Chester’s Blacon estate is sustainable model for the future

Dec 21 2009 Chester Chronicle

THE Blacon estate in Chester has won up to £500,000 in a competition to become a blueprint for sustainable living.

Blacon is one of the first ten winning locations to benefit from a £10million fund as part of the Low Carbon Communities Challenge.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change launched the competition in July to find communities keen to be at the forefront of moving to a low carbon economy.

About a quarter of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions come from heating, lighting and powering electrical appliances in homes. By 2050 this needs to be almost zero if the UK is to cut its emissions by 80%, highlighting the importance of local action.

Blacon will use its money to champion energy efficiency by refurbishing two local houses, so people can see what they can do to cut their bills and gain access to advice and practical support.

Latest technology will be installed in residents’ homes enabling local people to cut bills and spread good practice through their social networks.

Ged Edwards, chief executive of Sustainable Blacon Ltd, said: “Blacon in Chester is a strong urban community and the Challenge builds on Sustainable Blacon’s work on four ‘greens’ – open spaces, energy, transport and social enterprises.Š

“Through the Challenge, we will be helping one another to cut our household energy bills, broadening our understanding of climate change and supporting each other to do what we can about it.”Š

In return for technical and financial assistance, people in Blacon will work alongside government and contribute to finding low carbon solutions from which the whole country will benefit. Successful outcomes from the project will pave the way for a national roll-out of proven measures.