; On 11th September, it was announced that the Isle of Eigg had made it into the last 10 of the Big Green Challenge, a NESTA lottery backed competition which will award £1million to a small number of the ten finalist communities which reduce their CO2 emissions by as much as possible, in innovative ways, which engage their community, and can be replicated elsewhere. We now have a year to put our plan into action starting from November 2008 & will be given £20,000 from NESTA to do so, for which match funding is being sought. Our project plan has two strands: 1. Fossil Fuel Energy Descent The Trust’s proposal is to reduce CO2 emissions over the 12 months by focusing on high CO2 emitting fossil fuels of ~ Coal & Kerosene – burnt to heat residents’ homes and water. ~ Diesel – used in the renewable electric grid back up generators and island vehicles. The methods to reduce CO2 from these three fuels on Eigg will focus on: ~ Developing alternative methods of space and water heating through; Providing access to good quality wood fuel as an alternative to coal/kerosene and, in the longer term, developing a woodland management scheme to harvest local timber for wood fuel. The installation of pilot solar thermal panels systems on three island homes and in the Pier Centre, with the expectation that this can be replicated in the future. ~ Transport; focusing on; Reducing the use of island vehicles through provision of an all year round mini bus, run in part on recycled chip oil. Encouraging more walking and cycling, the latter through financial incentives to help bike or electric bike purchase. Reducing need for 4x4 vehicles required by creating more passing places on the road. Reducing the amount of waste going into the skip through recycling, reducing and composting, thus reducing the number of times the skip lorry comes to Eigg to take the skip to landfill. A reduction of waste to landfill will also reduce Eigg’s methane emissions Offering visitors who normally come by car to Eigg, and chose instead to use public transport, discounts on their accommodation. Encouraging residents to make low CO2 travel choices for mainland journeys. Replace diesel post van with an electric van. ~ Electricity conservation, to reduce need for generator back up, particularly in the summer through standby switch off, low energy light bulbs, voluntary electrical load spread and other conservation methods. ~ Energy efficiency and conservation in domestic, business and community facilities through insulation, draught proofing and other initiatives. 2. An education and outreach programme called “Build Your OWN Green Island” John Donne wrote “no man is an island”. Our project plan starts from the principle that if every individual on this island does their bit to reduce use of fossil fuel, what we achieve as a community is more than the sum of its parts. It becomes a way of life. ~ A family home in a suburb of Anytown is an island of mum, dad and 2.4 children ~ We live on an island of 86 people ~ A tower block is an island made up of flats ~ A bird watching club is an island of people who share an interest If all those living on these ‘islands’ agree to collectively do their bit through individual choices and actions, then the sum total it achieves becomes a way of life and an example to others. Through an extensive outreach and education programme, the Isle of Eigg will support people across the UK to build their own green island, using on and offline toolkits, events, and multi-media applications based on our experience of reducing CO2 over a 12 month period. A social network style website will have a user generated content section where people can put up their own Wikis, photographs, diaries, video diaries etc, growing week by week into a community of Green Islands, each sharing its own inspiration, activities, successes and advice. Build Your OWN Green Island will make benefit of the fact that as islanders we have to live within limits, encouraging those who live elsewhere to set their own limits and try to work within them. Eigg, as the first Green Island will inspire others to do the same. WHAT IF WE WIN? If successful, we would propose to build upon what’s been achieved in the finalists’ year. We hope to win all, or a large part of the £1million prize, and with it and funds from other sources hope to undertake projects such as: ~ Install solar thermal panels in 15 other homes ~ Install additional PV panels to provide additional renewable energy during summer months ~ Install high efficiency wood fuel boilers in 6 houses ~ Build solar porches on 3 south facing elevations of older houses ~ Invest in wood fuel business - equipment and/or buildings ~ Eco-renovation programme of three Trust properties ~ Purchase an electric mini bus for Community Transport scheme ~ Purchase six electric vehicles to be leased to residents ~ Install an anaerobic digester to produce compost and further reduce waste ~ Support Build Your OWN Green Island towards self-sufficency with three year project fund ~ Undertake renewably powered water taxi service feasibility study ~ Run courses in conjunction with the island's Earth Connections Centre ~ Local food production and processing project TARGETS: Isle of Eigg targets for CO2 for emissions from fossils fuels used to provide electricity, space and water heating only. Tonnes of CO2 per household Before Eigg renewable grid, switched on Feb 2008 9.6 tonnes After renewable grid, but before finalists year – Feb 2008 to October 2008 6.2 tonnes Target for after the Big Green Challenge Year – November 2009 4 tonnes Target for 3 years after winning Big Green Challenge – October 2012 2.75 tonnes Total reduction per household 6.85 tonnes This would mean a percentage reduction of: Between November ’07 and November ’08 (the monitoring period) - reduction of 56% If our ultimate target of 2.75 tonnes is achieved, this would mean an overall reduction of 71% between November ’07 and November 2012.
Launch of Big Green Challenge at the Beach House Portobello Eigg Community Big Green Meal of local produce Friday 14th November 2008 Saturday 13th December 08 Click here for more information on NESTA & the Big Green Challenge Competition For more info on our progress ~ newsletter issue 1 issue 2 issue 3 issue 4
Giant’s Footstep Family Festival
The Isle of Eigg invites you to explore and celebrate all things ‘GREEN’ at our first Giant’s Footstep Family Festival.
Our family focused festival has talks and workshops on Eigg Electric and Findhorn’s electric schemes, Climate Change, Transition Towns, the Fife Diet local food project, and energy saving from Highland Energy Saving Scotland and Comrie Development Trust.
GIANT'S FOOTSTEP FAMILY FESTIVAL on the Isle of Eigg - the place to HAVE FUN while finding out what YOU can do to combat CLIMATE CHANGE.
Full Programme to be published soon
All day time events are FREE. Weekend ticket for Saturday night ceilidh - £12.00 full, £7.00 concession, under 16s free, on sale at www.thebooth.co.uk Come by Public Transport and you’ll get further discounts on food and other Eigg goodies while you’re here!
If you need any more information, please get in touch with Tasha Lancaster or Kathleen Millar Email: greenisland@isleofeigg.net Giant’s Footstep Festival is funded by: NESTA, Community Energy Scotland, The Climate Challenge Fund & Highland Council
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