Low Carbon Zone: Ham and Petersham

11.41.58am GMT Mon 25th Jan 2010

• AT least 500 families living in Ham and Petersham will have their homes energy audited, to show how they could save money and energy, when the two villages in Richmond upon Thames join London's low carbon zones.

Funding of £344,000 was secured last year from the Mayor of London, and another £100,000 from British Gas, to reduce the area's carbon footprint; making it a cleaner, greener place to live. Richmond Council has also set aside £165,000 for the project. The zone aims to cut carbon emissions by 23 per cent by mid-2012 and 60 per cent by 2025.

Residents will be able to sign up for a free audit on Thursday 4 February when a reception* for local people will take place in Grey Court School's Ingenium. This will explain all the benefits on offer to those in the zone. It will be led by Cllr GEOFF ACTON, Richmond Council's Cabinet Member for Environment; more than 50 people are expected to attend to hear what will be on offer.

Councillor Acton said: "The Low Carbon Zone initiative is an exciting project, not only will it benefit the environment in Ham and Petersham but it will enable residents to improve their households, making them warmer, more efficient and cheaper to run. We're very grateful to the Mayor and British Gas for their support which means we can bring together really significant help for local people. I hope it will set a precedent for the rest of London to follow as we turn this area into a model village for greener living."

When the zone is fully up and running, residents will be able to use online meter reading software from Oxford University which allows people to compare their household with others in the zone. Each participant will also be given a real time energy display to identify energy waste. Trained street champions in the zone will be a point of reference and will help out neighbours with their energy saving queries. Demonstration homes will allow local residents to see how equipment works and how much money and energy can be saved.

Easily installed measures identified in each home's energy audit will be installed where possible in all participating households. These include: Hot water cylinder jacket, energy efficient light bulbs, reflective radiator panels, real-time energy display, standby saver, draught proofing, tap aerators, low flow shower heads, 'Hippos' for reducing water usage in toilets, reusable bags, a pedometer and bus/cycle maps.

Also available are loans or grants to help pay for more efficient household equipment like boilers, based on the level of CO2 saved. Residents and businesses will be given advice on upgrading appliances, insulation and energy-generation through solar panels. The reception will include presentations to inform residents and businesses about what will be available as part of the project. There will also be the opportunity to ask the zone co-ordinator and project partners any questions.

A Low Carbon Zone (LCZ) is a community-led approach to cutting carbon emissions in the capital. Residents, schools and businesses will also make substantial savings on their utility bills by making their buildings more energy efficient. Residents are encouraged to register for support online via the Richmond Low Carbon Zone website

The project is funded by the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London but extra funding to invest in renewable energy measures has awarded by British Gas as part of its Green Streets challenge, where community groups across the UK are competing to save and generate energy. Other partners include Richmond Environment Network, Ham United Group, London Sustainability Exchange and Oxford University.

Related Links:

• Richmond Low Carbon Zone

• Ham and Petersham sign up for British Gas Green Streets challenge [RTT 18th January]

• Finalists in Britain's greenest community compete for title [Mirror Jan 18]

• Housing estate in Balham wins £100,000 for green makeover in energy competition [Mark Prigg, Standard]