Isle of Lewis leading the way with LED energy scheme
POINT and Sandwick on the Isle of Lewis is on track to become the first LED energy community in the UK after a project to cut carbon emissions beat its first-year targets.
The LED Energy Community project, being run by community wind farm charity Point and Sandwick Trust in partnership with Tighean Innse Gall (TIG), is reaching more households faster than it had hoped and is being hailed a ‘great success’.
The main element of the project is the offer of up to 14 free LED lightbulbs to every household, which has inspired other community estate trusts on the island to run similar projects.
As well as the free lightbulbs, which use a fraction of the power of traditional high energy bulbs and can cut annual bills by up to £100, residents are also being offered energy performance surveys on properties and advice on further useful steps including insulation. They are then guided through the application process.
Dan Morrison, the main project officer, was joined by colleague Amy Kapherr-Diament and between them they have managed to carry out 168 home visits in year one, exceeding the annual target of 140 households.
Some people have benefited from multiple home improvements as a result of contacting the LED Energy Community project team, including Catherine Macaulay from Sheshader.
Catherine’s daughter, Joan Malloch, was full of praise for the ‘caring, considerate and co- ordinated’ project team.
‘ We were really pleased with the improvements we were able to access through TIG and the LED Energy Community Project.
‘Installation of LEDs is going to significantly reduce our lighting bill and has made the home brighter for my mum.’