A new community project from the Somerset Eco-Centre will help residents reduce their carbon footprint and save money.

The new initiative launches in the autumn and will be piloted in selected communities across the county.

Director of the Eco Centre, a Somerset-based charitable Community Benefit Society, Steve Howell, told us “There’s an urgent to reduce our carbon emissions, climate change is already causing problems at home and across the world. But for many householders there is now a pressing need to find ways of saving money, and cutting down on energy use will be part of that. Our new project will help people to both save money and reduce their carbon footprint.”

A unique feature of the project will be that alongside the help for individual householders, there will be support for communities to work together to set up larger carbon and money saving local projects.

Anything from renewable energy, to repair and reuse, to food growing, to bulk buying to car share schemes could be on the cards.

Steve added, “To get it kick-started, we’re recruiting a new outreach worker, and we’re looking for volunteers and community-based groups to come forward who would like to help us set up a carbon and money saving project in their area. We’ll be working with closely with local groups and people - they know their area best and will be vital to the scheme’s success.”

There’s more information on the website www.ecocentresw.org and if you or your group would like to help out or help host the project in their area, email Steve on [email protected].