We were pleased to welcome Molli Cleaver, President of Reading University Students’ Union, to our 2020 AGM, to hear about her work to support and encourage the University to become greener.  Below is a transcript of her speech:

What sustainability means for our students

 Good evening, my name is Molli and I am the President of Reading University Students’ Union. We are separate to the University but work very closely on collaborative projects that aim to enhance the student experience and make the University a better place for staff, students and the local community. Part of my job is to be the lead on sustainability at RUSU, ensuring it is embedded and considered in all of our actions. I’ve been asked by Dan [Fernbank] to come and talk to you this evening about what sustainability means for our students.

I want to start by saying sustainability is at the heart of the University and RUSU; recently I think this has been driven by the student desire to live more sustainably and for our campuses to be more environmentally friendly. As a student at the University of Reading who graduated in July, I’ve certainly noticed that sustainability has become a higher priority for our whole community and I’m going to speak for the next few minutes about what we are achieving together.

Click here to read the full presentation.

Following its successful first year of operation, RCES is extending its portfolio of buildings to cover a radius of 10 miles from the centre of Reading. As a consequence, the Society is seeking owners and users of suitable buildings to have renewable energy facilities (such as solar and possibly other technologies) installed on their buildings at no cost.

Building owners and users will benefit through:

• RCES purchasing and installing the renewable energy facility at no cost to the building owner;
• The building owner/tenant will be able to purchase electricity generated at a preferential price, guaranteed for 20 years;
• Demonstrably supporting the uptake of low carbon technologies, and supporting local community initiatives through the Community Fund
• Optionally, invest in the scheme itself, to benefit from the projected shareholder returns

Buildings that are particularly suitable for partnership with RCES include:

• those medium or large buildings (with suitable roof space of greater than 100 m² requiring an installation of over 10kW)
• those that have a single occupier and a single electric meter
• those using most of the electricity generated
• roofs that are largely south-east to south-west facing and unshaded, of a construction that will enable safe installation of these panels.

The buildings that are most likely to fit into these criteria include schools and colleges, offices, museums, medical centres, care homes and leisure centres, as well as commercial buildings such as factories, technology centres and retail stores.

Download further information here or contact us 

 

The Amersham Road community centre has recently been refurbished, extended and reopened as The Weller Centre. They now have an electronic display showing real time solar power generation and total generation. The centre will be a great asset in the local community and is being managed by Catalyst Housing association who are very grateful to both RCES and Energy4All for the benefit that they now receive from the solar installation.

Your friendly Reading board members – working hard on the co-ops behalf at a board meeting held on Wednesday 11th January.

They were planning the AGM and starting to think about what they want to achieve in the future and are on the lookout for more future renewable energy and energy saving projects in Reading.

From Left – Right: Cllr Rachel Eden, John Malone, Dan Fernbank, Clare Sharp, Tony Cowling, Rachael Hunter, Tony Hoskins, Cllr Liz Terry.

The founders of Berkshire Energy Pioneers are delighted to that their work has resulted in the first the community renewable energy scheme for Reading

Berkshire Energy Pioneers are continuing the successful work of Reading Energy Pioneers who first formed in 2009 as a neighbourhood group. They reformed in 2015 and many members now sit on the Reading Energy board.

 

We are delighted to announce that our second solar installation has been completed.

The installation is hosted by the Caversham Park Village Association on two buildings at the Milestone Centre.

 

 

Reading Community Energy Share Offer Filled

RCES share offer is now closed as it is oversubscribed!

Thank you!

Our first PV installation is now complete – please see image below,  with more to installations follow.

Click here for further information 

 

Community Energy supporters urged to move quickly

• Support Reading’s first major solar scheme
• “Time is of the essence” before 15th July cut off date

Reading Community Energy Society

INVITES YOU TO BE A PART OF A COMMUNITY OWNED SOLAR PROJECT

Reading Community Energy Society (The Society) has launched an exciting new project to install solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roofs of community buildings in and around Reading funded by a Community Share Offer. The first of its kind in Reading.
The Society plans to deliver just over 350kW of solar PV over 16 community buildings including schools, places of worship and community centres. The main aim of the project is to help reduce energy bills of the community buildings involved, improve the sustainability of our community, reduce climate change emissions and improve energy security.
Tony Cowling, one of the Directors and founders of the scheme points out that it has several benefits. Benefitting the community is at the forefront of the project, the host buildings (all community buildings) will save money on their energy bills and eventually will inherit the panels. The scheme will also run a local community fund to support energy efficiency projects and tackle fuel poverty. The members of Reading Community Energy Society will also receive annual share interest.
Everyone living in Reading and in the rest of the UK will have the opportunity to join in the scheme, the minimum investment is £200.

The Society will need to raise £450,000 to complete the projects. The closing date for the scheme is 15th July, therefore time is of the essence if you wish to be involved. This is an opportunity for local people to invest in their community and to play a part in a greener, more sustainable environment whilst raising awareness more generally about the importance of being energy efficient.

For further information visit