Community Energy Online

Guidance on good practice, case studies and technologies 

The Carbon Trust publishes a series of free downloadable booklets (requiring online pre-registration) which draw on data from DECC’s “Low Carbon Buildings Programme”. See section on Key technologies and best practice

The individual brochures are: 

• Closing the Gap – about the importance of system design
• Low Carbon Refurbishment of Buildings - best practice on refurbishment
• Commissioning Building Systems - commissioning best practice
• Taking Control – on the role of control systems
• A Natural Choice – on using natural ventilation
• Green Gauges – best practice on metering and monitoring systems
• Down to Earth –  best practice and ground source heat pumps
• A Place in the Sun – best practice and solar PV (photovoltaics)
• Taking the Heat – best practice on biomass heat
• Power Play – best practice on retrofitting to existing buildings

Projects - Individual Case Studies

The Carbon Trust also offers a number of  video case studies based on projects funded by DECC’s Low Carbon Buildings Programme. 

• Local Government Association case studies
• Energy Saving Trust case studies
• Low Carbon Buildings Programme case studies (in text format) 

Area-based approaches for local authorities

• Energy Saving Trust guide to area approaches

Bulk-buying to cut costs

• Low Carbon Buying Group

Information and guidance on the individual energy technologies

District Heating

• DECC website
• Local Government Association: Compare Renewables
• Energy Saving Trust 

Combined Heat and Power

• DECC website
• Local Government Association: Compare Renewables
• Energy Saving Trust

Energy from waste

• DECC website
• Local Government Association: Compare Renewables

Heat pumps

• DECC website
• Local Government Association: Compare Renewables
• Energy Saving Trust 

Biomass

• DECC website
• Local Government Association: Compare Renewables
• Energy Saving Trust

Solar PV

• DECC website
• Local Government Association
• Energy Saving Trust

Hydropower

• DECC website
• Local Government Association: Compare Renewables
• Energy Saving Trust 

Wind turbines 

• DECC website
• Local Government Association: Compare Renewables
• Energy Saving Trust 

Solar thermal

• DECC website
• Energy Saving Trust

Further Useful Guidance

• London Heat Map an interactive tools that allows users to identify opportunities for decentralised energy projects in London.
• The Energy Saving Trust offers a wide range of useful information by searching their website under "Energy Services Directory" 
• An example feasibility study into locations for stand-alone wind turbines is available from the London Energy Partnership website.
• A variety of technologies are explained in the Community Energy Scotland Toolkit

Guidance on developing energy strategies

• More in-depth information on developing an energy strategy is available in the London Energy Partnership - 'Developing an Energy Action are' publication.
• The Energy Savings Trust provide information on developing a strategy in the NI 186 guide for local authorities.
• The Nottingham Declaration has a section on developing an action plan.

Guidance on developing a business plan

• Community Energy Online on developing a business plan
• London Energy Partnership - ‘Developing an Energy Action Area: A Beginner’s Guide’ (Section 9: Promotion and Marketing).

Guidance on project management

• The Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK) latest edition is for purchase only. However, the 1996 edition is available online.
• The Northwest Community Energy Organisation has developed a summary of typical project phases.

Guidance on setting up or contracting ESCO (energy services company)

• The London Energy Partnership outlines the types of ESCOs which can be established in Making ESCOs Work: Guidance and advice on setting up and delivering an ESCO.
• The Carbon Trust’s Good Practice Guide: Guidance on procuring energy services to deliver community heat and power schemes gives a thorough reporting on the procurement process with example documentation.

Guidance on ESCO development process

• The London Energy Partnership provides examples of different forms of ESCO development in the Making ESCOs Work: Guidance and advice on setting up and delivering an ESCO, Part A.