We’re all spending, on average, more than £1000 per household on energy – for every 1000 households that’s over £1,000,000 per annum. Most of this is lost to our economy, paid out to one of the Big 6 energy companies. We have an opportunity to work together, as a community, to reduce the amount we’re spending. Reducing the amount we’re using in our homes and businesses through energy reduction; and looking at ways we can generate more heat and power locally for community benefit.

Community Energy Fortnight

Energy Reduction

Retrofitting properties to make them more energy efficient can be a worthwhile investment. The Government are encouraging householders, in particular, to undertake an assessment of their properties; and gain an understanding of the best energy reduction options.

There are a number of different assessment types. We have prepared an Energy Assessors Information Sheet SWD CEP July 13to provide a better understanding. The Green Deal is one option for financing retrofit work. A Green Deal Information Sheet July 2013 SWDCEP is also available.

A wide range of information is also available from the SEACS (Sustainable Energy across the Common Space) EU project.

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Stage One Energy Study 

“The SWD CEP quickly realised that in order to influence policy and guidance within our area we needed to establish a robust evidence base. Therefore, to focus our future working we commissioned the University of Exeter to provide a study of South West Devon. This is an independent assessment of current and expected energy consumption and opportunities for energy efficiency and renewable energy generation across the area.” Said Kate Royston Chair of the SWD CEP

The study has provided some surprising results which have impacts for the South West Devon area and the future potential for energy resilience for all sectors. Current energy consumption is divided in, approximately, equal thirds between the transport, domestic and non-domestic sectors. This energy consumption results in approximately £0.4 billion being spent on energy in SW Devon – equivalent to about a fifth of the economic output of the area or about 15,000 full time jobs. Effectively each person is spending £2,600 each year on energy within this area.

The SWD CEP is a unique network bringing community groups and local authority representatives together, from across West Devon, South Hams and Dartmoor National Park, to work towards a sustainable future for energy. It is believed to be the first partnership of its kind in the UK dealing with energy issues through cooperation between local government and action groups.

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