Financial support to help Totnes and Dartington residents buy solar-PV systems to generate some of their own electricity and earn an income have been agreed by community action scheme Transition Streets and South Hams District Council.
The grants and loans, which can be worth up to 80 per cent off a solar-PV system for people on low income, are for homeowners and tenants taking part in the Transition Streets scheme.
“Not only does everyone in Totnes and Dartington have the chance to cut their bills by joining Transition Streets before March 28,” said Adrian Porter, co-manager of Transition Streets, ‘We’re now pleased to say whatever your budget, if your property is suitable you can also apply for discounted solar-PV systems to make renewable electricity and earn money from your roof.”
Andrew Powell, divisional environmental health officer at South Hams District Council said: “The council is happy to support this project through the private sector renewal policy which is aimed at improving the quality and energy efficiency of housing and reducing fuel poverty, especially as this project will help families on low incomes.”
In the Transition Streets scheme, neighbours first get together to form Transition Together groups, helping each other make simple practical changes to cut their energy bills. Transition Streets then supports them or their landlords to get their hands on low-cost or free insulation and heating system upgrades to make their homes warmer.
After this Transition Streets will select homes to fit solar-PV systems, seeking to fairly reflect the diversity of housing types, tenures, ages and incomes in Totnes and Dartington parishes.
The Transition Streets grants range from £2,500 to £3,500 and can be topped up, for eligible households on low incomes, with a low-interest loan or with a further grant from the Council. And property owners’ can offset their initial investment with the government’s new Feed in Tariff Programme – an annual income for people generating renewable electricity from April.
For those whose homes are not suitable for solar-PV systems, Transition Streets and its partners can offer other energy-generation solutions.
If you want to be a Transition Street, call 01803 867358, email tran...@gmail.com
(from a press release)
(Image: Transition Together from Rob Hopkins’ Transition Culture blog)
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