The Executive gave a Sustainable Action Grant of £2856 (less than offered) to Angus Council towards providing heating from a renewable source for village halls in the Angus area. Whilst there had been a significant programme of improvement to village halls in Angus, a number of smaller halls still faced difficulties over their heating costs. This particularly applied to halls in more remote areas. Whilst these halls are important to their communities as they are often the only public facility, it is also the case that they are intermittently used. When they are used, they often have to be heated from "zero".
A number of halls approached Angus Council about this, and as a result Angus Council applied for a Sustainable Action Grant. This led to the formation of the Angus Village Halls' Renewable Energy Group, and the engagement of a consultant, Hugh Piggot of Scoraig Wind Electric.
Working with local people, Hugh examined 5 halls (Lethnot, Menmuir, Clova, Kilry and Isla) in terms of the halls' pattern of use, scope for improved insulation, and prospects for renewable energy sources. Proposals were made for each of these, but nothing is straightforward.
Clova offered great prospects for both wind and water power - but the hall was almost incapable of being insulated. Isla was suited to a small hydro/heat pump scheme, but residents were justifiably careful of using a burn which also serves as a water supply.
In three locations, viable and acceptable schemes were agreed, and costings examined:
- In Menmuir, a local burn was to be used for a pico-electric generator to operate a ground-source heat pump. This ground source heat pump would heat water to 30° C and circulate it under the floor of the hall. This would provide a "free" self-contained underfloor heating system.
- In Lethnot, the hall's open southerly aspect favoured the use of a Nuaire system within the attic which draws solar warmth out of the roof slates and circulates it.
- In Glenisla, there was the prospect of a joint Council/community wind turbine to power both the primary school and the community hall.
A significant result of this grant was not simply that these proposals were developed. In addition to the halls being heated, there is now a group of around eight people who have become knowledgeable about renewable energy and this knowledge is being spread to other community projects - energy evenings, up-take campaigns for free central-heating for older people, further halls becoming involved in heating and design discussions which prioritise renewable energy sources.
The group learned a number of lessons:
- that wind is the solution less often than one might expect
- that small burns with a steep drop offer better prospects and fewer complications than rivers
- that "technical talk" should not be allowed to get in the way of people actually understanding things
- that the whole community needs to be briefed, to ensure that worries do not set in.
This grant was much appreciated and led to three viable projects, an energetic energies group, and a number of related local developments.
Contact
Area Community Education Officer, Angus Council, Bruce House, Wellgate, Arbroath, Angus. DD11 3TE
Telephone: 01241 435132