Household Survey

Changeworks have now appointed staff to undertake the household energy audits and these have begun in the Sandbank and Benmore and Kilmun areas.  Already results are coming in indicating that a number of households will be taking up the offer of cut price insulation.  A schedule has been drawn up to ensure that the household audits in all of the communities will be completed by October 2010.  Changeworks staff who are carrying out the audits can be identified by their green sweatshirts.  Other Insulation suppliers are also operating in the area but we are encouraging residents to wait for the Project audit as they will get the best deal from Community Futures Goes Green.

Audits have also been taking place, carried out by the Wise Group, in the three Stirling communities – Buchanan, Gartmore and Strathfillan.  Again residents should be warned that there are other suppliers who do not offer such a good deal.

A logo has been devised for the project which is being used on all literature, calling cards, letters, leaflets etc.  As the assessors go round they are also distributing the Community Futures Goes Green Newsletter and copies of these will be available for Board members at the meeting.

Changeworks make full reports on progress in all elements of the project at the monthly Steering Group meetings.  They have also begun to submit invoices which enables to draw down funding from the Climate Challenge Fund

Energy Monitor Loan Scheme

Each community now has 20 Minim Energy monitors available for loan.  Changeworks have been helpful in drawing up a brief form to record the impact the monitors are having.  The monitors will be available in all the communities who are working out their own most effective distribution systems.  Each monitor can be borrowed for a three week period to establish initial energy usage and then how changes can be made to save electricity and money.

Work in Schools

Changeworks have now carried out lessons in six of the Primary Schools.  The remaining two schools will be visited when the schools return after the summer holiday.  One of the outcomes of the work in schools is artwork that is being incorporated into individual banners for each community that can be used to publicise the project and be used at events.

Ministerial Visit

The Project has been included the summer tour of Stuart Stevenson, the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change.  As well as visiting the National Park HQ, the Minister met with representatives of all the communities at a meeting at Kilmaronock Millennium Hall on the morning of 23^rd July where he heard about the project and was posed some questions by the group in relation to the government’s commitment to funding renewable energy projects in the future.  He was then able to see the project in action as the Kilmaronock Energy Monitor Library was launched at the Friday Coffee Morning.

Celia Burn & John Massey
July 2010