Ed Dowding

People doing wonderful things with data always gives me a little excitement. The Snake Oil? graphic from Information is Beautiful made me very happy indeed. Useful and beautiful.

£3m Community energy fund divesting funds

British Gas is committed to distributing £3m via the energyshare fund to community renewable projects over the next 3 years. energyshare really wants to hear from all types of communities across Britain. A registered community group can apply for up to £100,000, and all they ask is that projects:

• have the objective of  saving or generating energy locally

• are supported by their local community

• will benefit the local community and have a tangible and lasting impact.

• some aspect of the project is realistically achievable within one year

• will inspire even more community renewable projects

http://www.energyshare.com/fund/about-applying/

Solar powered transparent TV

http://inhabitat.com/samsung-unveils-solar-powered-zero-energy-transparent-tv/

Spanish town reintroduces peseta to boost economy

A small town in northern Spain has decided to reintroduce the old Spanish currency – the peseta – alongside the euro to give the local economy a lift. The hard times have seen thousands of businesses close and more than two million jobs go.

It is an attempt to get cash registers ringing – and help lift the town out of a long and painful economic slump. Shopkeepers were sceptical at first, but they now say the scheme is a great success. One man visited the local hardware store this week with a 10,000-peseta note he had found at home, and had no idea what to do with. He is now the happy owner of a sandwich toaster.

Can you design a better energy than the Government?

Probably. But you have to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050 to comply with the international agreements. Give it a go on this beautiful site.

Open Gov. the movie

A short documentary made by Delib about the US government’s Open Government initiative, featuring interviews with a whole host of insiders and commentators.”Understand that mistakes will be made, and be flexible and understanding about that… real time government … government as platform…”

Larger households generate less per-capita waste

Yes it’s completely obvious, but it’s nice to have it in graph form, since it adds weight to my frequent imploring to friends that we go live in together in a resource, time, and cost efficient group.

The Cooperative Group seizes the moment

The Co-operative Group launched a radical plan to boost membership to 20 million in ten years, inject cash into community enterprise and build a more sustainable economy.

The ambitious strategy includes pledges to deploy £1bn green energy finance, invest £11m into community enterprise and £20m into an international loan development fund, create 200 co-op schools and launch a £30m apprenticeship academy. Additionally, the group will roll out a fair trade programme in the next three years.

 

 

and a bonus one, because it’s an interesting thought:

Communities Assistant
Salary: £19,000 – £21,500
Location: Woodstock, Oxfordshire

The Plunkett Foundation has been changing lives in rural communities since 1919. We work as strategic partners with numerous government departments, funders and support organisations.

We are the only national organisation providing dedicated support and expertise to rural communities who wish to set-up and run a community-owned shop. Join us as a Communities Assistant, and you’ll work at the forefront of our extremely worthwhile organisation.

Using your demonstrable understanding of rural communities, you’ll expand on our existing community shop activity and will help us extend the same support to other forms of community owned rural services. You’ll be the first person people speak to when they contact us, and you’ll be the one who co-ordinates all rural service delivery.

You’ll also build relationships with external organisations that may be better placed to advise with certain queries, and will refer people to them. And you’ll monitor and report on all the latest activity, as well as providing administrative support.

To succeed in this role you’ll need to have a good understanding of the issues affecting rural communities, as well as the enthusiasm and organisational skills to help us deal with them. You’ll need to be educated to degree level or equivalent in a business related subject, and will have experience of community or voluntary groups. You’ll also have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and will be willing to travel as necessary.

The full job specification can be downloaded here. To find out more about this role and to apply please contact James Alcock, Community Retail Manager – james.alcock@plunkett.co.uk

Closing Date: Friday 11th March 2011.