The fundamentals
Before you start a community energy project we recommend you have a good look at the resources in this section. It contains things which we belive are useful for any kind of community energy project and we recommend that you've considered all of these factors before starting your journey.
The Rough Guide to Community Energy
From the makers of the well-known Rough Guides, this short book explains what community energy is, how to set up your own group, and what kind of projects you might be able to do.
Low Carbon Communities Handbook
A comprehensive handbook designed to assist community groups in running projects and engaging the community, with ideas and examples from groups in Oxfordshire, but replicable anywhere.
Identifying and minimising risks
Guidance on risks to be aware of when planning a project, and how to minimise them.
A step by step guide to Monitoring and Evaluation
This resource was developed to help groups working on community led approaches to climate change and energy conduct their own Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E).
It aims to provide an accessible background to the principles of M&E, together with selected links to resources and approaches that may be useful for your group.
Discussing national energy supply and demand
This exercise, which needs to be carried out in the early stages of your project, is to help people gain a better understanding of the UK’s current and future energy needs.
Setting the scene: discussing our community's energy use
This exercise is aimed at helping communities to think about their energy use as well as setting the scene for the development of renewable and/or low-carbon projects.
Managing a community project (video)
A short film to help you to understand that good management is essential to successfully co-ordinating your community project, this film guides you through the process.
Working with volunteers
Your project is very likely to rely upon volunteers - here are some tips about how to make the most of them and keep them on board.
Approaches to community consultation and engagement
Summary of approaches you can use to consult with, engage and inform the people in your community.
This very short summary highlights the many approaches and methods you can use, and signposts to some key resources to help you plan your activities.
Best practice in community engagement projects
CSE adheres to ten standards of community engagement, and encourages our project partners to commit to these standards on all our projects.
The standards describe what should be done to ensure best practice in community engagement, and the indicators describe how that should be achieved. Taken together, they form a comprehensive checklist for best practice in community engagement.
Behaviour change: theories, approaches and guidance
A very useful (but detailed!) resource to help you understand some of the reasons why people get around to installing energy efficiency measures or not. This should help inform your marketing and community engagement strategies.
The Uncertainty Handbook
Climate Outreach are the go-to organisation for advice on how to communicate about Climate Change and engage the wider public. This guide gives practical advice on how to spead the message about climate chnage when the future is so uncertain.
Sizzle: the new climate message
A favourite of ours from sustainability communicators Futerra. The guide explains how communicating about the positves of a low-carbon future (the sizzle) is more likely to engage people than spreading a message about climate change doom (the sausage).
Writing a marketing plan
Some tips on how to get the word out about your project in a way that will engage the people you're trying to reach.
Keeping your community group going strong
A short animated film with some tips on how to keep your group active when things get difficult or enthusiasm falters.
Improving your community building
If you own or manage a community building, like a village hall, church, sports club or any other type of community centre, then the resources in this category can provide guidance on how to make the premises as energy efficient as possible.
Case studies
Examples of some energy improvements in community buildings, from simple energy efficiency to renewable installations.
Case study: Heating improvements at Greenway Centre and St Martin's Community Hall
Case studies of two community buildings which have made low cost improvements to their heating systems in order to improve their efficiency and reduce running costs.
Case study: High-performance thermal doors at Dyrham and Hinton village hall
A case study of a community building which has replaced their external doors with more thermally efficient ones in order to improve their efficiency and reduce running costs.
Case study: Secondary glazing at Roll for the Soul and Zion Community Arts Space
Case studies of two community buildings which have had reduced heat losses through their windows by installing secondary glazing in order to improve their efficiency and reduce running costs.
Case study: Lighting upgrades at Trinity Centre and Whisty Community Association
Case studies of two community buildings which have had upgrades to their lighting systems in order to improve their efficiency and reduce running costs.
Solar hot water at a swimming pool in Bovey Tracey, Devon
A case study from CSE's PlanLoCaL project that tells how Bovey Climate Action helped a community swimming pool install a solar thermal system for the pool's showers.
A biomass boiler for a church in Gulworthy Cross, Devon
A case study from CSE's PlanLoCaL project that tells how a biomass pellet boiler was installed at St Paul's Church in Gulworthy Cross, Devon, and helped to keep the congregation warm.
A heat pump for a community building in Woolfardisworthy, Devon
A case study from CSE's PlanLoCaL project that tells how a Sports and Community Hall in Devon, installed a ground-source heat pump as their latest renewable project, and helped saved thousands of pounds.
Energy efficiency improvements
When reducing the carbon footprint of a building it makes sense to look at how to make it more energy efficient before considering a renewable energy project. Sometimes the simplest and cheapest improvements can make the biggest impact. Here are our favourite resources to show you how.
Low and zero cost energy improvements to community buildings
This short guide contains tips which could help you reduce the amount of energy used in your community building for little or no cost and cut the amount of money you spend on fuel bills.
Many of these tips will require building users to change their behaviour so you might want to consider putting up signs around the building to reinforce your message. Others require installing small and inexpensive energy efficiency measures – we’d recommend that you shop around for the best deal and follow the installation instructions carefully.
Responsible retrofit of traditional buildings
A report on the existing research and guidance for upgrading traditional buildings with low carbon improvements including some recommendations.
Improving energy efficiency in community buildings
Our key guide for community building managers summarising the considerations when looking at improving the efficiency of a community building.
Includes tips on behaviour change, energy improvement measures, energy auditing, funding and key contacts.
An energy survey pro-forma
This survey is a comprehensive document to assist you in carrying out an energy audit for a community building.
Insulation in more detail
A comprehensive guide comparing different types of insulation - how do they work, what is the installation process like and could you do it yourself?
Heating and appliances in more detail
A comprehensive guide comparing different types of heating systems - how do they work, what is the installation process like and could you do it yourself?
Estimating the heat demand of a hypothetical community building
This exercise shows how to estimate the heat demand of a community building, as well as the typical carbon emissions and the costs associated with meeting this.
Permitted developments
Find out when you would need, or wouldn't need, planning permission.
Listed buildings, heritage and landscape (film)
This short film explains how planning applications in heritage settings will have particular local and national rules to follow, and this film will help you understand what may be necessary.
Energy Efficiency and Historic Buildings
How to apply Part L of the building regulations to historic buildings. This means reducing heat losses wherever possible without damaging their special character or compromising their performance.
Responsible Retrofit of Traditional Buildings
A comprehensive guide to the key aspects of the responsible retrofit of traditional buildings. Produced by STBA on behalf of DECC.
Heritage Energy Efficiency Tool
The Oxford Heritage and Energy Efficiency Tool helps assess energy efficiency improvements for historic buildings.
It was designed for use in Oxford, and contains some local case studies, but it is replicable elsewhere.
Eco Church
An award scheme for churches in England and Wales who want to demonstrate their low carbon credentials. Includes a free online survey and supporting resources all designed to equip your church to express your care for the environment.
There is advice onhow you look after your buildings and land; in how you engage with your local community and in global campaigns, and in the personal lifestyles of your congregation.
Renewable energy
Community buildings can be the perfect sites for renewable energy projects, reducing running costs and showing an example to the wider community. These resources will help you to plan a project for your venue. If you're looking at a large-scale renewable energy project then also check out the resources under the 'Renewable energy projects' section.
Renewable energy in more detail
Practical guidance if you are thinking of installing a renewable technology as part of a home or in a community building.
This guide compares different types of domestic or micro-scale renewable energy technologies - how they work, what the installation process is like and could you do it yourself?
Permitted developments
Find out when you would need, or wouldn't need, planning permission.
How to apply for planning permission
How to apply for planning permission for a renewable energy installation or major retrofit.
Estimating the heat demand of a hypothetical community building
This exercise shows how to estimate the heat demand of a community building, as well as the typical carbon emissions and the costs associated with meeting this.
Considering a heat pump project (video)
A short film giving advice and guidance on setting up a heat-pump project in your community.
Considering a biomass boiler project (video)
A short film giving advice and guidance on setting up an individual biomass boiler project in your community.
Considering a solar project (video)
A short film explaining the things you'll need to consider if you're thing of setting up a solar power project.
PV potential estimation utility
This site provides figures for solar PV performance across the whole of Europe, simply enter your location details for an estimation.
Compare My Solar
An independent comparison site for solar PV in the UK. You can search by postcode for an aerial image of your home our building to estimate the roof space available for solar PV. You can then search for local installers.
Solar PV checklist: Questions to ask installers
This set of guidelines are designed to help you ask installers the right questions and understand the answers, and ensure you get the best system for you.
Areas covered in this checklist include finding an installer, components, design, connection, monitoring, and installation.
Your new solar PV panels
A factsheet explaining how you can make the most of your solar PV system and reap the benefits by using the energy that you generate.
Here comes the sun: a field trial of solar water heating systems
A study which trials solar water heating systems to provide evidence on how actual systems perform in real homes in the UK. This could help you to determine whether a system would meet your hot water needs in your community building or home.
Listed buildings, heritage and landscape (film)
This short film explains how planning applications in heritage settings will have particular local and national rules to follow, and this film will help you understand what may be necessary.
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme
Use this website to search a comprehensive database of certified renewable energy installers across the UK.
This website is essential for any group intending to commence on an energy project and hope to benefit from the feed-in tariff or the renewable heat incentive.
Feed-in Tariffs
Detailed guidance on the Feed-inTariff from Ofgem, who administer the scheme. The current tariff tables are downloadable from this site.
Renewable Heat Incentive
Find out more about the RHI for the non-domestic sector from Ofgem, who administer the programme.
Renewable Heat Incentive calculator
An up-to-date calculator to help you to determine how much money you could earn through the Renewable Heat Incentive if you install a renewable heat technology (such as a biomass boiler or ground source heat pump) in your home or community building.
Finding funding
Raising the money you need to make improvements to your building isn't always easy, but we hope these resources will provide some guidance on how to fund the costs.
Funding for energy efficiency improvements in community buildings
Goes through some of the different options you could use to raise funds for a project to upgrade your community building.
Grants and other charitable funding (video)
A short film giving details on how effective fundraising campaigns could be the best way of raising the funds you need through local donations.
Feed-in tariffs and other finance streams (video)
A short film explaining financial incentives, like the Feed-in Tariff and Renewable Heat Incentive, which are designed to encourage communities to generate money from renewable energy projects and this film helps you to understand how to take advantage.
Feed-in Tariffs
Detailed guidance on the Feed-inTariff from Ofgem, who administer the scheme. The current tariff tables are downloadable from this site.
Renewable Heat Incentive
Find out more about the RHI for the non-domestic sector from Ofgem, who administer the programme.
Renewable Heat Incentive calculator
An up-to-date calculator to help you to determine how much money you could earn through the Renewable Heat Incentive if you install a renewable heat technology (such as a biomass boiler or ground source heat pump) in your home or community building.
Advice on making an application for a community based energy project to Awards for All
Awards for All is a small grant pot for projects in England from Big Lottery. We've produced this guidance to help community groups to apply to get something from the fund.
UK Community Foundations
Community Foundations can often provide funding to local groups. Find your local community foundation here.
Other sources of help
Here are some links to other organisations and websites which may provide further guidance on making energy improvements to your building.
UK Community Foundations
Community Foundations can often provide funding to local groups. Find your local community foundation here.
CrowdingIn
Find a crowdfunding website that suits your fundraising needs. You can filter by the type of funding you can raise and the sectors platforms specialise in.
Directory of Social Change
A charity with the aim to help other to make positive changes in their communities. Their website hosts a number of helpful resources.
Just Act
A website and online forum set up to help community projects to make things happen in their local area,
Project Dirt
Project Dirt is an active network connecting and resourcing community projects in the UK.
The site uses social media to connect, promote and resource passionate people and their projects. Simply create a profile and upload details of your projects.
Community Energy Hub
The Community Energy Hub aims to provide a single point of access for information on community energy in England, and to enable community energy groups to share information amongst themselves and with other organisations, including potential funders or project partners.
The Hub is a free resource for community energy projects that will be developed on an ongoing basis to expand the amount of information available.
Local Energy Scotland
Local Energy Scotland is a charity set up to help Scotland's community energy sector to grow. The website provides guidance, resources and infomration on funding.
CAT Information Service
The Centre for Alternative Technology provide information on a huge range of sustainability topics, including home energy conservation, renewable technologies, eco-building, transport and waste.
CSE Home Energy Advice
The CSE Home Energy Advice site contains advice and information for householders covering a huge range of energy saving improvements and tips on how to reduce energy use and save money.
Householders in Bristol, former Avon and Somerset can also find out about local grant schemes and assistance available to them via CSE's Home Energy Team. Factsheets on a huge range of topics are also downloadable from here.
The Planning Portal
The Planning Portal is the UK Government's online planning and building regulations resource for England and Wales.
Community-wide energy saving projects
If you're hoping to run a project which reduces the carbon footprint of your community as a whole, and helps both local households and local businesses to save energy, then the resources here should help.
Case studies
Some inspiring examples of communities that have run succesful energy projects to give you ideas of what might work for your community.
Green Open Homes case studies
Brief descriptions of the 28 open homes events held across England in 2013-14 and supported by the Green Open Homes network.
An introduction to Bristol Green Doors
A short film about how Bristol Green Doors, one of the pioneering Green Open Homes events in the UK, came about.
Frome Open Homes 2014
A short film about the Frome Open Homes event which took place in March 2014.
Tackling the Terrace: an external solid wall insulation project in Bristol
A case study from Bristol Green Doors, explainig how they attempted to fit external solid wall insulation to a row of terraced houses.
Crowborough Pop-up Energy Cafe
Description of how a local community organisation held a drop in cafe in a local neighbourhood to enable residents to learn about cutting their bills while enjoying free tea and cake.
Doing home energy surveys: a case study from West Somerset
A short film showing how to use energy surveys to identify the best low-carbon improvements for homes and other buildings, using a case study from a community group in West Somerset.
Wadebridge Renewable Energy Network (WREN)
WREN is a not-for-profit co-operative, owned and run by its members, working to transform energy from an individual cost to a collective asset.
OVESCO
A good example of a community group who have set up a succesful ESCO and run a number of community energy projects.
The Ouse Valley Energy Services Company was formed by members of Transition Town Lewes Energy Group. They run a succesful insulation and solar grant scheme, provide energy advice to local households, provide renewable electricty to locals via a bulk purchase scheme, carry out home energy surveys, and investigate and develop large scale community renewable energy schemes in the area. They have two succesful community-owned solar projects funded through a share offer.
Rural community wide energy efficiency improvements: Barcombe Energy Group
Barcombe Energy Group helped roll out community-wide energy efficiency improvements in their rural village.
Helping people who are struggling to pay their bills: WISH
Warmer Improved Somerset Homes is an example of a successful fuel poverty advice service that might be replicated in whole or in part by a community group working at a local level.
Running an energy advice centre: Energy Alton
Energy Alton is a community partnership including some 40 local organisations, who have opened an energy advice centre for the community.
Home energy assessments: Bedminster Energy Group
Bedminster Energy Group carried out home energy assessments and surveys with householders in their area.
Working with installers and negotiating discounts: Muswell Hill Low-Carbon Buying Group
Muswell Hill Sustainability Group set up a social enterprise to assist its members to purchase energy-efficient condensing boilers, replacement windows and solar systems from reliable installers at lower cost and with longer warranties.
Whole street retrofit: Bristol Green Doors
Bristol Green Doors CIC delivered solid wall insulation to a number of neighbouring properties at the same time.
Working in partnership with a housing association: Thornhill Community Energy Project
Thornhill Community Energy Project is a good example of a community organisation working with a local housing association to reduce fuel poverty and lower energy bills for their residents.
Home energy auditing: Lightfoot Energy Service
How Lightfoot Energy CIC delivers home energy audits to help local people understand how they use energy and identify where they can save money.
Running a community event
Holding an energy event is a great way to educate and inspire local people. From running a stand at a local fayre, to hosting your own Green Open Home event, here's some guidance on how to go about it and how to make your event engaging.
Holding an energy day: guidance
A guide that provides you with a breakdown of the tasks and work that needs to be thought of in advance when planning an energy day.
Community energy events: Creating your own kit
If you're running an event or a stand at an event, it's a good idea to have accurate, engaging and visually pleasing material to display. This guide recommends how to go about it and where you might source materials.
CSE event resources
CSE have a range of display models, games and kit that can be loaned out to community groups. Find out what's available in this information sheet.
Green Open Homes organisers handbook
The go-to resource covering everything you'll need to consider if you're planning on hosting your own Green Open Homes event.
NB the section mentioning the Green Deal is now out-of-date.
Green Open Homes
Green Open Homes is a national network for low carbon open homes events, managed by CSE.
There is currently no funding to keep the network going but the website contains useful resources. Visitors can find out about open homes events in their area, event organisers can upload their own open homes and there's heaps of resources to download to help you to run an event.
Running an open homes event
A short film explaining how running an open homes event is a great way to showcase and share energy-saving improvements that people have made in their homes.
Community engagement:developing a strategy
This guidance outlines some important things to consider when planning a community engagement strategy for your project or enterprise.
Event Planner
A template spreadsheet that you can use to make a timetable for an event you are running, particularly useful if you are planning on having lots of speakers and presentations.
Top Energy Savers: game
The aim of the this card game is to educate people about the costs and benefits of different types of energy saving and generating improvements.
You can use this game at a community engagement event or workshop to get people in your community interested. There is a more advanced version of this game available on request, which is more suitable for playing within your group or at a training event for energy advisors.
Giving energy advice
The following resources provide the information you would need in order to give the best energy saving advice to members of your community, and guidance on the kind of projects you could run to get this information out there.
CSE Home Energy Advice
The CSE Home Energy Advice site contains advice and information for householders covering a huge range of energy saving improvements and tips on how to reduce energy use and save money.
Householders in Bristol, former Avon and Somerset can also find out about local grant schemes and assistance available to them via CSE's Home Energy Team. Factsheets on a huge range of topics are also downloadable from here.
Using home energy assessments to engage householders
Guidance on how you might choose to engage with local householders by carrying out home energy assessments.
Household energy use questionnaire
This is an example of a survey for assessing household energy use. You can use this if you are doing home energy assessments in your local area.
Home energy survey report template
If you're using home energy assessments to engage with householders in your area then this template report will be a useful resource to give to households. It includes details on all of the most common improvements that you are likely to recommend from a completed survey.
Community Energy Projects in a Box
CSE's communities team has developed the concept of 'community-energy Projects in a Box’ to help community groups run energy-focussed initiatives in their neighbourhood. All the materials and guidance are provided – literally in a box.
Choose between running a draughtproofing workshop, lightbulb swap, energy audit, drop-in advice centre, Green Open Homes events and many more options still to come.
Understanding your local area: walkaround exercise
A simple exercise with a checklist style template which you can use to walk around your neighbourhood and identify what types of houses there are in the area.
This exercise makes a good first step in designing any project, from an energy audit project to a solid wall insulation scheme, as you can use the results from this to refine your data gathering activities subsequently.
Insulation in more detail
A comprehensive guide comparing different types of insulation - how do they work, what is the installation process like and could you do it yourself?
Heating and appliances in more detail
A comprehensive guide comparing different types of heating systems - how do they work, what is the installation process like and could you do it yourself?
Renewable energy in more detail
Practical guidance if you are thinking of installing a renewable technology as part of a home or in a community building.
This guide compares different types of domestic or micro-scale renewable energy technologies - how they work, what the installation process is like and could you do it yourself?
Energy efficiency improvements in a home
A short video about how to carry out a DIY home energy efficiency audit, by doing a 'walkaround' in a home.
Providing energy advice in the community
A short film explaining how to get people more aware of energy issues so that they can save money, take action on climate change and stay warm.
Spotting the signs of fuel poverty
A short film about how you might identify a householder in fuel poverty when carrying out a home visist.
A persistently cold home causes misery, ill-health and social exclusion. Today, over 6 million households in the UK can't afford to keep adequately warm in winter, often as a result of poor insulation standards and inefficient heating in their homes.
Understanding SAP ratings
A simple poster explaining what a home's SAP rating means, how it is calculated and it it relates to a household's actual energy consumption.
Running a local project to address fuel poverty
We’ve put together this information sheet which summarises some of the methods, tools and resources you can use if you are planning to run a local fuel poverty reduction project.
Love Your Old Home worksbook
A simple guidebook for those who live in traditional homes built before 1919, to help you to understand what kinds of energy saving improvements might be suitable.
Includes a questionnaire to help to determine how sensitively you should treat your home.
Warmer Bath
A guide to improving the energy efficiency of traditional homes in the historic city of Bath. It is however more widely relevant and could form the basis of SPD guidance in many historic towns.
Warmer Bath is a 76-page book of practical guidance designed to help improve the energy efficiency of Victorian and Georgian homes in Bath, although many of the lessons and guidance developed are applicable for any cities with historical buildings or a heritage settings.
Running energy saving schemes
You may be thinking about working directly with providers or installers to deliver energy saving improvements to local people, for example through a bulk-buy scheme or retrofit programme. Here's some guidance on how to go about it.
Establishing the right partnerships
An overview of how and why you could set up different types of partnerships between community groups and Local Authorities, social landlords, energy suppliers and local traders.
Understanding your local area: walkaround exercise
A simple exercise with a checklist style template which you can use to walk around your neighbourhood and identify what types of houses there are in the area.
This exercise makes a good first step in designing any project, from an energy audit project to a solid wall insulation scheme, as you can use the results from this to refine your data gathering activities subsequently.
Spotting the signs of fuel poverty
A short film about how you might identify a householder in fuel poverty when carrying out a home visist.
A persistently cold home causes misery, ill-health and social exclusion. Today, over 6 million households in the UK can't afford to keep adequately warm in winter, often as a result of poor insulation standards and inefficient heating in their homes.
Starting a bulk buying scheme
A short film explaining why bulk buying of low-carbon materials like insulation or solar panels might be a good basis for a community energy project.
Working in partnership
Together we're stronger! If you want to make a change in your community, you can go further if you find the right people to work with. This film suggests who to talk to and how to go about it.
Rolling out an area wide retrofit programme
A short film about how making energy efficiency improvements to lots of homes at once can save everyone time and money, and how you could make it happen?
Running a local project to address fuel poverty
We’ve put together this information sheet which summarises some of the methods, tools and resources you can use if you are planning to run a local fuel poverty reduction project.
Managing your community group
A succesful project needs a strong team of volunteers. Here's some guidance on managing your group and setting up a legal structure should you need to.
Your legal and governance options explained
The Hive is a support programme for co-operative businesses and community enterprises. This page from their site explains in simple terms what your legal and governance options are if you're setting up a new co-operative society.
This is a more concise version of Simply Legal, Co-operatives UK's guide to legal structures (see below). We recommended reading this first to get a good overview and understanding of the options before reading more detail in Simply Legal.
Simply Finance
A comprehensive guide to the different options for financing a community enterprise.
Simply Finance is designed for you if you are involved with a project that wants to be more, or better, than it presently is. In order to best make that leap something extra may well need to be brought in from outside the organisation.
Simply Start-Up
A guide for anyone involved in the creation of an enterprise that will be owned by, run by, and supported by the community in which it operates.
The guide uses community food enterprises as examples of what is possible, but the processes and issues can apply to a wide range of community enterprises: from taking over your local shop, starting a community-owned and run newspaper or cinema, to building a community-owned windfarm.
Constitutions: Step by step help with writing a constitution
This information sheet will help you to draw up a constitution for a small group such as a Residents’ Association or youth group. It will work well for you if you want a simple, uncomplicated structure to guide your group.
It is not suitable if you are employing workers, buying premises or dealing with large amounts of money.
Managing a community project (video)
A short film to help you to understand that good management is essential to successfully co-ordinating your community project, this film guides you through the process.
Working with volunteers
Your project is very likely to rely upon volunteers - here are some tips about how to make the most of them and keep them on board.
Keeping your community group going strong
A short animated film with some tips on how to keep your group active when things get difficult or enthusiasm falters.
Other sources of help
Here are some links to other organisations and websites which may provide further guidance on running an energy saving project in your community.
CSE Home Energy Advice
The CSE Home Energy Advice site contains advice and information for householders covering a huge range of energy saving improvements and tips on how to reduce energy use and save money.
Householders in Bristol, former Avon and Somerset can also find out about local grant schemes and assistance available to them via CSE's Home Energy Team. Factsheets on a huge range of topics are also downloadable from here.
Project Dirt
Project Dirt is an active network connecting and resourcing community projects in the UK.
The site uses social media to connect, promote and resource passionate people and their projects. Simply create a profile and upload details of your projects.
Directory of Social Change
A charity with the aim to help other to make positive changes in their communities. Their website hosts a number of helpful resources.
Magic Map
An interactive map showing various land designations, administrative boundaries and more which may help you when planning developments in your area.
Just Act
A website and online forum set up to help community projects to make things happen in their local area,
Community Energy Hub
The Community Energy Hub aims to provide a single point of access for information on community energy in England, and to enable community energy groups to share information amongst themselves and with other organisations, including potential funders or project partners.
The Hub is a free resource for community energy projects that will be developed on an ongoing basis to expand the amount of information available.
Local Energy Scotland
Local Energy Scotland is a charity set up to help Scotland's community energy sector to grow. The website provides guidance, resources and infomration on funding.
CAT Information Service
The Centre for Alternative Technology provide information on a huge range of sustainability topics, including home energy conservation, renewable technologies, eco-building, transport and waste.
UK Community Foundations
Community Foundations can often provide funding to local groups. Find your local community foundation here.
CrowdingIn
Find a crowdfunding website that suits your fundraising needs. You can filter by the type of funding you can raise and the sectors platforms specialise in.
Climate Just
An online tool designed to demonstrate which people and places are most vulnerable to climate change and its impacts in order to support local action.
Neighbourhood and low carbon planning
Getting to grips with your local planning system and developing your own neighbourhood plan is a key way to ensure that low carbon development is accounted for in your local area. The resources in this section give guidance on how to go about it.
Sources of information
The following resources all provide further guidance on neighbourhood planning, how to do-it, and other ways of engaging with the planning system. There's a lot to read, but once you've done so you'll be much more clued up.
Low Carbon Neighbourhood Planning - a guidebook
Our own guidebook providing all the information you need if you're thinking of integrating low carbon objectives into your neighbourhood plan.
CSE can give support to neighbourhood planning groups who are keen to integrate climate change and fuel poverty objectives into their neighbourhood plans. Help can also be given to groups who are looking to use other parts of the Localism Act, such as Neighbourhood Development Orders or Right to Build, to pursue low-carbon and broader sustainability objectives.
Statutory planning (video)
A short film giving a basic introduction to the national system of planning: what can be built and where.
Community led planning for a low carbon future (video)
A short film explaining how members of local communities are the best people to identify the priorities for their own future.
Quick Guide to Neighbourhood Planning
This guide summarises the process of putting together a neighbourhood development plan, with suggestions for best practice.
Permitted developments
Find out when you would need, or wouldn't need, planning permission.
The local plan and engaging with your local council
Find out how to speak to the right people at your local council, and how the planning process works.
How to respond to planning applications
A useful booklet detailing how to have your say on local planning applications to influence decisions for the good of your local area.
Planning permission is necessary for all significant (non-permitted) developments in United Kingdom. Members of the public have the right to examine and comment on planning application as they are submitted to the local planning authority, providing an opportunity for planning decisions to reflect the needs of the local community. This guide will help you find out more about the planning applications in your area and show you how to effectively support, oppose or influence planned development.
National Planning Policy Guidance
The National Planning Policy Framework was simplified in 2012 and the details are now contained within one document, downloadable via this link.
Guidance is available alongside it, which is updated regularly, so you can navigate to the topic you're interested in.
Heritage and protected areas
Areas with heritage or environmental value need a bit of special treatment when it comes to planning new development. These resources will help you to understand how to consider sensitivity to landscape and heritage value in your neighbourhood plan.
Discussing how we value our landscape
A short exercise aiming to get people thinking about their relationship with the natural and built environment that surrounds them.
Permitted developments
Find out when you would need, or wouldn't need, planning permission.
Listed buildings, heritage and landscape (film)
This short film explains how planning applications in heritage settings will have particular local and national rules to follow, and this film will help you understand what may be necessary.
Responsible Retrofit of Traditional Buildings
A comprehensive guide to the key aspects of the responsible retrofit of traditional buildings. Produced by STBA on behalf of DECC.
Warmer Bath
A guide to improving the energy efficiency of traditional homes in the historic city of Bath. It is however more widely relevant and could form the basis of SPD guidance in many historic towns.
Warmer Bath is a 76-page book of practical guidance designed to help improve the energy efficiency of Victorian and Georgian homes in Bath, although many of the lessons and guidance developed are applicable for any cities with historical buildings or a heritage settings.
Magic Map
An interactive map showing various land designations, administrative boundaries and more which may help you when planning developments in your area.
Involving the community
You'll need to get a good cross-section of your community and relevant stakeholders involved in order to put a neighbourhood plan in place. Here's some tips on how to do it.
Best practice in community engagement projects
CSE adheres to ten standards of community engagement, and encourages our project partners to commit to these standards on all our projects.
The standards describe what should be done to ensure best practice in community engagement, and the indicators describe how that should be achieved. Taken together, they form a comprehensive checklist for best practice in community engagement.
Approaches to community consultation and engagement
Summary of approaches you can use to consult with, engage and inform the people in your community.
This very short summary highlights the many approaches and methods you can use, and signposts to some key resources to help you plan your activities.
Community engagement:developing a strategy
This guidance outlines some important things to consider when planning a community engagement strategy for your project or enterprise.
Other sources of help
Further guidance and useful websites that will help you to understand neighbourhood planning.
Forum for Neighbourhood Planning
A website designed to help those who plan to create a neighbourhood plan to shape their local area.
Community Energy Hub
The Community Energy Hub aims to provide a single point of access for information on community energy in England, and to enable community energy groups to share information amongst themselves and with other organisations, including potential funders or project partners.
The Hub is a free resource for community energy projects that will be developed on an ongoing basis to expand the amount of information available.
Planning Help
This website is aimed at helping you to influence the decisions that shape where you live.
National and local planning work together to make sure that development is good for people and the environment, and this website helps you to play your part, and make your voice heard.
The Planning Portal
The Planning Portal is the UK Government's online planning and building regulations resource for England and Wales.
Just Act
A website and online forum set up to help community projects to make things happen in their local area,
Climate Just
An online tool designed to demonstrate which people and places are most vulnerable to climate change and its impacts in order to support local action.
Directory of Social Change
A charity with the aim to help other to make positive changes in their communities. Their website hosts a number of helpful resources.
Renewable energy projects
Setting up a community owned renewable energy scheme is no small undertaking, but the resources on these pages aim to help you through the process from start to finish.
Case studies
Examples of some of the best practice for community renewable energy projects in the UK, covering all of the techologies.
How community projects came about: an introduction to the PlanLoCaL case studies
A case study from CSE's PlanLoCaL project that tells how a series of communities and groups from across the UK decided upon their renewable energy project, and the reasons behind it.
A heat pump for a community building in Woolfardisworthy, Devon
A case study from CSE's PlanLoCaL project that tells how a Sports and Community Hall in Devon, installed a ground-source heat pump as their latest renewable project, and helped saved thousands of pounds.
A community hydro-electric scheme for Settle, North Yorks
A case study from CSE's PlanLoCaL project that tells how a group in Settle, North Yorkshire, set up a hydro-electric project to generate renewable energy -- and how that's now generating profits for the community.
A community-owned wind turbine in Hockerton, Notts
A case study from CSE's PlanLoCaL project that tells how the people of a Nottinghamshire village bought and installed a 225kw wind turbine, with feed-in tariff profits benefitting shareholders and paying for projects to benefit the local community.
Biomass district heating on a Barnsley estate
A case study from CSE's PlanLoCaL project that tells how Barnsley council converted coal boilers in two blocks of flats into a biomass district heating system and how they manage it.
Biomass district heating for a small community in Sussex
A case study from CSE's PlanLoCaL project that tells how the residents of a small rural community in Sussex installed a woodchip-fired district-heating system -- and how the local foresters provided the fuel.
A biomass boiler for a church in Gulworthy Cross, Devon
A case study from CSE's PlanLoCaL project that tells how a biomass pellet boiler was installed at St Paul's Church in Gulworthy Cross, Devon, and helped to keep the congregation warm.
Solar hot water at a swimming pool in Bovey Tracey, Devon
A case study from CSE's PlanLoCaL project that tells how Bovey Climate Action helped a community swimming pool install a solar thermal system for the pool's showers.
Solar PV in West Oxford
A case study from CSE's PlanLoCaL project that tells how West Oxford Community Renewables installed 550 solar PV panels on the roofs of a local school and benefit from the feed-in tariff.
A woodfuel project for Spaunton and Appleton-le-Moors
A case study from CSE's PlanLoCaL project that tells how residents of two villages in the North York Moors have entered into partnership with a local landowner to manage a woodland for woodfuel.
An anaerobic digester in Silloth, Cumbria
A case study from CSE's PlanLoCaL project that tells how farmers in Cumbria have joined together to develop plans for an anaerobic digester plant, which will save them money and potentially provide heat.
Local Energy Scotland: Case studies
Detailed information on a number of renewable energy projects in Scotland, some commercial, some community owned and some joint ventures.
Co-operative renewable energy in the UK: A guide to this growing sector
This report summarises insights gained from visits to five co-operatively owned energy projects during the summer of 2011.
Co-operatively owned energy generation is a vibrant and growing sector in the UK. The first co‑operatively owned wind turbines, Baywind in Cumbria, started turning in 1997. Since then, over 7,000 individual investors have ploughed over £16 million into community-owned wind turbines.
OVESCO
A good example of a community group who have set up a succesful ESCO and run a number of community energy projects.
The Ouse Valley Energy Services Company was formed by members of Transition Town Lewes Energy Group. They run a succesful insulation and solar grant scheme, provide energy advice to local households, provide renewable electricty to locals via a bulk purchase scheme, carry out home energy surveys, and investigate and develop large scale community renewable energy schemes in the area. They have two succesful community-owned solar projects funded through a share offer.
Wadebridge Renewable Energy Network (WREN)
WREN is a not-for-profit co-operative, owned and run by its members, working to transform energy from an individual cost to a collective asset.
Chase Community Solar: A Community Shares Case Study
A Community Shares Unit film about Chase Community Solar and its pioneering partnership with Cannock Council, which aims to reduce energy bills and tackle fuel poverty in Cannock Chase, Staffordshire.
Solar
The best tools, advice and information you'll need in order to set up a solar PV or solar thermal project.
Solar power: an introduction (video)
A short film explaining how solar energy can be used to heat water (solar-thermal) or generate electricity (solar-PV), and where they can be used.
Considering a solar project (video)
A short film explaining the things you'll need to consider if you're thing of setting up a solar power project.
PV potential estimation utility
This site provides figures for solar PV performance across the whole of Europe, simply enter your location details for an estimation.
Compare My Solar
An independent comparison site for solar PV in the UK. You can search by postcode for an aerial image of your home our building to estimate the roof space available for solar PV. You can then search for local installers.
Solar PV checklist: Questions to ask installers
This set of guidelines are designed to help you ask installers the right questions and understand the answers, and ensure you get the best system for you.
Areas covered in this checklist include finding an installer, components, design, connection, monitoring, and installation.
Here comes the sun: a field trial of solar water heating systems
A study which trials solar water heating systems to provide evidence on how actual systems perform in real homes in the UK. This could help you to determine whether a system would meet your hot water needs in your community building or home.
CARES Renewable Energy Handbook
A really helpful guide on renewable energy technologies introducing the aspects and issues involved with each. Designed to go alongside Scotland's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) but much of the information is relevant all over the UK.
CARES can also offer grants towards community renewable installations. Contact Local Energy Scotland for more information.
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme
Use this website to search a comprehensive database of certified renewable energy installers across the UK.
This website is essential for any group intending to commence on an energy project and hope to benefit from the feed-in tariff or the renewable heat incentive.
Wind
The best tools, advice and information you'll need in order to develop your own wind energy project.
Wind power: an introduction (video)
A short film about how different types of wind turbine convert wind energy to electricity, and where are the most suitable places to site them.
Common Concerns About Wind Power - 2nd edition
Evidence-based analysis drawing on peer-reviewed and publicly funded studies.
Chapter 1: Wind turbines and energy payback times Chapter 2: Materials consumption and life cycle impacts of wind turbines Chapter 3: Wind power costs and subsidies Chapter 4: Efficiency and capacity factors of wind turbines Chapter 5: Intermittency of wind turbines Chapter 6: Offshore wind turbines Chapter 7: Wind power and nuclear power Chapter 8: Public acceptance and community engagement Chapter 9: Wind turbines and property prices Chapter 10: Siting wind turbines on ecologically sensitive land Chapter 11: What effect do wind turbines have on wildlife? Chapter 12: Wind turbines and safety Chapter 13: Shadow flicker and epilepsy risk Chapter 14: Wind turbines and noise Chapter 15: Infrasound, 'wind turbine syndrome' and other health concerns Chapter 16: Wind turbines and radar
Thinking about a community wind turbine (video)
Advice and guidance on setting up a medium or large-scale wind project in your community.
NOABL Wind Map
A map, searchable by postcode, giving approximate wind speeds per square kilometre at 10m, 25m and 45m.
Windspeed Database
This wind speed database gives estimates of the annual mean wind speed throughout the UK based on 1km grid squares. Simply search using the grid reference for your chosen location (you can also look up covert postcodes to grid references here).
Common concerns about wind power
Evidence-based analysis that draws on peer-reviewed academic research and publicly funded studies to address issues such as bird-strike, shadow flicker, noise, impact on property prices and ‘wind turbine syndrome’.
CARES Renewable Energy Handbook
A really helpful guide on renewable energy technologies introducing the aspects and issues involved with each. Designed to go alongside Scotland's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) but much of the information is relevant all over the UK.
CARES can also offer grants towards community renewable installations. Contact Local Energy Scotland for more information.
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme
Use this website to search a comprehensive database of certified renewable energy installers across the UK.
This website is essential for any group intending to commence on an energy project and hope to benefit from the feed-in tariff or the renewable heat incentive.
Hydro
The best tools, advice and information you'll need in order to set up a hydropwer project in your local community.
Hydro power: an introduction (video)
A short film explaining how hydro-electric systems transfer the energy of moving water into electricity, and what kind of river makes a good hydro site.
Considering a hydro power project (video)
A short film giving advice and guidance on setting up a hydro power project in your community.
Hydropower: A guide for you and your community
This definitive guide from the Environment Agency is aimed at helping communities think through the issues associated with developing a hydropower scheme in England and Wales.
It gives details on the consents and permissions needed and includes some case studies.
New hydropower scheme: guidance on how to build one
An offical guide to the licences and permits you need, the documents you must prepare, and how to apply to build a hydropower scheme.
Calculation of Hydro Power
A straightforward hydro power calculator based on the head and flow of a river.
CARES Renewable Energy Handbook
A really helpful guide on renewable energy technologies introducing the aspects and issues involved with each. Designed to go alongside Scotland's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) but much of the information is relevant all over the UK.
CARES can also offer grants towards community renewable installations. Contact Local Energy Scotland for more information.
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme
Use this website to search a comprehensive database of certified renewable energy installers across the UK.
This website is essential for any group intending to commence on an energy project and hope to benefit from the feed-in tariff or the renewable heat incentive.
Biomass
The best tools, advice and information you'll need in order to develop a biomass project, from an individual boiler to a district heating system.
Biomass: an introduction (video)
A short video giving information on how biomass fuels can be used to heat homes and generate energy, and which biomass systems are suitable for smaller-scale community projects.
Considering a biomass boiler project (video)
A short film giving advice and guidance on setting up an individual biomass boiler project in your community.
Considering a biomass district heating project (video)
A video giving advice and guidance on setting up a biomass district heating project in your community.
Considering a biomass woodland management project (video)
A short film giving advice and guidance on setting up a biomass woodland management project in your community.
Biomass heating: tools and guidance
Useful tools and guidnace from the Carbon Trust for anyone looking into installing biomass boilers and biomass heating.
Identifying and assessing a potential district heating area using the National Heat Map
An exercise to help you to gain a better understanding of the heat demand of your area by using the National Heat Map, and so identify and assess a suitable site for a potential district heating scheme.
Assessing the heat demand of a whole community for biomass district heating potential
This exercise shows how to estimate the heat demand of a community in a defined area, and assess this potential for biomass heating.
Estimating the heat demand of a hypothetical community building
This exercise shows how to estimate the heat demand of a community building, as well as the typical carbon emissions and the costs associated with meeting this.
CARES Renewable Energy Handbook
A really helpful guide on renewable energy technologies introducing the aspects and issues involved with each. Designed to go alongside Scotland's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) but much of the information is relevant all over the UK.
CARES can also offer grants towards community renewable installations. Contact Local Energy Scotland for more information.
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme
Use this website to search a comprehensive database of certified renewable energy installers across the UK.
This website is essential for any group intending to commence on an energy project and hope to benefit from the feed-in tariff or the renewable heat incentive.
Heat pumps
The best tools, advice and information you'll need in order to install air source, ground source or water source heat pumps in your community.
Heat pumps: an introduction (video)
A short video guide on how the three types of heat pumps (ground-source, air-source and water-source) work, and where is best to locate them.
Considering a heat pump project (video)
A short film giving advice and guidance on setting up a heat-pump project in your community.
Identifying and assessing a potential district heating area using the National Heat Map
An exercise to help you to gain a better understanding of the heat demand of your area by using the National Heat Map, and so identify and assess a suitable site for a potential district heating scheme.
Estimating the heat demand of a hypothetical community building
This exercise shows how to estimate the heat demand of a community building, as well as the typical carbon emissions and the costs associated with meeting this.
CARES Renewable Energy Handbook
A really helpful guide on renewable energy technologies introducing the aspects and issues involved with each. Designed to go alongside Scotland's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) but much of the information is relevant all over the UK.
CARES can also offer grants towards community renewable installations. Contact Local Energy Scotland for more information.
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme
Use this website to search a comprehensive database of certified renewable energy installers across the UK.
This website is essential for any group intending to commence on an energy project and hope to benefit from the feed-in tariff or the renewable heat incentive.
Anaerobic Digestion
The best tools, advice and information you'll need in order to set up a project using energy from waste.
Considering an anaerobic digester (video)
A short film giving advice and guidance on setting up an anaerobic digestion project in your community.
Energy from waste: an introduction (transcript)
A transcript for the above film.
Energy from waste: an introduction (video)
A short film explaining how renewable energy can be generated from the contents of our wheelie bins, catering waste, farmyard slurry or sewage.
Biogas map
This Official Biogas Map shows all operational anaerobic digestion plants in the UK (excluding water treatment facilities).
Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association
ADBA is the go-to organisation for information and resources if you're thinking about starting your own AD scheme.
Identifying and assessing a potential district heating area using the National Heat Map
An exercise to help you to gain a better understanding of the heat demand of your area by using the National Heat Map, and so identify and assess a suitable site for a potential district heating scheme.
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme
Use this website to search a comprehensive database of certified renewable energy installers across the UK.
This website is essential for any group intending to commence on an energy project and hope to benefit from the feed-in tariff or the renewable heat incentive.
Planning and permissions
All you need to know about planning policy and the permissions you'll need for your renewable energy project to get the go-ahead.
Permits, permissions and planning (video)
A short video with examples of the kinds of permits and permissions required for different renewable energy projects. Explains how planning permission for a community-based renewable-energy project can take time, require effort and cost money.
Engaging with your local council (video)
A short film explaining that to move your renewable energy project forward you'll have to develop a good relationship with a range of officers at your local council.
Getting planning permission (video)
To short film to help you to understand and navigate the process of getting planning permission for your renewable energy project.
Listed buildings, heritage and landscape (film)
This short film explains how planning applications in heritage settings will have particular local and national rules to follow, and this film will help you understand what may be necessary.
Community led planning for a low carbon future (video)
A short film explaining how members of local communities are the best people to identify the priorities for their own future.
Statutory planning (video)
A short film giving a basic introduction to the national system of planning: what can be built and where.
How to apply for planning permission
How to apply for planning permission for a renewable energy installation or major retrofit.
Permitted developments
Find out when you would need, or wouldn't need, planning permission.
The Planning Portal
The Planning Portal is the UK Government's online planning and building regulations resource for England and Wales.
Planning Help
This website is aimed at helping you to influence the decisions that shape where you live.
National and local planning work together to make sure that development is good for people and the environment, and this website helps you to play your part, and make your voice heard.
National Planning Policy Guidance
The National Planning Policy Framework was simplified in 2012 and the details are now contained within one document, downloadable via this link.
Guidance is available alongside it, which is updated regularly, so you can navigate to the topic you're interested in.
Magic Map
An interactive map showing various land designations, administrative boundaries and more which may help you when planning developments in your area.
Management and legal issues
To own a renewable energy installation your organisation will need a legal structure. Here's some guidance on how to find the best set-up for your group and how to manage your project.
Different legal structures work for different groups (video)
A video showing how different legally recognised structures work for different types of community groups, using real examples to help you to determine which one works best for yours.
Your legal and governance options explained
The Hive is a support programme for co-operative businesses and community enterprises. This page from their site explains in simple terms what your legal and governance options are if you're setting up a new co-operative society.
This is a more concise version of Simply Legal, Co-operatives UK's guide to legal structures (see below). We recommended reading this first to get a good overview and understanding of the options before reading more detail in Simply Legal.
Select-a-structure tool
Designed to give organisations an overview of the different types of legal structures and operational types they could choose, and by answering a series of questions suggests what might be most suitable for them.
Constitutions: Step by step help with writing a constitution
This information sheet will help you to draw up a constitution for a small group such as a Residents’ Association or youth group. It will work well for you if you want a simple, uncomplicated structure to guide your group.
It is not suitable if you are employing workers, buying premises or dealing with large amounts of money.
Simply Finance
A comprehensive guide to the different options for financing a community enterprise.
Simply Finance is designed for you if you are involved with a project that wants to be more, or better, than it presently is. In order to best make that leap something extra may well need to be brought in from outside the organisation.
Simply Start-Up
A guide for anyone involved in the creation of an enterprise that will be owned by, run by, and supported by the community in which it operates.
The guide uses community food enterprises as examples of what is possible, but the processes and issues can apply to a wide range of community enterprises: from taking over your local shop, starting a community-owned and run newspaper or cinema, to building a community-owned windfarm.
Working with volunteers
Your project is very likely to rely upon volunteers - here are some tips about how to make the most of them and keep them on board.
Managing a community project (video)
A short film to help you to understand that good management is essential to successfully co-ordinating your community project, this film guides you through the process.
Handy Tips for Community Renewable Energy Groups
Naturesave's Handy Tips for Community Renewable Energy Groups is designed to help you make sense of all the insurance requirements during each stage of your renewable energy project.
Naturesave are also able to offer advice on insurance to community renewable energy groups.
Grid Connections and DNO guide
How to find out who your Distribution Network Operator is if you need to negotitae a grid connection for your renewable energy project.
Consulting and involving the community
Behind every successful community renewable energy project is an inclusive programme of communication, engagement and consultation. The resources in this section will help you understand how community consultation works, the different methods for engagement, and tips for ensuring your community is with you.
Consulting with the community: a cautionary tale
How things can go badly wrong if you don't listen to the views of your community and others around you -- this film shows what happens when you consult too late.
Discussing how we value our landscape
A short exercise aiming to get people thinking about their relationship with the natural and built environment that surrounds them.
Sizzle: the new climate message
A favourite of ours from sustainability communicators Futerra. The guide explains how communicating about the positves of a low-carbon future (the sizzle) is more likely to engage people than spreading a message about climate change doom (the sausage).
Best practice in community engagement projects
CSE adheres to ten standards of community engagement, and encourages our project partners to commit to these standards on all our projects.
The standards describe what should be done to ensure best practice in community engagement, and the indicators describe how that should be achieved. Taken together, they form a comprehensive checklist for best practice in community engagement.
Running a community consultation (video)
A short film explaining how consulting meaningfully with the local community is a critical step in a successful renewable energy project.
Approaches to community consultation and engagement
Summary of approaches you can use to consult with, engage and inform the people in your community.
This very short summary highlights the many approaches and methods you can use, and signposts to some key resources to help you plan your activities.
Community engagement:developing a strategy
This guidance outlines some important things to consider when planning a community engagement strategy for your project or enterprise.
Event Planner
A template spreadsheet that you can use to make a timetable for an event you are running, particularly useful if you are planning on having lots of speakers and presentations.
Funding and financing
The resources in this section will help you to understand how you might fund the development and installation of your project, as well as how you might consider reinvesting any profit made.
Project finance (video)
A short film detailing how to secure funding for your sustainable energy project.
Funding your project through a share issue (video)
A short film explaining how to raise the cash for your renewable energy project by inviting people to become shareholders.
Traditional bank finance (video)
A short film telling you how to go about borrowing from a bank and establishing a repayment plan, particularly for larger renewable energy projects.
Grants and other charitable funding (video)
A short film giving details on how effective fundraising campaigns could be the best way of raising the funds you need through local donations.
How Triodos Bank funds community projects (video)
How Triodos Renewables, an arm of Triodos Bank that specialises in the funding of renewable energy projects, can help your project.
Funding and income streams (video)
A short film showing how other community-based renewable energy projects have accessed the funding and income to turn their proposals into reality.
Feed-in tariffs and other finance streams (video)
A short film explaining financial incentives, like the Feed-in Tariff and Renewable Heat Incentive, which are designed to encourage communities to generate money from renewable energy projects and this film helps you to understand how to take advantage.
The Community Shares Handbook
This Handbook sets out guidance for societies and practitioners who provide advice on community shares, a term used to describe the withdrawable share capital of co-operative and community benefit societies.
CrowdingIn
Find a crowdfunding website that suits your fundraising needs. You can filter by the type of funding you can raise and the sectors platforms specialise in.
Rural Community Energy Fund
The Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF), is a £15 million programme to support rural communities in England to develop renewable energy projects which provide economic and social benefits to the community.
RCEF is jointly funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (DBEIS).
CARES Renewable Energy Handbook
A really helpful guide on renewable energy technologies introducing the aspects and issues involved with each. Designed to go alongside Scotland's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) but much of the information is relevant all over the UK.
CARES can also offer grants towards community renewable installations. Contact Local Energy Scotland for more information.
Renewable Heat Incentive
Find out more about the RHI for the non-domestic sector from Ofgem, who administer the programme.
Feed-in Tariffs
Detailed guidance on the Feed-inTariff from Ofgem, who administer the scheme. The current tariff tables are downloadable from this site.
Renewable Heat Incentive calculator
An up-to-date calculator to help you to determine how much money you could earn through the Renewable Heat Incentive if you install a renewable heat technology (such as a biomass boiler or ground source heat pump) in your home or community building.
Savings, profits and reinvestments (video)
A short film with detals of how sustainable communities fortunate enough to have generated an income stream from their renewable energy project have re-invested profits for the future.
Re-investing your income (video)
A short film focused on how a community group can reinvest any income from their sustainable energy projects for future projects.
Other sources of help
The following organisations and websites can provide additional guidance to help your project on it's way.
Local Energy Scotland
Local Energy Scotland is a charity set up to help Scotland's community energy sector to grow. The website provides guidance, resources and infomration on funding.
Community Energy Hub
The Community Energy Hub aims to provide a single point of access for information on community energy in England, and to enable community energy groups to share information amongst themselves and with other organisations, including potential funders or project partners.
The Hub is a free resource for community energy projects that will be developed on an ongoing basis to expand the amount of information available.
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme
Use this website to search a comprehensive database of certified renewable energy installers across the UK.
This website is essential for any group intending to commence on an energy project and hope to benefit from the feed-in tariff or the renewable heat incentive.
RenewableUK
The UK's not-for-profit renewable energy trade association. A good port of call for statistics and information, particularly on the wind and tidal energy industries.
CAT Information Service
The Centre for Alternative Technology provide information on a huge range of sustainability topics, including home energy conservation, renewable technologies, eco-building, transport and waste.
Further reading
Resources from planlocal.org.uk - CSE's community energy website that will be taken off line in 2018
Renewable energy: Technical potential and evidence
Making renewable energy work locally
Resources for schools and educators
Here are some of our favourite tools, activities and guides to engage children and young adults on energy and climate change.
For younger children
Games and hands-on activities that younger children will enjoy, all with an energy saving theme.
Energy: Let's save it
A family is carelessly and unknowingly wasting energy from the moment they wake up. Until something unexpected happens... This film explains to chikdren why saving energy is important.
How to make a draught-excluding snake
Practical guidance on how to make your own home draught excluders.
Solar powered boats/spinning plates
An exercise teaching kids about energy and renewable sources of electricity by building a solar powered boat or spinning plate.
Can be used by teachers, or other adults leading an energy saving workshop or an event.
Activities for children: Colouring
A set of three colouring in sheets with an energy saving message.
Activities for children: Posters
A set of 10 posters showing fun facts and pictures to do with energy. Great for displaying at a public event or in schools.
Activities for children: Puzzles
A set of puzzles, including word games, a maze and a simple energy checklist.
For older children
Lesson plans, websites and tools that will help older children to get to grips with climate change and energy issues.
Bright Green Future
A Big Lottery Funded programme for those aged 15-19 to get involved in energy and sustainaibilty in their local area, and to find out how to become future environmental leaders.
Renewables in the Rural Landscape
A series of lesson plans aimed at 6th form students, designed to provide an overview of renewable energy technologies.
This resource pack is split into 4 lessons providing a discussion over why renewable energy is important, and the opportunity for pupils to consider and debate the issues around the siting of these technologies in the countryside.
Tackling the Energy Challenge Together Toolkit
Through the SEACS project, a number of resources have been developed to help schools to work effectively on energy conservation by raising awareness and taking appropriate targeted action.
These resources can all be found within this Schools Toolkit. A number were developed by CSE - including Science, French and PHSE lessons, and extra-curricular activities.
My2050 Schools Toolkit
My2050 is a tool designed to make young people think about our future energy use in order to meet 2050 targets. This toolkit uses My2050 as the basis of lessons for KS3 and KS4.
2020 Energy: A serious game about energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable development
This game aims to stimulate behavioural change and promote innovative pratices among those aged 14-18 years old.
CAT Education Resources
A range of games and tools to get young people interested in sustainability.
Top Energy Savers: game
The aim of the this card game is to educate people about the costs and benefits of different types of energy saving and generating improvements.
You can use this game at a community engagement event or workshop to get people in your community interested. There is a more advanced version of this game available on request, which is more suitable for playing within your group or at a training event for energy advisors.
Every Action Counts: Decider game
A simple game to help children to work out what actions to prioritise in school in order to try and reduce energy consumption.
There are also downloadable versions for community groups and offices from www.e-c-a.ac.uk/every-action-counts-community-pack.
