Community members in Newcastle under Lyme are about to kick off their second round of energy saving projects, following ‘Carbon Crush II' - Newcastle's version of MEA's carbon college scheme. Ideas generated by the group include a touring energy education station, DIY solar hot water family fun days, a Newcastle Cycle Hub scheme and, building on last year's Carbon Crush community project, a new larger-scale rainwater collection system.

Between March and May 2009, Newcastle Carbon Crushers have been joining in with a series of energy workshops through MEA's Carbon College scheme. The group have been finding out how to cut carbon emissions and, with help and inspiration from MEA staff, have been coming up with a huge number of ideas for community projects that can help people save energy, cut bills and reduce the town's carbon footprint.

Following lengthy discussions, four ideas have been selected to take forward.

A touring energy education station will provide information about saving energy at home and will be sited in a range of community buildings throughout the town. Alongside a low energy lighting display and information sheets about household insulation grants, the highlight of the exhibition is hoped to be a solar powered phone charging station.

Inspired by schemes such as the Paris Velib freedom bike scheme (as shown in the photograph), a second project idea is for a Newcastle cycle hub scheme. The cycle hubs will provide low or no-cost cycle hire, giving people a convenient way to travel around the town without driving.

The Heritage Centre in Newcastle will realise the potential of its huge roof, providing rainwater as a back up supply for the solar powered rainwater irrigation system set up by last year's Carbon College scheme.

Lastly, a DIY solar project is to be investigated. If pilot models are successful, the idea is to run a family fun day, offering basic equipment and full assistance to set families off in building their own solar hot water systems in a renewable energy version of scrap heap challenge.

Nancy Davies, MEA Project Manager for Carbon College said ‘I wish the project team all the best in setting up their exciting projects. They should all be a huge asset to the community in Newcastle'.

For more information about this project, or to find out more about MEA's Carbon College workshops, please contact Nancy Davies:  nancy@mea.org.uk