THE energy efficiency of North Somerset households, buildings and businesses could be improved thanks to thousands of pounds in Government grants.

Two groups in the district have been awarded money from the Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF) to help them move forward with energy-related projects.

Low Carbon Gordano, which covers Portishead, Pill, the Gordano villages, Abbots Leigh and Leigh Woods, put in a bid for �100,000 to pay for energy assessments to be carried out on community buildings, including schools, churches and village halls.

It will also pay for an assessment to be carried out to find out how many homes in the area still need cavity and loft insulation.

Jon Gething of Low Carbon Gordano said: “This grant will help us to assess the potential for renewable energy and give us a platform for developing a sustainable energy programme for Gordano.

“The key difference we bring to this is that all the projects will be led by and owned by the local community.”

The second group to receive a grant from LEAF is FLoW, which covers Wraxall, Failand and Long Ashton. Its bid was made in conjunction with All Saints Church in Long Ashton.

The money will be used to survey the villages’ housing to gauge the current level of energy use and identify what energy-saving measures would be appropriate for each housing type.

The results will then be used to support home-owners in improving their efficiency and reducing bills.

FLoW chairman Rachel Coxcoon said: “The results of the research will allow us to press ahead with our initiatives resulting in tangible benefits for us all. There is a lot of work to do but this is a really exciting project to be involved in.”

* For more details about each group visit www.lowcarbongordano.co.uk and www.flow.coop