Bristol Community Building Fund

Guidance and Eligibility

Heating, lighting and insulation grants for community buildingsin Bristol

Introduction

Bristol City Council(BCC) in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE)is running a£20,000 grant scheme to help communities in Bristol reduce their energy use.

The aim of the grant scheme, funded by BCC and administered by CSE, is to help community groups carry out simple but effective energy efficiency improvements in community buildings, after carrying out their own energy audits. The maximum award per group will be £4,000.

As part of the scheme, groups will be provided with a template and guidance for carrying out an energy audit of their community building, from which they will be able to identify energy saving improvements that will reduce the building’s CO2 emissions.Improvements could include things like low energy lighting, heating improvements, draught proofing and insulation, which can have significant impacts on reducing energy use and fuel bills.

These notes outline the eligibility criteria and the application process – please ensure you have read them thoroughly before submitting your application.

Guidance for applicants

To qualify for a grant, you need to demonstrate that:

1) You are a legitimate, not-for-profit community or voluntary group with a bank account (schools and publically owned buildings will not be eligible).

2) Your community building is geographically located within the BCC local authority boundary.

3) You have undertaken a full energy audit of the building using the format, checklist and guidance prepared by CSE and available to download at the requested energy efficiency improvements are appropriate in this context.

4) You are able to spend the money by the end of March 2015.

5) You are willing for BCC or CSE to use your project as a case study for publicity purposes – which may include photographs and quotes for press releases.

Grant awards

  • The scheme will award a maximum grant of £4,000 per building.
  • Grants will be assessed based on the carbon emission reductions they are likely to achieve.
  • Only exceptional projects will get the grant maximum. We’d like to award grants to as many buildings as possible so applications for low cost improvements that achieve high carbon savings are most likely to be successful.
  • Projects that can demonstrate they have matched funding will be strongly welcomed.
  • Actual amounts awarded will depend on the improvements approved and quotes obtained.

Eligible measures

The scheme will fund the installation of simple energy saving improvements to community buildings including, but not limited to:

  • Lighting upgrades (e.g. PIR sensors, LED lighting)
  • Heating system upgrades (e.g. improved heating controls, boiler upgrade)
  • Insulation (e.g. loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, floor insulation)
  • Draught proofing (e.g. automatic door closers, window/door seals)
  • Energy efficient appliances (e.g. point of use water heaters, replacement kitchen appliances)

All measures will be considered on a case by case basis.The grant will cover the full costs, or part fund a larger energy upgrade where matched funding can be demonstrated.

What is not eligible under this scheme

The Bristol Community Building Fund is not designed to part-fund major building renovations or renewable energy technologies.

This is because improving energy efficiency is a more effective way to achieve carbon reductions in community buildings, and energy efficiency measuresshould always be the first step before considering renewable technology.

If you are looking at renewable energy as a next step, there is guidance available on the CSE and PlanLoCaL websites.See

Application process

/ Download the application form and information documents from the CSE website:
/ Use the templates and guidance notes to carry out an energy audit of your community building.
/ Identify appropriate energy saving improvements and seek a minimum of two quotes for getting the work done.
/ Submit your application form, completed energy audit and quotes, stating the preferred contractor for each measure.

Send the completed application form, together with supporting documentation, to CSE by email () or post (Bristol Community Building Fund, CSE, 3 St Peter’s Court, Bedminster Parade, Bristol BS3 4AQ)

For telephone enquiries please call0117 9341400.

Decisions process

Your application will be checked for:

  • Group eligibility (location, type of group, constitution)
  • Use of facility (extent of building usage and number of beneficiaries)
  • Suitability of proposed measures (based on energy audit undertaken by the group)
  • Expected carbon reduction to be achieved
  • Costs (quotes or evidence of cost have been obtained,your preferred quote for each measure is indicated, the costs of proposed improvements are reasonable, and the total requested is not more than £4,000).

Applications will be accepted from 1 September2014 until 19 December 2014, or until the whole grant pot has been awarded, whichever is sooner. Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis – grants for successful applicants will be awarded on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. You will be informed about the decision within four weeks of submitting your application.Grants will be paid viaBACS.A confirmation email will be sent upon payment.

Future contact

CSE will store your information in a central database and will not share your details with other organisations. You will be added to our mailing list to receive CSE’s community update newsletter by email, which includes case studies and funding opportunities that could support your group. Please indicate on the application form if you do not want to receive these updates.

BCCor CSE may contact you directly for the purposes of publicity, photographs and writing up case studies. BCC may also contact you to arrange a visit to check that the grant was spent appropriately.