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Sub-assignment 1: Case study descriptionThe Ashton Hayes Going Carbon Neutral Project

M.Rahman 0871645H.S.Kazmi 0871555K.V.J.Kalicharan 0824720

R.Tack 0833159

February 2014

Introduction [1]Because of increasing concern of climate change, and rising energy prices, a small village AshtonHayes located just outside Chester is aiming to become the first carbon neutral village in England.

The community of Ashton Hayes consists of around 1000 people and they embarked on this journeyin November 2005 when the village voted to adopt a proposal by a long-term resident (GarryCharnock) to become carbon neutral. The launch meeting was a huge success attended by about 400people, representing almost 75 percent of the adult population of the village.

To reach this goal of carbon neutrality, the initial project objective was to plant 16.000 new trees asa carbon sink with coppicing of woodlands to provide fuel for wood burning fires. Further, plans todevelop a renewable micro grid where energy can be generated by one resident and be used byother residents were finalized. Since then, the community has managed to cut its carbon dioxideemissions by 23 percent by adopting these measures as well as by behavioural changes, e.g.switching of appliances and changing to low energy light bulbs.

Since the inception of the project, the Chester University has performed 5 surveys regarding theproject. Further, periodic meetings with the residents are held in the local primary school. 30 to 50volunteers continue to work on the project under the umbrella of commonly devised non-political,non-confrontational rules. The people involved in the project actively maintain an elaborate web-site containing all historical information since the beginning of the project. The website also hostsadditional tools to compute your footprint and local success stories. People who have taken aninitiative have cut the cost of their energy bills significantly by focusing on improved insulation andcareful energy use. In line with these carbon neutrality goals, one of the residents has built a lowcarbon emission house with technologies like:

High grade insulation in hull of the house and triple glazing Heat pump

20 m 2 PV-panels Sealed glass fronted wood burning stove with heat exchanger Rain water harvesting Mechanical ventilation with heat exchanger Light pipes and light sensors

With funding of DECC's Low Carbon Communities Challenge the village has built a low carbon sportspavilion with solar PV-panels as well as an electric vehicle for the residents to hire. Via funding theyalso installed PV-panels for two low carbon primary school classrooms. Excess electricity can be fed

into the village grid. A footpath to a nearby railway station has also been realized to have betteraccess to the trains. The community has gained confidence by the success of the Going Neutral

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Project and is now aiming to buy the village pub, while also preparing a Neighborhood Plan.Furthering these ambitions, they also hope to start a sustainable community development company.A local sponsor RSK is currently undertaking a cost-price ecology survey for the Ashton Hayes Parisharea.

Stake holdersGarry Charnock, instigator of the Ashton Hayes Going Carbon Neutral Project, is a member of theCommunity Energy Contact Group which meets every month in London to give informal comment toDECC (see below) teams and Ministers responsible for developing the Community Energy Strategy(CES).

Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) a national government department released theCommunity Energy Strategy document on January 27 this year. Several MPs know more in depthabout the project and are called educated MPs. The Department of Environment, Food and RuralAffairs (DEFRA) is funding the project together with DECC. Ashton Hayes Parish Council audits thefinance of the project. The Chester County Council has supported the community in making afootpath towards a nearby railway station. Cheshire West and Chester the local government makingthe decisions on spending subsidies, and funded a publicity film.

Residents and local businesses of Ashton Hayes have been involved from the start of the project.Ashton Hayes is also a member of the Communities of Sustainable Europe and collaborates with thevillage of Nttery in Norway by exchanging ideas. The Ashton Hayes Community Energy Company isa social enterprise. They are looking for further opportunities to install PV panels and earn revenuefor the village. (AHCE) is a Community Interest Company (CIC), which means it is owned by thepeople of Ashton Hayes and works for the benefit of the village. It was set up in October 2011 topromote renewable energy and energy efficiency in the village and it owns and manages the solarphotovoltaic (PV) panels on the recreation field pavilion and school. The intention is to build up the

villages renewable energy capacity, through further grants and fund -raising initiatives and byinvesting the profits made by generating green energy. The company is run by a Board of honorarydirectors [1]. Residents of age of 18 and above can become members of the company.

Chester University monitors the progress of the project, in terms of carbon footprint by means ofsurveys. The new economics foundation (NEF) and Carbon Leapfrog advise the project.

Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) owns the electricity network and monitors the energy use inthe village. They further support the project by giving technical information to the residents,including energy use data. They have also made a donation for making a publicity film.

Contractors and suppliers for the project include Fordingbridge, Raine or Shine, Westway Nissan,Sundog Energy, EA Technology, POD Point. The Commonwheels organization operates the carmanagement system from where residents can hire an electric car 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Financial supportIn 2006 DEFRA granted 26,500 under its Tomorrow's Climate, Today's Challenge program and thishas been used to 'spread the word' to other UK communities. Local businesses also funded theproject. The Chester University examined the potential for a community owned renewable energypower plant and micro grid. This led to a 400,000 grant from DECC under its Low CarbonCommunities Challenge.

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Data sourcesThe prime source for data is the proje cts web -site which includes all news facts from the start in2006 until now. It includes press releases and links to news articles as well as links to documentsand other organizations (see above).

References[1] The projects web -site http://www.goingcarbonneutral.co.uk

http://www.goingcarbonneutral.co.uk/http://www.goingcarbonneutral.co.uk/http://www.goingcarbonneutral.co.uk/http://www.goingcarbonneutral.co.uk/