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Located in rural Cheshire, Ashton Hayes is a well knit community of about 1000 people that is aiming to become England's first carbon neutral community. We started our journey in January 2006 and since then we have already cut our carbon dioxide emissions significantly - by working together, sharing ideas and through behavioural change. We now have our community owned renewable energy company.
This website encapsulates our journey towards carbon neutrality and offers free advice and guidance. Please feel free to use anything from our website (we'd like a credit if you can).
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at 1:30PM We are sad that we are having to sell our 1 year old Nissan Leaf but we shall use the money to buy new community renewables. If you are interested in buying the car, please contact Kate Harrison
Here are some photos of the vehicle, which has hardly done 2000 miles. Some more details here too
Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at 1:20PM As part of the LEAF project run by AHCE we commissioned the New Economics Foundation to examine how we could quantify the social benefits associated with our project. Our report makes fascinating and useful reading and might help other like-minded communities assess the impacts of sustainable living. Thanks to the NEF for all their effort and public engagement.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at 12:52PM Things are moving fast in Ashton Hayes with the installation of low carbon buildings and community owned PV arrays on public buildings. In order to manage the 'business side' of our village operations we have formed the Ashton Hayes Community Energy - a Community Interest Company (AHCE CIC). Our friends at Carbon Leapfrog gave us advise on setting up this organisation which currently has a Board made up of volunteers and we are now opening our membership to residents who wish to get involved with this interesting and pioneering social enterprise. Our overall aim is to promote renewable energy, lower carbon living and sustainable lifestyles - and work closely with other community organisations such as the village shop, recreation field and the Parish Council. AHCE has just completed work on its LEAF project and we plan to share the findings with like minded communities.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 3:31PM We are sadly having to part company with our Nissan Leaf as we have not achieved the level of membership to enable us to run the car effectively in 2012. We are keen to sell it to another community or Local resident. The proceeds will be invested in projects that make our village more sustainable and reduce carbon. The key problem seems to be that, in a village with no public transport, most people are geared up with independent transport and hiring the car is not proving an attractive proposition. We tried! Email one of our team if you are interested. (see contacts)
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 3:26PM The Community Energy Online site run by DECC is featuring us this month. See the following link for details.
http://ceo.decc.gov.uk/en/ceol/cms/case_studies/case_studies.aspx
