The competition is about saving energy, generating energy and engaging the community.

The SusMo Green Streets project will install energy-saving and renewable energy measures at the Moor Green allotment site (managed by MADAHAL), in three community buildings – Moseley CofE School , Hamza Mosque and St. Mary’s Church and in 20 homes. The homes, selected by Moseley and District Churches Housing Association , Hamza Mosque and St. Mary’s Church to participate in the project, will be a mixture of tenures, income groups and ethnic backgrounds.

We asked for over £200,000 and measures under consideration, in addition to the 20 homes, include:

• photovoltaic panels on St Mary’s Church to provide renewable electricity, most of which would be fed back into the grid, generating income;
• a solar hot water system to heat water required for wudhu (washing before prayers, five times every day) at Hamza Mosque in Church Road;
• the installation of energy saving measures at Moseley Church of England Primary School such as thermostats, and on-site renewables such as solar panels;
• a feasibility study for MADAHAL to look at renewable energy options such as wind, photovoltaic cells, and renewable heating systems for the allotments pavilion, such as air source/ground source heat pumps, and biomass.

Following feasibility studies at each location, the most cost-effective measures for CO₂ emission-cuts will be chosen.

Moseley Community Development Trust will act as lead partner for the project and will host a SusMo community energy company, which will reinvest a portion of the savings and income generated through the installations provided by the SusMo Green Streets project. This will enable low interest loans for energy efficiency improvements in Moseley.

Andrew Hogan, Director of Communications, at British Gas , who sat on the judging panel, said: “The level of support within this community is outstanding. I was very impressed with the huge participation from across the area.

“To make Britain a greener place we need to build on the commitment and initiative of our communities. All the inspiring presentations we saw are proof of the passion, knowledge and energy that is out there in our communities. We were particularly encouraged by the strong focus that SusMo had on diversity and the ideas they had to involve the whole community.”

by Esther Boyd at blogs.birminghammail.net/lighterfootprints/

“One day, when inviting people to a meeting at our house and describing it as “the house with yellow, peeling paintwork” I was told that Jericho [0121 440 7919] would give us a quote for repairs and decorations. Jericho is a social enterprise, based in Balsall Heath, that offers a range of services, including training, work experience and employment for people who are disadvantaged in the labour market. They had already provided us with a solar panel and a new, efficient boiler (replacing one that was over 30 years old) and we were delighted with the care and skill they used in this further work.”

Esther Boyd, writing on the Birmingham Mail website.

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