Low Carbon West Oxford

Low Carbon West Oxford (LCWO) funds and supports low carbon sustainable living initiatives in West Oxford, with the objective of achieving a 90% reduction in carbon emissions in the community by 2050. West Oxford Community Renewables (WOCORE (formerly WOCR)), an industrial and provident society, is its sister organisation which develops renewable energy projects in the community and will donate surpluses from these to (non-profit) LCWO.

LCWO was set up in November 2007 and brought together a number of local environmental initiatives. It became a registered charity in March 2010 and now has a core group of around six volunteers. LCWO has also employed a paid executive officer who works 2 days on LCWO and 1.5 on WOCORE each week to deal with core administration tasks.

LCWO has engaged around 250 volunteers, members and supporters from the community. Many people in the community are environmentally aware and active and the area has strong community networks.  LCWO is seeking to build on this with a database of volunteers’ interests and skills, and it has developed a volunteer charter which outlines LCWO and volunteer expectations.

£70,000 of the £100,000 BGC runners-up prize money was given to WOCORE, with the remaining £30,000 going to LCWO. WOCORE was also awarded DECC Low Carbon Communities Challenge funding of £730,000 in 2010, has received sponsorship from various sources, and has raised over £30,000 from 90 shareholders. It invests the capital in community renewable energy projects, which so far total 173kWp and comprise solar PVs on community buildings (including a local school and supermarket).

Cheaper electricity from these installations is sold to the building/land owners, with FiTs returned to WOCORE and any profits to be donated to LCWO to fund further carbon reduction projects in the community. WOCORE has also commissioned a full design study for a 49kWe micro-hydro installation at Osney Weir (planned for construction in 2012, and has imminent plans for 70kW of solar PV and two 6kWe wind turbines.

LCWO projects remain similar to during the BGC. 60 more households are taking part in the Low Carbon Living Programme this year in which individuals adopt behaviour pledges to reduce their carbon footprint. With support from a Grassroots grant, LCWO has developed its carbon measurement using its ‘Quicksilver’ Carbon Calculator to conduct baseline and follow up footprints, alongside use of smart meters and regular fuel and mileage readings to get a full picture of the reductions households are making.

To make carbon reduction as accessible as possible, LCWO has offered grants and highlighted other subsidised services and financial support available to residents. Small grants are even available for child-care to enable people taking part in the programme to attend workshops. Since the BGC, LCWO has helped set up Hogacre Common CIC, focused on trees and wildlife, and 1100 trees have been planted already. Other initiatives around transport, waste reduction and sustainable food have also continued.

Both LCWO and WOCORE are working with Oxford City Council to pilot the repetition of the model across other communities in Oxford.