The Low Energy Show, 18 April, Cheltenham Town Hall - hear all about our major LEAF grant project, and save money on your energy bills. Download our programme.

Drop in any time between 12.30pm – 9.00pm to get advice and information on energy efficiency, renewable energy and view interesting displays by local installers. There will be talks on related topics and, subject to confirmation, a couple of special guest speakers are joining us including Martin Horwood MP. Come along and find out how you can ensure that next winter, your fuel bills remain on budget

TTC has been awarded £77,000 in the second round of the LEAF grant. This will allow us to undertake 3 major projects:

• A detailed study of Cheltenham's housing stock to see what the best measures are we can take to reduce our energy demands and therefore heating bills. This is key to the proposed "Green Deal" scheme for home heating and insulation which the government is planning to introduce later this year. The Green Deal is aimed particularly at "hard to insulate" homes, such as older houses without cavity walls. Cheltenham also has a lot of properties in conservation areas, which restrict insulation options for their owners.
• Looking at options in the town for Renewable Energy generation. We already have many homes with solar panels on their roofs, but this is looking at options for community schemes such as district heating and micro-hydro electricity generation. One exciting study is to see if we can put a hydro system somewhere on the River Chelt, especially in a prominent position where people can watch it generating electricity for the town.
• Setting up a network of Energy Champions so everyone in the town has someone near them who can provide help and advice on saving energy. There will be training provided and equipment such as energy monitors and a camera which highlights areas where heat "leaks" from a house. The scheme kicks off with information stands in town and a high profile event in the town hall. We aim to include example buildings that people can visit, both commercial and residential.

One element is the setting up of a network of energy champions. These will receive training and support to help friends and neighbours in their community better insulate their homes and reduce energy bills. Please get in touch info@transitiontowncheltenham.org.uk if you are interested in becoming an Energy Champion.

Glos Community Energy Co-op

First Project - Solar Panels installed on Glos Resource Centre building

The Gloucestershire Community Energy Coop, has now been formed including an exciting project to build Gloucestershire's first solar power station on the Gloucestershire Resource Centre, Alfred Street, Gloucester GL1 4DF And anyone can be a part of it, with ideas for community owned solar power in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud and elsewhere in Gloucestershire. Contact the GCEC to hear about opportunities to buy shares in the project from as little as £240, with the prospect of receiving a competitive rate of return. And the chance to help run the Coop!