Nethermills Hydro Scheme opens its door

We are excited to be taking part in Doors Open Day 2022 by offering tours of Nethermills Hydro Scheme on the River Ayr on September 11th.

Opened in March 2022 this is a unique opportunity to see inside this amazing facility owned by Energy Agency Renewables Ltd, which is generating green energy to the neighbouring Ayrshire College with excess sold to the electricity grid. Proceeds will be used to fund projects aiming to reduce fuel poverty in the area.

Guided tours available at 11am, 12 noon, 2pm and 3pm, lasting 45 minutes.

The amazing Home Energy Scotland team will be available offering free energy advice and the cafe in the college will be open for refreshments.

Contact Alison to book 01292 525512

Visit the Doors Open Days Website HERE

CARES Conference 2022: Community Climate Action | Tuesday 27 September

 

Join Local Energy Scotland on Tuesday 27 September in Scotland’s Climate Week to find out how communities can take climate action with the support of the Scottish Government’s Communtiy and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES).

Plenary sessions will look at the global challenges around energy costs and climate change, and you’ll hear from the communities that are making a difference at a local level. Patrick Harvie MSP, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights, will deliver a keynote speech. You’ll also hear inspirational case studies as well as the policy behind the action.

In-depth ‘how to’ sessions will look at some of the key skills and actions needed to drive change. The day closes with a funding surgery where you can find out about the financial support that CARES offers.

Be inspired and find out what your communtiy can do to make a difference.

Find out more.

Local Energy Scotland and CARES

Local Energy Scotland is a consortium made up of Energy Saving Trust, Changeworks, the Energy Agency and SCARF. We administer and manage the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES).

CARES supports communities to engage with, participate in and benefit from the energy transition to net zero emissions.

CARES aims to accelerate progress towards the Scottish Government’s targets of 2GW of community and locally owned energy by 2030 and decarbonising Scotland’s buildings. This is achieved through funding and support for community groups to install renewable energy generation.

www.localenergy.scot

Vacancy - Customer Service Advisor

Energy Agency is a dynamic organisation and independent charity, promoting energy efficiency awareness and renewable energy in the domestic, business and community sectors throughout South West Scotland.

Since 2008 we have held the contract for the Home Energy Scotland advice centre for South West Scotland. One of a network of five in Scotland; these centres are funded by the Scottish Government and managed by the Energy Saving Trust.

Providing free, impartial advice to help householders save energy and money, our Home Energy Scotland advice centre south west covers the local authority areas of North, South and East Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway.

We offer a rewarding career where you can make a real difference to people’s lives while also helping to tackle the climate change emergency.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Post Title                   Customer Service Advisor

Salary                        £21,407 (SCP31) per annum plus contributory pension.

Contract Length      To 31st March 2023 with potential extension

Workplace                Energy Agency, Watson Peat Building, Auchincruive, Ayr KA6 5HW
                                  (We offer hybrid working, however initial training will be office based)

Responsible to         Operations Officer of Home Energy Scotland advice centre south west 

Primary Purpose 

Customer Service Advisors are employed on the Home Energy Scotland contract, based at the Energy Agency and promote energy efficiency messages to householders in Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway.

You will be part of a friendly and supportive team in our small but busy call centre. A target focussed environment dealing with both inbound and outbound advice calls there is no selling or cold calling involved. You will support our customers by providing independent and impartial advice about how to keep warm and save energy and money in their homes. In addition, we operate an extensive events calendar throughout the year covering a wide variety of events across the area where we deliver energy efficiency advice face to face with customers.

Our aim is to deliver a world class advice service and everyone has a part to play in that. But don’t worry, we don’t need you to know everything, you bring the enthusiasm and we provide the training. We have an extensive 6-8 week training plan which includes a City & Guilds and SQA qualification to ensure you have all the knowledge you need to advise our customers.

To read more or to apply click here

Climate Fringe Festival launches – Scotland’s call for action on climate change

Press Release 11 August 2022

The Climate Fringe Festival, a diverse community-led series of events to build support for climate action, is taking place across Scotland this September.

The festival aims to bring communities together, generate conversation about Climate Justice, and raise awareness of the need to move towards a green, fair, zero carbon society.

A variety of groups across Scotland will take part in the Climate Fringe Festival. Over 50 events have already signed up, with more added each week.  The full calendar can be found on the Climate Fringe website.

• The Highland Good food Partnership: Local and Sustainable Food Systems Workshops –  The Shieling Project Dunmaglass Struy, Beauly – 24th September
  

“The workshops will focus on our food system and the impact it has on our climate, with demonstrations on lowering food waste, fermentation, community funding support and creating sustainable farming. We will discuss how the partnership can support individuals and organisations to create a local food system that is better for the planet, better for people and better for producers.” Josie Fraser, HGFP

• Magic Us! Aberdeen: Share and Repair Workshop – location tbc – 10th September
  
  “We’re really excited to be running our first Share and Repair community repair shop and skills share. Our event will see local craftspeople and businesses in Aberdeen offering their help to repair items that have seen better days, as well as sharing these skills with our group gathering local autistic teens and their parents, carers and friends. We believe in the ‘right to repair’ and strive to mobilise our local community into a movement of ‘sharing and repairing’”
  
• Queers for Climate Justice Gathering – Glasgow Autonomous Space – 17th September
  
  “Through a series of workshops and a communal meal – we will bring together queer identifying people in Glasgow who want to find out how they can take action on climate in their communities. Providing free accessible space to marginalised groups and those who need it, including lgbtqa++ people as well as refugees and migrants.” Tami Pein, Queer Climate Arts Glasgow

Nick Cullen, Climate Fringe Coordinator at Stop Climate Chaos Scotland said: 

“Now more than ever, it’s so important that local communities are coming together to take action on climate change: with record breaking temperatures and the cost of living scandal, community resilience can help build towards a just and green world. We are really excited about the Climate Fringe Festival, showcasing the amazing communities and climate projects across scotland. Together we can put pressure on decision makers to deliver real change almost a year on from COP26 in Glasgow.”

The Climate Fringe Festival is being coordinated by Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, a diverse coalition of over 60 non-profit organisations, with many further organisations supporting the festival itself.

Groups who are interested in getting involved are encouraged to visit the Climate Fringe website to download a toolkit, upload their event to our calendar, and check out the range of events already planned.