The Ashton Hayes Going Carbon Neutral Project is a community-led initiative that is aimed at making the village “the first carbon neutral community in England”. Located in rural Cheshire, Ashton Hayes has cut its carbon dioxide emissions by already 40% since 2006. The village recently added a community owned renewable energy company to its portfolio.
The journey towards its “low carbon lifestyle” began in November 2005 when the Parish Council voted to adopt a proposal by long-term resident, former journalist and hydrologist Garry Charnock, that the village should try to become carbon neutral. Ever since, the hundreds of residents have banded together to cut greenhouse emissions: using clotheslines instead of dryers, taking fewer flights, installing solar panels and glaze windows to better insulate their homes.
According to the official website, the project is drawing substantial support from local businesses, councils and academia, and has linked with over 1000 communities around the globe. For more details, please see the project website.
Links
- Ashton Hayes Going Carbon Neutral website
- New York Times, 21 Aug 2016: English Village Becomes Climate Leader by Quietly Cleaning Up Its Own Patch.
