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ScottishPower Energy Networks helps us to monitor our energy use

2012-01-20T16:40:11Z

Residents of Ashton Hayes can now see how much energy the village is using thanks to an innovative monitoring system installed around the village by our technical supporter, ScottishPower Energy Networks (SPEN). The company has set up a web portal that will soon be giving us detailed data on electricity use across the community. The initial site is currently fairly brief but over the next couple of weeks we should be in a position to upload the community reports for October, November, December and January. The aim of the research will help SPEN see the impact that PV panels, electric cars and other renewables have on their network and help the community plan for the future.

Village wins LEAF grant from DECC

2012-01-16T19:14:50Z

We are delighted to have been selected by DECC for funding under its LEAF programme. Well done to all the team especially Dr Mary Gillie and Ashton Hayes Community Energy Company. Thanks to the community shop and Parish Council and all who supported our bid. For more click here

Opening of new classrooms and PV at the Primary School

2012-01-10T14:39:35Z

Children line up quietly and wait for Chester Mayor Eleanor Johnson (in red) to open the new low carbon classrooms built with CWAC funding and PV panels provided by the community. The school gets free green electricity when open with the village Community Power Company generating revenue from the surplus.

PV panels popular in the village

2011-12-08T10:18:15Z

People across the village are taking advantage of the Feed in Tariffs and installing impressive PV arrays. Martin (left) & Jane Colville selected a 'black pinstripe' design for their array and are pleased with the generation and happy to 'do their bit' to make Ashton Hayes a more sustainable village. The Savil family have installed PVs on the barns (right)

The newly created Ashton Hayes Community Energy Company has also registered the PV arrays on the low carbon pavilion and primary school roofs and will use the FiTs income to invest in more sustainability projects in the village.

The community car - a video update

2011-11-16T14:22:51Z

Thanks to the hard work of Greg Ambrose and Tom Ellis we are getting more sign ups to our community electric car, a Nissan Leaf. They have done a series of promotions around Ashton Hayes. But we still need more customers! Here is a video they have kindly made to explain our difficulties. Well done guys.

Highly Commended by IET

2011-11-10T11:00:32Z

Sadly we did not win the Sustainability award at the IET event on 9 November but we did get a 'highly commended' and we were all pleased to have been finalists from over 40 project entries this year. Thanks to EA Technology for hosting the table.

We are shortlisted for the IET award

2011-11-07T15:33:20Z

We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the Institute of Engineering and Technology's (IET) Sustainability award 2011. We have been shortlisted in the 'Sustainability' category for Expanding and Managing Community Energy through Technical and Social Collaboration in conjunction with our supporters Ashton Hayes, EA Technology Limited and ScottishPower. Fingers crossed for Wednesday night, 9 November.

Ashton Hayes Community Energy Company is formed

2011-11-03T11:07:11Z

We are pleased to announce the formation of the Ashton Hayes Community Energy Company - a Community Interest Company (CIC) that will manage the generation of renewable energy in the village. All profits generated by the company will be ploughed back into sustainability initiatives in the community. Thanks to Carbon Leapfrog for the free advice on legal issues and to Professor Roy Alexander for doing all the paperwork! More on this soon.

Marketing push for electric car club

2011-09-19T09:19:34Z

Membership of the Electric car club continues to grow but at a slower pace than we would like. We are delighted that Business Gradutes Greg Ambrose and Tom Ellis have come on board to help us understand the user needs and promote the marketing of this fantastic vehicle. They are currently carrying out a user survey and series of promotions that will encourage residents to try out the vehicle. Our aim to offer flexible hire terms that suit the needs of residents. We shall also share this data with the Commonwheels organisation which operates the car management system on our behalf.

'Letters from the future' to be shown at Coop film festival

2011-09-10T14:36:59Z

Our recent film, 'Letters from the Future' will be shown at the Coop Film festival on 7 October at the National Media Museum in Bradford.The film was made by four Ashton Hayes girls - Eleanor Hart 13, Emily Hopkins 11, Grace Owen 11 all of Ashton Hayes and Bella Ball 11 from Mouldsworth. It was produced by Elizabeth Barlow (Bootcamp) and coordinated by Kate Harrison. The filmed was financed by a £4000 grant from DECC under the Low Carbon Communities programme.

The Co-op Film Festival is a non-competitive and not-for-profit youth initiative run by The Co-operative to encourage young people to co-operate, develop creativity and express themselves. It is one of the longest running film festivals in the country and a huge celebration of young people’s creative film-making! It’s been going for a massive 45 years.