Council funds carbon-saving projects at 14 Hackney landmarks
Bill-busting solar panels and energy efficiency measures are set to be installed or developed at 14 local landmarks after they were awarded thousands of pounds from a new community energy fund managed by Hackney Light and Power, Hackney Council’s energy services arm.
The Hackney Empire, Mildmay Club and Parkwood Primary School will each receive funding for solar panels that will provide enough electricity for one-third of their energy use - equivalent to 35 homes - helping to reduce bills and tackle climate change.
A church, a gurdwara, a wellness charity and seven schools will receive funding to develop carbon-saving projects including solar panels, battery storage, insulation and heating controls alongside other carbon-saving measures.
The projects are being supported by three local community energy groups with expertise in renewable energy, which will support the organisations to install new solar panels and carbon-saving measures or carry out feasibility studies for a future installation.
This helps local community organisations build expertise and provides funding to energy groups with the capacity and knowledge to take on projects like this. It’s hoped the organisations will then be able to replicate these projects on other buildings in the borough, helping to tackle the climate crisis.
Throughout the duration of the projects, the community energy groups will work with people who use the buildings to encourage carbon-saving behaviour.
Reducing emissions from the borough’s buildings is a key part of the Council’s draft climate action plan, so that the energy used to heat and power them no longer contributes to climate change.
In Hackney, we are becoming the urban home for community energy - not just leading a just transition to net zero and reducing carbon, but creating real lasting assets owned, shaped and delivered with local communities.
Hackney Light and Power’s community energy fund is a great example of how councils and community groups can work together to build capacity and knowledge so more organisations can reduce bills and make their buildings more efficient, supporting green jobs in the process.
We know there’s a big appetite among Hackney’s community organisations to tackle climate change, and we’re delighted that this fund is going to help out lots of local landmarks reduce their impact on climate change. From icons like Hackney Empire to community primary schools we are on the ground working together for a greener Hackney.
The funding bids awarded includes:
- £35,000 for Hackney Empire, supported by Stokey Energy, to install 102 solar panels on its roof, generating 28% of the Empire’s electricity demand. This follows funding from the Council’s Hackney Central Impact and Ideas Fund to install new energy-efficient LED lighting in the Empire.
- £42,000 to install 136 panels on the roof of the Mildmay Club, supported by Stokey Energy, prodiving 34% of its electricity demand
- £42,000 to install solar panels and a building heating management system at Parkwood Primary School, supported by CREW Energy
- £130,000 for feasibility studies at St Paul’s Church, Hoxton Hall, Core Clapton, Singh Sabha Gurdwara, six primary schools and a nursery.
Find out more about the community energy fund: https://hackney.gov.uk/community-energy-fund/