We are providing a free training course open to all community groups, and individuals, who would like to save money in their community buildings with energy efficient solutions.
Venue: Fiskerton Village Hall, Ferry Road, Fiskerton, Lincoln LN3 4HW
When: Thursday 29th September 2011
Time: 7pm – 9pm
The aims of the course are to enable community groups to:
- Identify where savings can be made on heating and electricity use in village halls/community buildings
- Identify where waste arises, and consider how waste can be minimised and recycling promoted
- Outline how waste and energy use are connected to local and global environmental issues
- Know (from considering some case studies) the types of renewable energy system which can be fitted in community buildings, and financial case (outlay vs reduced bills and Feed in Tariffs / Renewable Heat Incentive)
- Know how such projects can be funded.
Come along and find out about:
Alternative heating and hot water solutions
- Reduce energy bills and saving money
- Funding your project
- How to receive an income from the Feed-In Tariff
- How to carry out energy audit
- Renewable Heat Incentive
To receive a booking form, please contact Claire Riley on 01529 301959. Email Claire.riley@communitylincs.com
For further information, please contact Vicky Dunn on 0845 0267971. Email vicky.dunn@groundwork.org.uk
What is the Feed-In Tariff?
The Feed-In Tariffs are a Government-backed measure to make it worthwhile for individual households or community buildings to produce renewable electricity. With the Feed-In Tariff community buildings can earn a fixed income for every kilowatt hour of electricity they generate and sell back to the grid. This can be up to 41.3p/kw hour, depending on the type and size of the system used to generate renewable energy.
Tariffs are paid for 20 years, except solar systems which qualify for 25 years. Tariffs are index-linked to the Retail Price Index so they will increase over time. The Feed-In Tariff applies to any type of renewable electricity production although is associated mostly with solar due to the ease of installation of solar panels on buildings.
3 ways to take advantage:
- A private company could lease the roof of the community building for 25 years. In this case the solar company have to pay for the cost of installation but they also benefit from the Feed-In Tariff. Benefits: an income from leasing their roof; often as free electricity. Downsides: not as profitable as other options and often involves a long lease with a private company.
- The community building could fund the installation itself. If the installation is paid for from reserves then the government estimates halls would earn up to 8% per annum on their investment. Alternatively the community building should be able to obtain a loan which should be at a low interest rate. Typically the loan would take 7-10 years to pay back which would then leave 15-18 years of the community building owning the solar panels and receiving the full Feed-In Tariff. After the 25 years the panels would still be the property of the community building and should still be producing electricity. Benefits: greater financial rewards. Downsides: involves using a loan.
- The community building could enter into a lease purchase agreement with a private company. In this case the private company pays for the installation of the solar panels and the community building agrees to purchase the panels from the company over a period of time using the income from the Feed-In Tariff. This is similar to the second option, as it results in the same advantages of ownership after a few years, but the community building does not take on any borrowing to pay for the initial installation.
