Triodos Renewables to fund community improvements all over the UK

Triodos Renewables has announced today the launch of its new Community Benefit Fund.  The launch comes as the company continues to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

Bristol-based renewable energy company Triodos Renewables is reaching out to communities across the UK with the chance to make their shared public buildings more sustainable. The fund is available for community buildings near to their renewable energy projects.

The nationwide scheme is open to applications from community building operators close to its 15 renewable energy projects that are positioned all over the country, from Cambridgeshire to Dunfermline, Bristol to Haverigg, Cumbria. The fund allows community building owners and managers to apply for advice and funding to implement energy saving and clean energy generation measures in their buildings – including village halls, church rooms, and the like.

By setting up their scheme, Triodos Renewables aim to benefit their wider communities around the sites, and to raise awareness of renewable energy and energy efficiency. It is being administered in collaboration with the independent national charity, the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE), and using their combined knowledge of energy issues they will enable communities to benefit from intelligent upgrades that promote good energy behaviour and sustainability.

Adrian Warman, Operations Manager at Triodos Renewables, said: “We are delighted to launch our new Community Benefit Fund as part of our 20^th birthday celebrations.  We are now able to offer communities up and down the country the opportunity to make substantial and important improvements to buildings they care about. We think it’s vital to be connected to the communities that we operate in and to open up dialogue. We’re looking forward to receiving applications and seeing what difference we can make.”

With awards of up to £4,000 being granted to local community buildings, a whole host of changes will be possible, including LED lighting, insulation, draught-proofing, improved heating or lighting controls. Triodos Renewables are also offering the option to use the funding for selected professional advice leading to long term improvements in energy efficiency, and CSE will be providing templates and guidance and home energy efficiency advice to householders in the local community.

Janine Michael, Head of Development at CSE, commented: “Community buildings and shared spaces of all kinds can host all sorts of activities and be a valuable asset for the neighbourhood.  But all too often they are underused because they’re cold, damp or draughty, or because the heating and lighting costs are too high. It can cost relatively little to make significant improvements, but finding the money can be difficult.”

The Triodos Renewables Community Benefit Fund is part of the company’s commitment to the local communities it operates in and is in addition to the range of local schemes already in place. It has previously hosted two family open days at their Avonmouth Wind Farm, opening up turbines and encouraging the local community to find out more about wind energy. It also works with schools across the country to provide valuable education about renewables including part of Bristol 2015’snational education programme, Sustainable Learning, with their virtual field trip to a Triodos Renewables site.