Going green is the theme at charity’s award event

The Eco Hub in Gamlingay was the venue for the event, where South Cambs District Council outlined its bid to win a national award.

The council has been named as the regional winner of the Community Footprint Award 2012-13 for its project which helps residents to make their homes warmer and cheaper to run.

Having scooped the accolade from the National Energy Action (NEA) charity for the East Anglia region, the council was among nine finalists competing for the national award at the event on Friday.

Fuel poverty charity the NEA and the Department for Energy & Climate Change challenged the finalists to state their cases for winning the award.

The council triumphed regionally through its Sustainable Parish Energy Partnership (SPEP).

District councillors and volunteers from SPEP – who have put on a series of energy days in Gamlingay and other villages to spread awareness – took turns to present their case.

The council has already been awarded £2,000 which it is using to produce a fun and interactive display to demonstrate how villagers can make their homes greener and cheaper to run.

Councillor Sebastian Kindersley, member for Gamlingay on Cambridgeshire County and South Cambs District councils, said: “The Eco Hub in Gamlingay is a great example of how modern technology can help make a building very environmentally friendly.

“Transforming older properties has different challenges but council officers and volunteers in the partnership have had huge success in helping residents think hard about a greener future.”

Councillor Bridget Smith, South Cambs District Council member for Gamlingay, said: “Some energy efficiency improvements on homes can be costly, but the village energy days show that even small adjustments can have a really positive effect on giving you a warmer home that is lighter on the pocket.”

The overall national award winners will be announced at the end of March. For more information about the awards see www.nea.org.uk