CHESTER’S most carbon-friendly village is celebrating after winning £500,000 as part of the Government’s new clean energy scheme.
Ashton Hayes, near Chester, has been awarded grant money through the Government’s low carbon community challenge to help in its quest to become the first carbon neutral village in England.
Since 2005, villagers have been working hard towards the goal and have already cut average household emissions of the 370 homes by 23 per cent since May 2006.
The community plan to spend the money on various renewable generation technologies which will power part of the village.
This includes a renewable energy CHP plant and solar panel focused on the school, which will link with measures to encourage energy efficiency.
In total, 22 communities across the UK will benefit from the £10million grant fund which aims to help them cut carbon, save money on energy bills, and could even see some communities make cash from generating their own energy.
Energy and climate change minister Joan Ruddock said: “The huge enthusiasm for the low carbon communities challenge demonstrates that local people are passionate about building a low carbon future in the UK.
“Today’s winners will act as a test bed for green action, and show us all what a greener future looks like.
“This sort of action is vital because over a quarter of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions come from heating, lighting and powering electrical appliances in our homes.
“By 2050 this needs to be almost zero and we can only achieve that through the creative initiative of local communities.”