Carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossils fuels for heating and transport are a major contributor to dangerously rising temperatures and climate disturbance across the globe. Reducing carbon emissions while still heating our homes in winter or cooling them in summer will require a huge change in the way that our energy is produced and distributed, including much more localised energy generation, and a far greater focus on energy efficiency.
The UK’s housing stock is energy inefficient, and rural locations off the gas grid with many old poorly insulated houses including listed buildings, are a particular problem. The Littlebury Energy Project (LEP) is looking at the question “What would be needed to decarbonise a whole village?”
In 2021, Littlebury Parish Council, along with Uttlesford District Council (UDC) and Essex County Council wanted to develop a Community Energy Plan to investigate how a village (Littlebury) could transition from mainly oil based heating to clean, renewable energy. With initial funding primarily from UDC, community groups and volunteers have come together as the LEP to map out options and start taking steps towards a low carbon future. Further government funding is allowing the project to bring in experts for more detailed analysis of low carbon heating.
For further details and progress or to get involved,
please see the project website.
The LEP is run by Saffron Walden Community Energy and a working group of Littlebury residents.
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The Littlebury Energy Project is offering a free home survey providing an assessment of whether your home is suitable for an Air Source Heat Pump.