17 June 2010
Charities and not-for-profit organisations can now benefit from a new energy saving initiative launched by the Planning and Environment Department. The Energy Efficiency Service’s Community Buildings Programme offers a range of free, energy-saving measures to help organisations reduce their environmental impact and fuel costs.
To qualify for the programme an organisation must provide a service to vulnerable members of the community - like a day centre, residential care facility or a centre for advice, information and support.
Organisations must be charities or operate on a not-for-profit basis. Properties maintained by the States of Jersey are not eligible for assistance.
The Community Buildings Programme is the second initiative from the Energy Efficiency Service, which is a States of Jersey funded scheme supported by seed funding of half a million pounds from Jersey Electricity.
The Energy Efficiency Service continues to run the Home Energy Scheme which helps Islanders on Income Support and on the 65+ Health Plan (Westfield).
The Programme Manager of the Energy Efficiency Service, Lisette Jones, commented “The core aim of our service is to improve the comfort and reduce the fuel bills of economically and socially vulnerable individuals.
"As we have been helping private dwellings through the Home Energy Scheme, the benefits of improving the energy efficiency of the community areas that our target audience regularly use have become obvious. Energy efficiency improvements will reduce an organisation’s energy expenditure, releasing money to improve their services to vulnerable groups.”
The Assistant Minister for Environment, Deputy Robert Duhamel, said “The Community Buildings Programme is a flexible initiative designed to help a diverse range of organisations. The scheme’s core aim is to improve thermal efficiency and help the environment. If you are involved with a charity or not-for-profit organisation I encourage you to get in touch to help us improve the environment together.”
Community organisations who want to apply, or find out more about the scheme, should contact the Energy Efficiency Service on +44 (0) 1534 441663.
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