Best Local Initiative
in association with Kellogg’s
WINNER London Borough of Lewisham – Low Carbon Lewisham Central
Low Carbon Lewisham Central aims to cut the footprint of an inner city London neighbourhood, principally through retrofitting loft and wall insulation. Launched in January 2010, its first year has seen 5,000 energy efficiency measures installed in an amazing two-thirds of the 1,000 properties in the area. Open to all residents, the programme included free insulation, free energy surveys and free boiler assements. It has also offered free advice to local businesses, engaged staff at the local hospital and used participatory budgeting to give residents a say in how money was spent. One outcome was highly recognisable black and white cow-print recycling bins promoted with the slogan “feed the cows”. http://tinyurl.com/6zzg8rn
Transport for London – London Buses, Hydrogen Bus
Two hydrogen-fuelled buses are carrying hundreds of passengers a day on the busy central London RV1 bus route from Covent Garden to Tower Gateway. Producing no exhaust emissions apart from water, they represent a revolutionary form of road vehicle for a low-carbon age. Transport for London has installed the largest hydrogen refuelling station in the country to support them, and during 2011 they will be joined by eight more, making RV1 London’s first hydrogen bus route. The hydrogen fuel cells have twice the efficiency of a conventional engine in terms of the energy conversion from tank-to-wheel. They are also quieter and accelerate more smoothly. http://tinyurl.com/66zzm2c
Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York and City of York Council – The York Green Neighbourhood Challenge
The York Green Neighbourhood Challenge ran from 2009 to 2010 to cut household carbon emissions in high-consumption neighbourhoods. Six teams of ordinary residents took part, each with a mentor advising on areas such as energy and transport. After six months, the majority of participants were still taking part, and these 49 people reduced emissions by an average of 2 tonnes per year each (an 11% cut). This small project shows the huge gains achievable with expert guidance and peer support. It led to further community activism (with two of the teams expanding to form a 100-strong group) and is now being replicated in seven Local Authorities across North Yorkshire. http://greenchallenge.climatetalk.org.uk/
Sheffield City Council – Sheffield is my Planet
Sheffield City Council’s imaginative public engagement programme, “Sheffield is my Planet”, launched in 2010. Attention-grabbing activities have included a giant washing line in the city centre encouraging people to reduce use of tumble dryers, a multi-coloured mascot who attends school assemblies and football matches, a silent disco promoted through pledges by celebrities such as Tinchy Stryder, and a spoof 1940s-style video encouraging people to compost their waste. More serious developments include a Council trial of “poo-powered” bio-methane vehicles and a network of volunteer community activists. http://sheffieldismyplanet.co.uk/
