Ashton Hayes Going Carbon Neutral Project

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.

Their journey started in January 2006 and since then have already cut carbon dioxide emissions significantly - by working together, sharing ideas and through behavioural change. They now have a community owned renewable energy company.

The project's official launch was in Ashton Hayes Primary School on 26th January 2006 on a bitterly cold night. Nevertheless, around 400 people (75% of village adults) came to the meeting to show support and embark on behavioural changes to reduce their personal carbon footprint.

The project has drawn substantial support from local businesses and councils and from Professor Roy Alexander and his team from the University of Chester. Each summer, university students carry our door-to-door surveys asking residents questions about their lifestyle - domestic energy use, travel, holidays etc. Using this data, they compute their domestic footprint and that of the entire village. Residents are also giving feedback about the survey and guidance on what further actions they can take to cut their carbon emissions.

Five surveys have been carried our since the launch in 2006 and these reveal that the community has managed to cut its carbon emissions by 40% through behavioural changes such as switching off appliances and changing to low energy light bulbs. Some people have cut the costs of their energy bills 50% by focusing on improved insulation and careful energy use.

In 2007 the project won the IVCA Clarion Award for Climate Change Communications and the Energy Institute’s ‘Community Initiative Award’. In 2011 Garry Charnock was awarded Climate Week’s “Inspirational Leader of the Year Award” for his work in Ashton Hayes and with the City-based Carbon Leapfrog Charity.