Both Community Energy Solutions’ North East and Yorkshire and Humberside (YH) operations have been named as two of only three regional organisation across the country chosen to test a new scheme to help homes in deprived areas cut their heating bills.
Minister of State for Energy, Malcolm Wicks, this morning announced plans to invest £500,000 from the Government’s Low Carbon Buildings Programme to test the benefits of systems such as air-source and ground-source heat pumps in homes in deprived parts of the region.
The funding, courtesy of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) and supported by One NorthEast and Yorkshire Forward, will build on the success of community interest company Community Energy Solutions which is already running in the region.
Mr Wicks said: "Low-income households, often without access to mains gas, are those that can most benefit from microgeneration technologies, and we hope that this pilot will increase the number of installations in those properties.
“It will help us better to understand the role that microgeneration technologies for space-heating can play in helping the fuel poor, building on the wider support that is already available."
One NorthEast, Yorkshire Forward and BERR established Community Energy Solutions to help tackle fuel poverty in their respective regions. The project is now providing solutions for communities most at risk of being in fuel poverty because they aren’t connected to mains gas.
Those solutions include extending gas mains where appropriate, and using innovative new renewable heat pump technology.

Through mass procurement and pooling grant funding, the project has significantly reduced the cost of selected emerging low carbon technologies, making them more competitive and increasing the uptake and confidence of Local Authorities and housing providers to invest in their own schemes.

Chris Leek, chief executive of Community Energy Solutions, said:

“It is very exciting that people in the North East and Yorkshire and Humberside are one of the major beneficiaries of this morning’s announcements from Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks.

“As much as £500,000 of the extra £3m being allocated to help people onto cheaper renewable schemes will end up with Community Energy Solutions NE and £500,000 for Yorkshire and Humber to help us in the battle to combat fuel poverty in region. These funds will be matched by One NorthEast and Yorkshire Forward.

“With this funding we will be focusing on bringing gas and renewable measures to even more urban and rural communities across the region building on our current success which includes a project in the Wakefield where more than 100 homes could be switching to a community biomass boiler system to help combat fuel poverty issues in that village.”

To date the project has completed 20 renewable energy projects in both Yorkshire and Humber and the North East with the potential to move more than 6,000 homes out of fuel poverty.

A spokesperson at Yorkshire Forward said: “The region has been awarded this funding to develop the good work already under which is providing affordable warmth to communities without access to mains gas, who are in fuel poverty.

“As well as saving people money, this work is also important in developing more localised energy systems that will assist in achieving a sustainable, low-carbon economy for the region.”

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Community Energy Solutions & Yorkshire and Humberside Housing Forum Event - September 3rd 08

Place: Leeds Town Hall, The Headrow
Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3AD

Programme of events

10.30 am: Coffee and Registration
10.45 am: Opening of the event, Karen Maxwell Yorkshire and Humberside Housing Forum Director- Chair
11.05 am: Introduction to CES/ CES work model- Impact on energy efficiency/ Fuel poverty sector
11.35 am: Experiences of a Housing Association as a project partner - Wakefield and District Housing
11.55 pm Experiences of a Local Authority as a project partner-Leeds City Council
12.15 pm How could CES help your organisation?
12.25 pm Yorkshire Forward summary
12.40 pm Question and answer session
1.00 pm Italian style buffet Lunch

Media information: Christian or Antonia at Quay2 Media on 0191 296 6800

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May 08

CES grows team by installing new project manager

An organisation helping to convert thousands of homes across the region to using more renewable sources of energy has expanded its Leeds-based operations.
Community Energy Solutions (Yorkshire and Humber) has appointed Tom Shepherd into the role of project manager, and he will oversee a number of schemes CES is undertaking to convert homes to renewable energy heating or onto the mains gas supply.
Tom, who lives in York, arrives from City of York Council where he has spent the last eight years managing and overseeing a number of the modernisation, improvement and new build projects for a range of The Council’s Social Services centres.
Most recently, he was instrumental in preparing the City Of York Council’s carbon management strategy and, having completed that process, said the time was right to search for a new challenge.
Tom explained: “Having been handed the task of preparing the City of York Council’s Carbon Management Strategy, it seemed a natural step to take my skills and knowledge into an area which works on such matters day after day.
“CES does some amazing work which ultimately makes a real difference – not just to people’s comfort and health at home, but also to the regions’ lasting impact on the environment.”
Tom is also currently studying for a Masters degree in Renewable Energy at Newcastle University, attending the part-time course one week every other month in a bid to further understand the issues and strategies around the topic of renewable energy.
Lee Cattermole, operations director for CES, said: “Tom’s skills, contacts and background are a perfect blend for what we are trying to achieve here at CES. He’s a vital addition to the growing team and it’s great to have him on board. I know he’s going to have a huge impact on our projects across the region.”
Tom, who is originally from Wiltshire, had previously spent eight years working inWatford for the Building Research Establishment, where he worked on research projects covering domestic ventilation as well as the implementation of the Construction Products Directive, both in the UK and across continental Europe.
CES is already underway with a number of projects and is halfway through completing a project, in partnership with Wakefield and District Housing, which will see more than 1,000 homes in Castleford connected to the mains gas supply.
CES has been established with core funding from the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward with support from the National Grid Affordable Warmth Programme. It is working with a range of other partners across the region to help bring gas connections and renewable energy solutions to off gas communities.

Profile of Tom Shepherd

Media information: Christian or Antonia at Quay2 Media on 0191 2966 800

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DRAFT PRESS RELEASE
MAY 08

Blakelaw Couple Benefit from CES

Jim Cousins MP visited Blakelaw residents this week, to see for himself the difference that having gas is making to their lives...
....and on the back of it has announced he is keen to link up with Community Energy Solutions in a bid to help more residents get full benefit of the gas provision, reducing both personal spend and carbon emissions in the area.
Community Energy Solutions (CES) is leading the project to provide the residents in Blakelaw with a mains gas supply. They have support for this project from Your Homes Newcastle, ES Pipelines, an independent gas transporter and Warm Front.

As part of his visit, Mr Cousins was welcomed into the home of Malcolm and Brenda Avery of Colwyne Place, who CES has changed the lives of by also funding the installation of a new central heating system.

The couple have been previously heating their home through a combination of electric night storage heaters and oiled filled radiators. As well as being incredibly expensive, the system was very unreliable and broke regularly, all at extra cost the Avery’s could not afford.

After applying to the Warm Front grant scheme for assistance in installing a new gas fired system the couple were unsuccessful, and having already paid for a gas connection with their own money, they turned to CES for advice.

Chris Leek, chief executive of CES, said:

“As a community interest company, we have made a commitment to ensure that all of our profits are channelled back in to helping the community. We are not a bottomless pit though, and although we would like to help everyone, we have to be selective that any individual cases we support are deserving.

“In this case we had gone down every other channel of grant provision to try to help the Averys and having encountered no support, we chose to supply and fit the heating system out of our profits. KNW came on board to act as installers, even re-arranging some existing appointments ensured that Mr Avery received timely service.”

Having heard of the support CES offered to the Averys, Mr Cousins is now keen to see how other residents in his constituency who own their homes can be helped too.

He said: “What CES has done for the Avery family is a wonderful thing, and has established a strong principle that people on this estate need help in taking advantage of the new gas supply – this kind of heating is beneficial to the health of home owners, to their pockets and to our environment, helping them therefore should be top of the agenda.

“It is anticipated that in installing this kind of system the home owner will see their costs go down massively and I therefore will be joining forces with CES in a bid to see if we can work with Warm Front to create a pattern that supports more deserving residents in this, and of course, other areas of the north east.”

Malcolm and Brenda, grandparents to five, are delighted with the new system and encourage other residents to make the switch to gas:

“It only took three days to install and there has been very little mess to be honest. It will make such as huge difference to our lives, even just down to having hot water to shave and wash in as soon as we get up, without having to wait for the emersion to heat up. For the first time in many years of living in this house we will be able to have a proper bath of hot water and wake up to warm rooms.

“We also hope that the control on temperature and time this new system gives us will reduce our outgoings on heating our home, and it is good to know that we can be snug without damaging the environment too much! Thank you to CES and KNW for all their help.”

CES is a non profit distributing community interest company established by the DTI and One North East to deliver affordable warmth measures to disadvantaged communities across the North East. Further information is available at www.communityenergysolutions.org.uk

Media Contact: Antonia at Quay2 Media on (0191) 296 6800

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MP and residents hail new gas powered heating scheme - March 08

A partnership scheme to help connect gas supplies to around 1,000 homes in Castleford has won the seal of approval from its instigator, MP Yvette Cooper.
The MP for Pontefract and Castleford was on the Half Acres estate last week to view the work which has been completed so far to connect around half of those 1,000 homes up to mains gas supplies for the first time ever.
The project has been led by non profit distributing organisation Community Energy Solutions (Yorkshire and Humber), who has worked in partnership with Wakefield Council’s Home Energy Team, Wakefield and District Housing and Fulcrum to install a much-needed gas supply on the two estates.
Speaking from within the Half Acres estate, Ms Cooper MP said: “Residents have had to rely on electric storage heating or old coal fires for so long, and it’s wonderful to see the changes now in progress.”
Muriel Atwood, who has been living on the estate since 1962, says she is looking forward to the benefits of gas central heating. She’s previously had to rely on electric storage heating.
Yvette Cooper added: “This is why the work of CES is vital. When I was put in touch with them by the Government Minister, I was determined for them to work with their partners to bring their solutions to people in Half Acres and Smawthorne. This project not only tackles fuel poverty but is also helping to address household income issues”
CES Chief Executive, Chris Leek, who was also in attendance at Half Acres today, added: “It’s always great to hear the positive effects our work behind the scenes has on the residents affected. We have worked very, very hard with all our partners, and thank Wakefield and District Housing for having the foresight to be one of the first in the Yorkshire and Humber region to work with us in providing more economical, easy-to-use and environmentally friendly solutions.”
With work almost complete on Half Acres, attention will shortly be turning to homes on Smawthorne, with work expected to be complete by the end of July.
Muriel Atwood, added: “We’ve been campaigning for a long time to get gas into the estate, so it’s been wonderful to see all the work happening. I should have my new system in and working this summer. It’s going to make a huge difference for me.”
Lee Sugden, Director of Resources for Wakefield and District Housing said: “It has been a fantastic project to be involved in. This is going to make a big difference to people’s lives in this area and we’re thrilled to be playing a role in that change. When so many people are faced with increasing fuel bills, it’s great news that we’re offering a solution which will see individuals’ bills falling.”
CES has been established with core funding from the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward with support from the National Grid Affordable Warmth Programme. It is working with a range of other partners across the region to help bring similar and other renewable energy solutions to off gas communities.
If you want more information regarding the free benefits advice please contact the CES office on 0113 237 8430 between 9am and 5pm

Media information: Christian or Antonia at Quay2 Media on 0191 2966 800

Click here to view pictures from the visit of Yvette Cooper MP

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Community Energy Solutions Yorkshire & Humber Launch

Housing minister spearheads region’s community energy scheme - Jan 08

Local Pontefract and Castleford MP and Government Housing Minister, Yvette Cooper spearheaded a scheme set up to help combat domestic fuel issues across the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Community Energy Solutions Yorkshire and Humber (CES) held its official launch event in Castleford and the Housing Minister explained how the work of CES will be vital in the coming weeks and months for a number of communities.

Speaking at the launch, she said: “Residents in Smawthorne and Half Acres Estates will soon get proper gas central heating instead of the old coal fires they’d had to rely on for so long. Thanks to the Government Minister putting us in touch with CES new investment has meant more warm homes round here. But there are still too many homes across our region having to rely on expensive, inefficient and environmentally unfriendly fuel, which is why the work of CES is so vital.”

CES is a not-for-profit organisation which has been set up with core funding from the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Regional Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward with support from the National Grid Affordable Warmth Programme.
CES is the first organisation of its kind that brings together all elements, including major energy suppliers, regional development agencies and the positive support of the communities it works in to bring cheaper, more efficient and cleaner fuel sources for its residents. These solutions include bringing gas to off gas communities and, where that isn’t possible, looking at a range of renewable energy techniques such as air and ground source heat pumps.
It is already underway with projects in a number of communities in Wakefield, East Riding and North Leeds, thanks to the cooperation of a number of local authorities and associated housing authorities. Its target is to complete more than 20 community projects across the region over the next two years.

CES chief executive, Chris Leek said: “We are thrilled to have received the personal backing of Yvette Cooper as this will only help to highlight the plight of so many people across Yorkshire and Humber.

“We are striving to make a real difference to these communities by pulling all the relevant elements together to provide cheaper, warmer and more energy-efficient solutions to these individuals.”

Also speaking at the launch was Mike Smith, Head of Sustainable Development at Yorkshire Forward. He explained: “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions across our region is a key aim of Yorkshire Forward. Community Energy Solutions is the first organisation of its kind that brings together all elements to help ensure communities across Yorkshire and Humber can be doing their bit to achieve our targets for reducing our carbon footprint.”

Media information: Christian or Antonia at Quay2 Media on 0191 296 6800

Download Report [PDF, 56k]

Click here to view pictures from the CES Yorkshire & Humber Launch

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Community Energy Solutions Annual Report - 2007

The CES Annual Report for 2007 is now available for download, please click below to download in a PDF format. Should you require this in any other format please contact us and we will be happy to send this out.

Download Report [PDF, 2.3Mb]

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