Subject: Zero carbon Oldham community plan, review of net zero and more! 🌲

Hi Friend,

With the end of summer many of our existing projects are gaining momentum. Spurred on by a recent Carbon Co-op staff strategy session we are taking on more challenges then before, and welcoming new staff to the Carbon Co-op team. Aldous Everard has joined our Retrofit Team as a project manager, after having previous experience at Sheffield Solar and with buildings airtightness, so we are giving him a warm welcome!

This month Oldham Energy Futures have released their community-led action plans for Sholver and Westwood, an inspiring effort detailing the community's journey through their local energy system. As we move into October, the PowerShaper Flex service will be trialling their first Demand Side Response 'flex' events - testing measures which will help our energy system transition towards a greater use of renewables.

At the level of national government Carbon Co-op has been contributing to policy consultations. The energy systems team have produced a response to the recently closed smart energy systems consultation, and we are asking for members and supporters to share their thoughts with us regarding the latest independent review of the government's approach to delivering it's net zero target - make sure to send us an email about this before the 20th of October.

Community leaders set new direction for Oldham's transition to zero carbon

photo of carbon co-op staff and community members holding the community led energy plan

Two ground-breaking Community-Led Energy Plans (CLEPs), released today by community leaders in Westwood and Sholver, are setting out the priorities and actions local people believe are needed to initiate the transition to a zero carbon Oldham.

Review of Net Zero: call for evidence

Header of the government's open consultation - Net Zero Review: Call for evidence page

The government have issued their call for evidence in the review of net zero. Chris Skidmore MP will be chairing the review, and this is a key opportunity for Carbon Co-op to feed into the government's approach to their delivery of the net zero targets.

We are preparing our response, but want to hear from our members and supporters about what we should say. Make sure to let us know by 20th October in order for us to meet the government's deadline.

Have your say in the review of net zero

PowerShaper Flex upcoming DSR events

We’ve installed Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS) boxes in all 48 participants’ homes and are excited to kick off the demand side response (DSR) events on 19th October.

In preparation for that, we held a webinar for participants on what to expect before, during and after a DSR event. Plus, we recapped how grid flexibility pilots like Powershaper Flex could support the transition to renewables.

Participants – keep your eyes peeled for a notification on your HEMS dashboard about the DSR event on the 19th and look out for an invite to our next webinar, also on 19th October, where we’ll discuss how it went!

And if you’re not participating in Powershaper Flex but you want to stay updated, sign up to our PowerShaper Flex newsletter.

What we are reading

A photo of people standing in front of a solar farm

Energy citizenship: Europe’s communities forging a low-carbon future

From solar panels to biomass burners, boom in green initiatives seen as vital to achieving EU climate targets.

Can the UK keep up and support similar innovation here?

Take a look...

In the news

Co-ops tackle the energy crisis by leading a retrofit revolution

'The UK’s homes and buildings are among the least efficient in Europe, which is making the crisis especially painful for households and businesses'

Read the full story...

Two men installing solar panels on the roof of a house

A photo of some modern insulated houses with solar panels in front of a city skyline

Truss’ energy plan is an expensive sticking plaster

Liz Truss’ energy plan will provide some welcome relief this winter for people struggling to pay their bills, but is a sticking-plaster solution that skips over cheaper, easier policies that could provide long-term relief from high bills, says Fiona Duggan.

Read the full story...

Kwarteng must rise to the challenge and tackle this energy crisis

Last week’s fiscal statement is an important first test for the new government. Fiona Duggan took a look before its release to wonder whether it will kickstart a green energy revolution or leave the UK ill-equipped to cope with a hugely expensive and seemingly never-ending crisis.

Read the full story...

In the community

A photo of a smiley face drawn on window condensation

Damp specialists?

Carbon Co-op members share their experiences with damp, tackling damp and working with damp specialists.

Join the conversation...

Has anyone run wet central heating from a hot water cylinder?

Find out why a carbon co-op member is looking at this for a home heating solution. Do you have any experiences with a similar setup. Make sure to share your knowledge!

Join the conversation...