Mapping the Big Green Challenge - The Skills & Learning ...

84 Chapter 7.2 – Low Carbon ZonesOnly where there are physical components or a continuing service to be maintained (for examplecommunity energy supply or waste collection services) is there likely to be an intention to providesome on-going input. Grassroots groups tended not to have developed ideas about how to maketheir ideas and experiences available to others as is shown in Chart 45. However as discussed inSection 6.4, this is a problem that is widespread in the sector.7.2.4 Examples to Illustrate Different ApproachesThe data hides the more interesting aspects of these community level projects. Although they havesimilar overarching goals in terms of reducing the carbon footprints of their neighbourhood, themethods employed are varied, and are harder to capture as data, particularly as each proposalinvolves a range of different techniques tackling a range of climate change measures.To provide some sense of this we can contrast a few examples. Firstly two relatively small scale andhighly targeted proposals which were both aiming to reduce emissions associated domestic energybut in very different ways: 60.60.60 (413): A package of 'Victorian House Specific Energy Efficiency' activities, fromSash box window refurbishment, under floorboard insulation, and solid wall insulation.Aiming to create an identity for the householders and building on their pride in their homesto create unified action. Genffordd CHP (429): A small hamlet in remote location planning to contract with a localfarmer to grow and treat biofuels ready for combustion. These will be used in an innovativemethod to produce both heat and electricity for distribution to members' households.A different contrast focuses on the use of particular techniques: Greening the Canary (553): Suggested lots of different techniques which included pledges,special events, green ‘credit cards’ (to record and reward actions’), advisors and help lines.They had experience with these techniques which they were bring to a community viastrong mediated links The Big Climate Pledge Challenge (637): This was based a single technique (making pledges)but they built on this in terms of a broad range of activities to encourage people to signtheir pledges and providing support and guidance to accompany the campaign.7.2.5 OverviewThis proposal type was mainly proposed by grassroots, informal groups. The majority had a preexistingenergy or sustainability focus but a significant minority had a background in economicdevelopment of community services. They tended to have systemic approaches often at communitylevel. There approaches were largely open. Proposals from grassroots groups had strong ties totheir target audience but undeveloped thoughts about sharing their ideas and learning more widely,although the transition town movement was a focal point for some. They had rich approaches tobehaviour change and multiple initiatives for engaging people and achieving change. Professionallyled proposals aimed to work through intermediaries with grassroots characteristics.Appleby Ltd July 2009