Environmental and Green Opportunities

 

Throughout West Lancashire, there are many opportunities for residents, community groups and businesses to take action and get involved. Below is a snapshot of what is available and follow the links for more information. 

How Residents Can Get Involved: 

Hints and Tips for Saving Utilities

Whether you are a homeowner, tenant, student, business or visitor, we have created a short guide of simple actions that you can take to reduce utility use, greenhouse gas emissions, and save money at home and beyond: Hints and Tips for Saving Utilities.pdf

Advice and guidance can be found here:

Cosy Homes in Lancashire

Free Energy Saving Grants | Cosy Homes in Lancashire (chil.uk.com)

Boiler Upgrade Scheme Grant

For residents who do not qualify for HUG2 or ECO funding but are interested in installing an Air Source Heat Pump, then the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant offers a £7500 voucher towards the capital cost of installing an Air Source Heat Pump. Boiler Upgrade Scheme Grant (External Link)

Connected For Warmth Funding

Connected for Warmth offers fully-funded cavity wall insulation and loft insulation to households throughout Britain. Connected For Warmth Funding (External Link)

Eco and Eco Flex Funding

In July 2022 ECO4 was introduced. The qualifying criteria and qualifying measures has changed significantly from ECO3, so please read carefully before applying as you may want energy saving works which do not qualify.

    • Any work carried out on your property using ECO funding needs to significantly improve the energy rating of your home. 
    • Funding is only available to replace an old Non-Condensing (Conventional) boiler, along with other energy efficiency improvements required on your property to significantly improve the energy rating of your home. Eco and Eco Flex Funding (External Link)

Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) 

Home Upgrade Grant is a Government backed scheme delivered by Local Authorities to improve the energy efficiency of eligible households for free (a contribution will be expected from Landlords). To qualify you need to live in an eligible post code area, or have a household income of less than £31,000 per year or be in receipt of a means tested benefit. Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) (External Link)

West Lancashire's Parks and Countryside

We have a wide range of fun and fascinating events running throughout the year. To see a copy of this years events programme please click on the link above. West Lancashire's Parks and Countryside (Link)

Volunteering with the Ranger Service

There are many different ways for people to become involved in volunteering for the Ranger Service. We offer a range of formal and informal opportunities tailored to meet the individual needs and availability of each volunteer. Volunteering with the Ranger Service (Link)

How Businesses Can Get Involved:

Greener Working

We have a range of support available for businesses within West Lancashire, ranging from Green Tourism positioning the region as a leader in sustainable tourism, and help support your business to gain Green Tourism accreditation and achieve sustainable growth to Chamber Low Carbon to help businesses improve energy and environmental efficiencies, introduce on site renewable energy generation and save money. For information about these projects and more, visit: Greener Working - West Lancashire Borough Council (westlancs.gov.uk)

How Community Groups Can Get Involved: 

Community Energy Webinars

In the autumn, CAG Consultants will provide a series of free webinars exploring different aspects of community energy project development. These are open to all, whether you have a project idea, have applied for funding, or are just interested in learning more about community energy. Provisional dates and topics are below and they all take place in the evening. More information to be provided closer to the time.

    • Communicating and engaging with your communities: 10th September
    • Common planning considerations for community energy projects: 8th October
    • Community Energy and retrofit: 29th October
    • Developing business models and financing community-led projects: 19th November
    • Embarking on Transport schemes: where to start and who to involve: 10th December

If you are interested in being involved in Community Energy within West Lancashire, please email: CommunityEnergy@westlancs.gov.uk

Lancashire Climate Action Network

LancsCAN’s main aim – to help mobilise Lancashire’s community voice and action on climate change, working collaboratively with others to advance the county’s climate agenda. Lancashire Climate Action Network (External Link)

The Tree Council - Branching Out Fund

The Tree Council grant is now open for applications for community groups, schools, small registered charities, and Tree Warden Networks seeking to establish trees, hedgerows, and orchards. Tree Council - Branching Out Fund (External Link)