Severn Wye Energy Agency is a non-profit company and registered educational charity.  Its aims are to promote sustainable energy and affordable warmth through partnership, awareness raising, innovation and strategic working.

In Monmouthshire we are managing the Vital Villages programme, supporting communities to become more sustainable.   Vital Villages is a project funded by Monmouthshire Council through its Rural Development Programme, and will run until December 2013.  It covers the whole of rural Monmouthshire, including the three market towns of Monmouth, Chepstow and Abergavenny.

The project's aim is to increase the sustainability of rural and semi rural communities throughout Monmouthshire. Rising fuel costs and cold winters mean that it is more important than ever to address sustainable energy in community buildings. Improvements in energy efficiency mean lower fuel costs as well as a more comfortable space for the halls users. This in turn will increase the hall's usage and therefore its revenue. Renewable energy technologies can provide heating, hot water and electricity while development of green spaces for food growing will reduce the need for imported food.

Our dedicated Vital Villages Officer Eileen O'Haire can offer practical advice and resources to help communities to 'green up' their local areas in three key areas:

• Development of renewable energy schemes that will benefit the local community

• Improvement in the energy efficiency of community buildings and village halls

• Enhancement of green spaces with an emphasis on food growing and land share.

Eileen can help communities to apply for the following grants:

• The Renewable Energy Community Investment Fund - up to £50,000 towards renewable energy installation projects (up to 60% of the costs)

• The Sustainable Energy Investment Programme - up to £2500 to improve the energy efficiency of community buildings such as village halls and sports clubs (up to 80% of the total cost)

• The Community Environmental Improvement Scheme - up to £2500 to develop small-scale community gardens and growing food for community use (up to 80% of the total cost).

A partnership of groups in Abergavenny has produced a leaflet for local people interested in finding out more about energy efficiency, renewable energy and low carbon living, by visiting homes and businesses where these can be seen in action:  download a pdf copy of the leaflet here.
 

Contact details:
Contact Eileen O'Haire by phone 01452 835087 or email Eileen@swea.co.uk