Local Energy
Ashton Hayes Goes Carbon Neutral
UK
The tightly-knit community of Ashton Hayes, located in rural Cheshire, is trying to become the first completely carbon neutral town in England. Since the project began in 2006, they have significantly cut back CO2 emissions – in part by running their own community-owned renewable energy company. Today, representatives from towns around the world are traveling to Ashton Hayes to learn from their model. Learn more at Ashton Hayes’ website or by reading “English Village Becomes Climate Leader by Quietly Cleaning Up Its Own Patch” in the New York Times.
Photo by Andrew (CC BY 2.0)
http://www.goingcarbonneutral.co.uk
Atelier Non-Electric
Japan
Yasuyuki Fujimura, an engineer and inventor in Japan, was convinced that the increasing domination of electrical technology was accelerating both stress and environmental destruction. In order to counter this problem, he started The Atelier Non-Electric in 2003, with a later branch in South Korea. Fujimura’s philosophy is based on the idea that “it should be possible to live happily and richly while enjoying a moderate level of comfort and convenience without depending on electricity”.
Bali Appropriate Technology Institute (BATI)
Indonesia
At this center in Tabanan, Bali, founder Rus Alit demonstrates microhydroelectric and biogas generators, ram pumps, systems to filter, store and heat water, aquaponics, and wastewater treatment systems. He runs multi-day experiential workshops at the site and travels to villages around the world to teach about simple, low-cost, place-based water and energy technologies. Read more about BATI’s work in this Medium article on water sovereignty.
https://medium.com/local-futures/community-scale-water-sovereignty-part-iii-fefe60896177
Brooklyn Microgrid
USA
Residents in two neighborhoods in Brooklyn, New York are developing an electricity microgrid where residents can buy and sell locally produced renewable energy via a networked grid of rooftop solar arrays. The system will first function as a backup during power outages, and members hope to eventually develop a completely self-sufficient energy system for their neighborhood – and see virtual peer-to-peer energy trading implemented throughout the country. Learn more on the Brooklyn Microgrid website and in this Medium article.
https://www.brooklyn.energy/about
Building A Local Economy (BALE)
USA
BALE engages in a number of grassroots community localization initiatives from their home base in the White River watershed of Vermont. The overarching goal of these efforts is “to build appropriately scaled solutions from the ground up, taking back, as much as possible, our economy, our culture, and our democratic instruments by re-injecting humanity and authentic relationships into all that we do.” Projects include The Commons @ BALE (a community space open to all and used most evenings of the year), a community solar initiative, a local investment club, a documentary film series, and a Locally Grown Guide to local businesses. Learn about these projects and more at https://balevt.org.