Take action today

It is everyone’s responsibility to take action to tackle climate change. Residents and businesses can play a vital role in tackling climate change here in York.

Download a copy of the ‘Creating a Sustainable York' leaflet today.

The guide offers useful tips on how to:

• save energy, money and improve your home
• take smarter travel choices
• re-use and recycle
• compost and grow you own food
• create a sustainable business

Printed copies are also available by telephoning (01904) 551550.

Businesses should also visit the York Environmental Business Support Website. This website is part of the regional Environmental Business Support Programme that has been developed to provide resources and tools to help businesses in York to go green, minimise waste, carbon emissions and costs. 

Generate your own electricity from renewable energy sources 

In partnership with the council, your local Energy Saving Trust can offer advice to help you understand how to generate your own energy and save money on your fuel bills. They can offer advice on:

• renewable energy technologies including solar electricity, solar water, wind turbines, ground and air source heat pumps
• the best options for your home
• how to generate an income from producing your own electricity with the new clean energy cash back incentive. In some instances householders might be able to earn £721 a year from electricity generated from solar PV panels and a further £100 a year on current energy bills (Source: Yorkshire Energy Partnership)
• possible eligibility for free loft or cavity wall insulation thanks to local grants available in the area (subject to a survey)

Call free on 0800 512 012 or visit the renewable energy pages of  Sustainability4Yorkshire website or the Energy Saving Trust website

For planning advice on installing renewable energy visit the planning pages of this website.

The Green Neighbourhood Challenge

The challenge is on, and City of York Council is working with a community group in Fulford to take part in the next phase of the Green Neighbourhood Challenge.

The carbon cutting campaign, which runs until January 2012, challenges community groups to take part in a sub-regional competition to achieve a reduction in their carbon footprint by the end of 2011.

The campaign will also raise awareness of low carbon lifestyles – with the hope of earning the highly regarded title of North Yorkshire’s ‘Greenest Neighbourhood Team’.

Throughout the challenge, Sustainability 4 Yorkshire will work with seven community groups, one from each local authority area, to explore how they can reduce energy usage at home, in their community and in their everyday lives. This in turn will cut emissions and save them money. The potential to install renewable energy will also be explored. A new York and North Yorkshire Green Neighbourhood Challenge website has been set up to support the communities taking part.

This challenge is based on the York Green Neighbourhood Challenge held in 2010. This challenge was delivered by the Stockholm Environment Insitute on behalf of the Environment Partnership Board. This challenge worked with six teams in York to reduce their carbon footprint by 10%. Each team calculated their carbon footprint and were given an action plan to reduce it. Each team also had a mentor and practical advice on energy, transport, recycling and composting.  Teams met on a monthly basis to gain knowledge, share experiences and have fun. 

For more details on this previous campaign please visit the Climate Talk website.

Community action

Community groups can also take action together to help tackle climate change. The York and North Yorkshire Green Neighbourhood Challenge website contains practical guides and advice on how communities can work together to reduce carbon emissions. Communities can also use this website's download pages to create their own community challenge and pledges.