LYMM Community Energy is celebrating five years of clean energy production in the village.
Four solar panel systems at four primary schools are not only saving money for the schools but are also saving about 25 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year – equivalent to the CO2 absorbed every year by 1,160 mature trees.
The solar systems have generated 426,300 kWh of clean electricity to the end of September – enough to power about 115 homes for a year.
It was five years ago that Lymm Community Energy (LCE) installed solar panel systems at Oughtrington and Ravenbank primary schools.
The following year they installed two more systems at Cherry Tree and Statham primary schools.
This was made possible by raising £184,000 through two community share offers in the summers of 2015 and 2016.
The money raised for the solar systems also enabled LCE to fund the installation of low energy LED lighting at three of the schools.
As part of its remit to encourage energy efficiency and carbon reduction, LCE has now undertaken energy audits at Maple Lodge Scout and Guide Centre and Lymm Village Hall. Recommendations have been made on how to achieve net zero carbon for the buildings and these are now being implemented.
Financial support for energy efficiency/carbon reduction is available from LCE through its Community Benefit Fund which allocated £2,500 to two projects last year and a further £1,500 is now available for this year.
LCE chairman Bob Barr said: “We are now looking ahead at the next 5-10 years and identifying new CO2 reduction projects in which we can invest.
“If you have any ideas about projects in areas such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric vehicles or energy storage, we would be very pleased to hear from you.”
For more details visit www.lowcarbonlymm.org.uk or email LCE at [email protected]
