The Welsh village of Llangattock in the Brecon Beacons National Park has been named the UK’s greenest community and won $100,000, in a challenge that encourages neighbourhoods to save and generate as much energy as possible.
To win the prize the community team undertook an audit of the energy efficiency of the whole community, explains Gren Ham, founder of the group who drove the Llangattock project. “We have also established woodland groups, improved biodiversity to create local firewood and four hydro systems have been designed for the village.” Mr Ham said.
Working towards becoming carbon negative the community has installed a solar power electricity system in the Llangattock primary school, an air-source heat pump in the village hall, and insulation, solar panels, biomass boilers and multi-fuel stoves to improve energy efficiency in individual homes. One hundred of the 400 homes in Llangattock have already been “greened” in this way, with plans for more to come.
The British Gas Green Streets Community Challenge has been about helping people to act as trailblazers to inspire others, explained managing director of British Gas new markets Gearoid Lane.
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