Manchester Carbon Coop has a bright year ahead with the end of 2010 seeing the project's momentum grow and a number of opportunities begin to materialise for the coming year.
Community Renewables Finance School.
Before Christmas the Carbon Co-op and Carbon Leapfrog ran a series of masterclass sessions, called the Community Renewables Finance School. These were practical how-to guides for people interested in low carbon projects that will transform their communities and environment.
The emphasis of the programme was to share knowledge and experience and to explore different practical solutions:
- Workshop 1. Inspiring Communities – engagement and planning.
- Workshop 2. Finance and legal issues.
- Workshop 3. Installation and maintenance.
Each session featured advice from a panel of professional experts including: Nick Weir from Local United, James Heather from Ham Hydro, Garry Charnock, CEO, Carbon Leapfrog, and Mary Gillie: PhD MIET CEng, Consult Engineer at EA Technology Consulting Ltd.
The programme was a great success, with 25 people attending representing a range of projects from across Manchester, including: St Marks Church & Tree of Life project in Wythenshawe, Chorlton Refurb, and St Winifreds Enterprise Centre in Hulme.
Matt from Kindling recorded the sessions, with the aim of putting them online (at www.communityrenewables.org.uk), for others to benefit from all the knowledge shared at the events. There are also write-ups of the sessions on community renewables website and more information about the speakers.
Fuelling Manchester.
At the end of the final community renewables workshop we held the third Fuelling Manchester social with twenty people involved in hydro & solar energy initaitives, bio-mass & wood energy enterprises, community finance, energy efficiency and community engagement projects, all sharing ideas and information over beer and wine.
Other 2010 highlights.
Over the last 12 months the Carbon Co-op has been exploring a number of different ways of achieving its aims, including: this masterclasses series; community low carbon events; the development of the Carbon Co-op Manual; and researching a community investment programme.
Ahead in 2011.
Carbon Coop members have been busy developing a financial model to take the project forward, looking at community investment, share options, bulk buying of renewable technologies with communities and the practicalities of retro-fitting old terrace housing to help meet the UK's ambitious carbon reduction targets.
Whilst the details need to be finalised, we are very confident the Carbon Coop has an exciting year ahead.
For more information watch this space and/or contact the Carbon Co-op direct at: http://www.carbon.coop/