Global green energy awards issue alert to UK sustainable energy pioneers

The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy are seeking entries from inspirational and innovative sustainable energy projects in the UK.

There are eight UK Awards to be won by businesses, charities, local authorities, and schools, and entry is free.

The Awards will be presented at a VIP ceremony in London in June 2009. Application forms are online now at http://www.ashdenawards.org/uk_awards.

Analysis of 10 previous international Ashden Award-winning schemes showed that in 2008 they are reaching nine million people and saving 1.9 million tonnes of carbon emissions – equivalent to the total domestic emissions of more than 700,000 UK citizens.

Deadline for UK expressions of interest (business, charity, local authority): 28 October 2008Deadline for UK schools applications: 2 December 2008

Benefits of winning an Ashden Award include:

• Prize money of up to £30,000 per project.
• The chance to bring sustainable energy solutions into the international arena.
• Continuing development support.
• Engagement with key decision-makers in the sector.
• A documentary film about the award-winning work.
• What does it take to be a winner?The projects must:Be up and running, delivering sustainable energy at a local level for at least one year.
• Benefit the environment.
• Be technically rigorous.
• Have an element of innovation.
• Make a genuine difference to local peoples' lives, both socially and economically.
• Be replicable and help encourage the widespread uptake of local, sustainable energy.

A 'scheme' submitted for an award may be the entire work of an organisation or a specific part of the work.

Eligible schemes must involve the delivery of sustainable energy at a local level and scale. 'Sustainable energy' covers both renewable energy supply (electricity or heat) and reduction of energy demand.

For further information and application forms visit www.ashdenawards.org, or contact Jane Howarth tel. 020 7410 7023.

Email: info@ashdenawards.org

Examples of past winners, including short films about their work, are online at http://www.ashdenawards.org

Supporters of the Awards include Ashden Awards Patron HRH The Prince of Wales, Prof. Wangari Maathai, former US Vice-President Al Gore, and Jonathan Porritt CBE.

Source: Press release