Electric Communities

Project Description

This project is the first phase in a push to improve the efficiency of community buildings and raise awareness of climate change.

The project:

• Benchmark electricity consumption in up to 15 community buildings across each County 
• Educate the management of the buildings that take part on consumption patterns and monitor if this leads to a reduction in consumption and related costs. 
• Work with the groups to get Resource Efficiency Wales Audits of the buildings.  These audits identify ways in which energy and water can be saved.  
• Help 5 buildings with solar PV to monitor input and export patterns. We worked with these buildings to change behaviour patterns to make best use of renewable generation on site, i.e. heating water during peak generation.   
• Work with the groups to access funding to implement any changes.  Sources such as the RCDF and Lottery funding were explored.  

How the project got underway –

An open call was made inviting groups to nominate their building for a monitor.  The open call involved the production of a press release detailing the project, outlining the possible benefits and calling for community buildings to come forward and participate.  Information was also be published online on the Cadwyn Clwyd website and Social Media, such as Facebook and Twitter.

We endeavoured to use a range of buildings with different constructions and different uses.

Each building was given an electricity meter and shown how to use it.

Data was then collected from each monitor over a twelve-month period. The monitors used collected data that could be downloaded into software that allowed users to analyse how energy is used.

The first step in helped communities to understand their energy consumption and gave a benchmark against which to measure future improvements.  

The project harnessed the LEADER approach in a number of ways:

• The Project Officer worked directly with community groups.  Specific actions and solutions were worked up with these groups for their local requirements.  The project incorporated grassroots working.
• In working with community groups, the Project Officer built the capacity of volunteers
• The communities played an active part in working up actions and solutions, building on the data built up from the project, to tackle fuel poverty.
• Pilot projects, testing new methods and technologies for energy efficiency, have been worked up through the project and delivered with participating community buildings.
• Community buildings can compare data – demonstrating strong partnership working.
• Supporting community buildings in this way and helped them reduce their costs will make them more sustainable moving forward.

Results of the project –

• Number of Pilot activities undertaken (new approaches/new products/new processes/new services) / Number of Pilot activities undertaken (new approaches/new products/new processes/new services) = 1
• Number of Information dissemination actions/promotional and/or marketing activities undertaken / Number of Information dissemination actions/promotional and/or marketing activities undertaken = 1
• Number of Participants supported / Number of Participants supported = 15