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Ambleside to Zero – what we’ve learned so far

by Molly Hogg, Low carbon communities project manager CAfS is proud to have supported Ambleside Action for a Future (AAFAF) for the past two years. Established in late 2018, this local sustainability action group has grown to over 100 members and is committed to reducing the whole town’s carbon footprint to net zero by 2030. Their outstanding ambition is being backed by South Lakeland District Council (SLDC). They see this as an opportunity to develop a whole-place approach to community decarbonisation that can be expanded across the district and replicated elsewhere. SLDC engaged CAfS to support AAFAF to shape [...]

By |2021-04-19T15:32:29+01:00April 9th, 2021|Ambleside to Zero, Community energy, Home energy efficiency, Homepage, News, Renewable energy|
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Good take up of the new CAfS carbon footprint calculators!

We‘re delighted to see good, early enthusiasm for our new carbon footprint calculators that were launched in early March 2021. Since then, they’ve already been used by 50 households and 10 businesses. You can find the calculators on our website here. They are available to use, for free, across Cumbria and Lancashire. One is for households and one is for businesses, both based on the same model. Measuring your carbon footprint is a great way of understanding the size of your environmental impact, specifically, how much greenhouse gas you are emitting from your daily activities or from your business. [...]

By |2021-04-19T14:30:48+01:00April 9th, 2021|Food, Home energy efficiency, Homepage, News, Renewable energy|
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Energy events for January

Two free online events will welcome many Cumbrians into the new year with the chance to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and businesses. The two webinars are being hosted by Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS) in partnership with South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) but are open to anyone who feels that they could benefit from the advice on offer. The first of the two events, Heat pumps for homeowners is taking place on 19 January at 6:30pm and is focused on the user experience of domestic heat pumps. A heat pump is a device that transfers heat [...]

By |2020-12-21T13:48:19+00:00December 21st, 2020|Cumbria Green Build Festival, Draughtproofing, Fossil fuels, Home energy efficiency, Homepage, Insulation, News, Renewable energy|
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Support offered amidst ‘bleak winter’ forecast

Many families are facing a difficult winter ahead with increased hardship, a new report shows. Higher energy use resulting from having to stay at home for longer and a huge reduction in income have produced a toxic combination, researchers at Sheffield Hallam University have found. In Cumbria, adding our already problematic leaky housing stock to the equation, the evidence is that the risk will be heightened for vulnerable groups who will have to make a heat or eat choice this winter. This combines to produce a bleak forecast of the next few months for many residents. The report Stuck at home in [...]

By |2020-11-26T16:11:02+00:00November 26th, 2020|Draughtproofing, Home energy efficiency, Homepage, Insulation, News|
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Events shed light on funding for home improvements

Two online events by CAfS are offering households and landlords the chance to find out about support available for home improvements, including the government’s new Green Homes Grant. The free sessions will shed light on some of the main schemes that households can take advantage of now, to make their homes warmer and use less energy. “This is a really good time to get on with improvements to save energy and reduce carbon emissions, given the support that’s out there right now,” said Andrew Northcott, energy services manager at CAfS. “But it’s not always easy for people to work [...]

By |2020-10-22T16:32:32+01:00October 22nd, 2020|Draughtproofing, Home energy efficiency, Homepage, Insulation, Renewable energy|
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Cold to Cosy Champions training goes virtual

The Cold to Cosy Homes team here at CAfS are announcing a brand new roster of free training sessions for people interested in becoming a Cold to Cosy Champion. The training will give you (or relevant members of your team or community) a thorough understanding of the service, how to refer clients and what their customer journey will be. You’ll be able to fully explain the service to clients and help them to access this fantastic free support for vulnerable individuals. Cold to Cosy Homes offers clear advice and practical help on how to save energy in your home [...]

By |2020-08-21T13:13:28+01:00August 21st, 2020|Draughtproofing, Home energy efficiency, Homepage, News|
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Cold to Cosy Homes scheme responds to Covid-19

Our Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria service has been modified in response to the Coronavirus situation. We are currently offering only the free-of-charge emergency service to vulnerable households whose gas boiler has broken down. Call free to the LEAP call centre on 0800 060 7565 to find out if you or someone you know could be eligible for a free boiler replacement. This emergency boiler scheme, called ECHO, will run for the next few weeks, until the fund is used up. The scheme is aimed at households that are vulnerable and need immediate assistance to stay warm and well [...]

By |2020-03-19T11:07:10+00:00March 19th, 2020|Draughtproofing, Home energy efficiency, Homepage, News|
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MPs join CAfS for Big Energy Saving Week 2020

It was a meeting of old friends and new on Friday as CAfS’ Cold to Cosy Homes officers teamed up with local MPs to spread the word to shoppers. This was in aid of Big Energy Saving Week 2020, a national campaign to help people cut energy bills with the support they need. This was very fitting for Andrew and Tina who have celebrating energy saving week for a few months by this point. At Morrisons in Penrith, Neil Hudson, the new MP for Penrith and the Border, spent just under an hour with Tina and Gemma from [...]

By |2020-01-24T17:09:35+00:00January 24th, 2020|Draughtproofing, Home energy efficiency, Homepage, News|
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Ambleside to zero carbon – the story so far

Could Ambleside become a zero carbon community? That’s certainly the goal of the town’s sustainability organisation, Ambleside Action for a Future (AAFAF), and CAfS is helping to make it a reality. In 2019, we began a package of support for the town, thanks to support from South Lakeland District Council and the Space to Connect fund. Here’s a quick guide to what’s been happening. All in the plan What would it take for Ambleside to become carbon neutral? That’s the big question, and we’re helping to answer it. We’re creating a detailed, costed programme that would lead AAFAF towards [...]

By |2019-12-20T10:49:35+00:00December 5th, 2019|Ambleside to Zero, Community energy, Home energy efficiency, News, Renewable energy|
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Cumbria seeks Cold to Cosy Champions

As the clocks go back, the days get shorter and people are switching on their lights and heating, Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS) is seeking to recruit 20 energy champions as part of the Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria energy-saving service. “We’re looking for people from across South Lakes, Eden and beyond who are keen to save money on energy bills and are prepared to tell others about the help that’s on offer,” says Tina Holt, energy efficiency project officer with Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS), which runs the service. “These champions could be volunteers in their communities, frontline [...]

By |2019-12-11T09:49:11+00:00October 30th, 2019|Draughtproofing, Home energy efficiency, Insulation, News|
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