Low Carbon Communities

Introduction

Global scientific consensus suggests that we need to reduce CO₂ emissions by 80% by 2050, a figure that is now enshrined in UK law as a target that the UK Government must achieve. Achieving this target will present a significant challenge in every aspect of modern life. Recent IPCC research also shows that achieving this reduction will still result in a global temperature increase of 2°C. This constitutes a major climate change to which we will need to adapt.

Responding to these joint challenges will require a radical transformation of both our built environment and people’s behaviour. In particular, this will require a significant shift in the shape and use of our neighbourhoods and communities. Although, there are a few examples of sustainable low carbon communities, particularly through the Transition Towns Network, there is not yet widespread application of the changes required.

The SD Foundation believes that we need to rapidly increase the move towards a low carbon future for both existing and new communities. We have identified a number of activities that are required in order to achieve this:

1. Campaigns and visions of possible futures
2. Information & Guidance about how to deliver the change
3. Peer groups, mentoring and implementation support for community and development professionals

The SD Foundation is therefore developing a new programme - the LoCO₂Co programme - which aims to inspire people leading the way towards low carbon communities and then support them in a pragmatic, practicable manner. For further information please click on the Activities tab below.

The LoCO2Co Programme

The LoCO2Co programme aims to inspire people leading the way towards low carbon communities, for both new build and existing places, and then support them in a pragmatic, practicable manner. The goal will be to create both low carbon and climate resilient places to live.

The programme will involve several key steps:

• Development of criteria to measure the success of low carbon communities (LCCs)
• A study of the performance of exemplar low carbon communities against these criteria.
• Examination of the successes and failures of the leading LCCs to develop guidance and information for others
• Development of a network of developers and community builders to spread this learning to other real projects.

Key to the work will be measuring actual outcomes and constant reassessment of the knowledge we distribute through the network.

Performance Lab for Urban Sustainability - LoCO2Co PLUS

The LoCO2Co team seeks evidence and case studies that demonstrate what makes a successful low carbon and wholly sustainable place that is adapted for climate change and 2050 ready. Forming an interdisciplinary action-learning team, we will work with exemplary sites, both new build and existing places, to test and demonstrate our learning. Through a learning network and events programme, we will disseminate our findings and share our experience. In order to create a meaningful evidence base, we have formed LoCO2Co PLUS, the Performance Lab for Urban Sustainability.

LCC Staff + Associates

Jonathan Davis
Programme Director

Website: http://www.transition-studio.com

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Jonathan Davis is director of the Transition Studio, the sustainable built environment consultancy he founded in 2010. Jonathan is a registered architect, planner and urban designer with extensive experience in the private sector and local and national government. He was CABE’s Director of Knowledge & Skills and was previously a founding director of John Thompson & Partners LLP. Jonathan has worked on urban change and neighbourhood renewal projects throughout the UK, France, Iceland and the Czech Republic and is a specialist in stakeholder engagement, leadership development and mentoring, built environment research and policy and strategies to enable the transition to low carbon, resource efficient cities, towns and villages.
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Helen Heathfield

Website: http://www.happyheatandpower.co.uk

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Helen is an associate of SDFoundation and Director of Happy Heat and Power. HHP enables communities to own and manage their own renewable energy. Helen has 10 years experience in the planning and construction industry, through 5 years as Associate Director for sustainability at EDAW and 5 years at the Centre for Sustainable Construction at BRE.
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Laura Morgan

Website: http://sdfoundation.org.uk

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Laura's academic background is in Physics. She has a PhD in interfacial phase transitions. Previously, Laura was a programmer, working on financial websites. For the SDFoundation, Laura does research and policy work. Her special interests are in community and energy.
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