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The UK’s leading green energy awards calls for entries from Local Authorities across the UK

The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy are seeking entries from local authorities that have carried out effective programmes to improve energy efficiency, reduce demand or increase the supply of local renewable energy.
 
Entering the Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy offers the chance to win promotional and publicity opportunities, as well as a cash prize for expansion, and engagement with decision-makers in the sector. The Awards will be presented at a VIP ceremony in London in July 2010.
 
The 2009 Local Authority Award was won by Kirklees Council, Huddersfield, for its success in rolling out free insulation to its residents in order to reduce the council’s carbon footprint, improve comfort and reduce fuel bills. Over 115,000 households had been visited and 25,000 had had cavity wall or loft insulation installed. The CO2 emissions avoided were around 18,000 tonnes a year, which will reach 40,000 tonnes a year by the end of 2010.
 
Environmentalist Jonathan Porritt, a supporter of the Ashden Awards said:
 
"With sustainable energy solutions now high on the public agenda, the Ashden Awards provide a valuable opportunity to highlight the very best schemes both in the UK and in developing countries. I do urge organisations to put themselves forward for these high-profile and prestigious Awards."
The deadline for expressions of interest in the UK Local Authority Awards 2010 is 27 October 2009.

Benefits of winning an Ashden Award include:
 

    * Individual prize money of up to £20,000.
    * High profile publicity in the UK.
    * Engagement with key decision-makers in the sector.
    * Opportunities to present your sustainable energy solutions to experts and policy makers.
    * Tailored support to take the scheme further.
    * A short, broadcast-quality documentary film  about the award-winning work.

What does it take to be a winner?

The scheme must:
 

    * Be up and running, delivering sustainable energy at a local level for at least one year.
    * Benefit the environment.
    * Be technically rigorous.
    * Have an element of innovation.
    * Make a genuine difference to local peoples’ lives, both socially and economically.
    * Be replicable and help encourage the widespread uptake of local, sustainable energy.

‘Sustainable energy’ covers both renewable energy supply (electricity or heat) and reduction of energy demand. Previous Local Authority Award winners include: Kirklees Council (2009), Devon County Council (2009), Leeds City Council (2008) and Arun District Council (2008).
 
Application forms are online now at http://www.ashdenawards.org/uk_awards 
 

For further information and application forms visit http://www.ashdenawards.org or contact Jane Howarth tel. + 44 (0)20 7410 7023. Email: info@ashdenawards.org