk or call freephone 0800 512012 to speak to your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre.

[1] Communities without internet access can contact the Energy Saving Trust's Green Communities service via a local advice line on 0844 848 0077. The advice team will be able to provide community leaders with a paper version of the carbon footprint tool.