1.How will this project benefit me? 

The aim is to provide more predictable energy bills, warmer homes, less air pollution, and greater long-term energy security for all residents. 

2.Who can participate? 

All residents of Nassington are welcome to participate. We value the involvement and input of everyone in the community. Please use our sign up link to get involved or contact one of the committee members. 

3. How will this project address energy cost savings? 

By leveraging sustainable energy solutions and community energy schemes, we aim to reduce reliance on external energy providers, leading to more stable and potentially lower energy costs. 

4. What types of sustainable energy solutions will be implemented? 

We will explore a variety of solutions including solar panels, heat pumps, and community energy schemes to find the best fit for our village. 

5. How can I provide input or feedback to the neat project team? 

You can provide input through our surveys, community meetings, and by contacting us directly. Your feedback is crucial to the success of the project. 

Email can be sent to Kate.NEATproject@outlook.com 

6. What if I am not interested in sustainability? 

Even if sustainability isn't your primary concern, we are also looking to provide financial benefits and energy security that can positively impact all residents.

7. How will potential negative feedback or concerns be addressed? 

We are committed to transparency and open communication. We will address concerns through community meetings, clear communication, and by working closely with all stakeholders. 

8. What is the timeline for the project? 

The project will roll out in phases. Phase 1 the Feasibility study will be completed by the end of April 2025. With a presentation of that report in public events on the 15th and 16th of May 2025.

9. How can I get involved with neat? 

You can get involved by attending our meetings, filling out the energy survey, volunteering, or simply staying informed and spreading the word. 

Do get in touch via the contact us page, or by email if you would like to join our growing community of interested residents, or if you would like to become a more active member of the committee. 

10. Who will pay for the infrastructure? 

There are multiple options to fund the capital costs of such a project, which include Government grants, charitable grants, community share offers or crowdfunding. This will be explored further once we know exactly what infrastructure we are proposing. 

11. Will there be funding for linking my house to the solution? 

This depends entirely on the type of scheme deemed most technically and financially feasible, and the type of scheme the community decides to take forward. Funding may be available through Government or Local Authority grants, or charitable grants. Options will become more apparent as the project progresses through the various stages of feasibility and design. 

12. I already have a heat pump. How will your project benefit me? 

If the scheme includes a level of local generation (such as solar PV or wind), then there will be the potential to take part and co-invest, which could save money on your existing electricity bills. Where the scheme includes shared heating options, then your current heat pump is unlikely to be directly suitable to connect to the infrastructure, however your property is likely already optimised for a heat pump solution and may have much of the infrastructure required, therefore future connection may be much quicker and cheaper. However, whether that is viable will depend on individual circumstances and would need to be explored in more detail at the design stage. 

13. I already have solar panels and heat pump does your project apply to me? 

If the scheme includes a level of local generation (such as solar PV or wind), then there will be the potential to take part and co-invest, which could save money on your existing electricity bills. Where the scheme includes shared heating options, then your current heat pump is unlikely to be directly suitable to connect to the infrastructure, however your property is likely already optimised for a heat pump solution and may have much of the infrastructure required, therefore future connection may be much quicker and cheaper. However, whether that is viable will depend on individual circumstances and would need to be explored in more detail at the design stage. 

14. What options are you looking at and how will it be decided? 

The primary focus is on assessing the feasibility of a low carbon district heating network, which could be supplied with heat through a variety of different technologies, such as ground, air or water source heat pumps. In addition to this, we are assessing the feasibility of developing a heat store, and investigating options for the generation of renewable electricity, such as through solar PV or a wind turbine, which would reduce the costs of electricity required to run the heat network. At this early stage of feasibility, no options are off the table; however, through careful technical and financial analysis, we will be able to determine the most suitable, and economically viable technology, or mix of technologies, to take forward to the next phase of feasibility. 

15. I have a listed home so how can sustainable energy help me? 

Listed homes certainly introduce additional challenges; however, the introduction of low carbon heat is still very much possible. This could be through the replacement of an existing oil boiler with a heat exchanger, connection to a district heat network, and an alternative heating profile (i.e. hours of operation) than you are currently used to. 

16. I live in a council owned home so how will this benefit me? 

This depends on the type of scheme deemed most technically and financially feasible, and the type of scheme the community decides to take forward, as well as the interest in the Local Authority to adapt homes to accommodate any necessary infrastructure. 

17. How can we have sustainable energy in a conservation area? 

Any infrastructure proposed will be designed sensitively to minimise any potential impacts upon the conservation area. As the Nassington Conservation Area is limited to the area surrounding the church/Church Street, there are multiple areas for investigation outside of the conservation area. 

18. What is community energy and what are the benefits? 

Community energy is a locally focused model where communities take an active role in generating, managing, and consuming renewable energy. Unlike traditional, centralised energy systems operated by large utilities, community energy involves local ownership and operation of renewable energy projects, often focusing on solar and wind power. It can also include community heating solutions, such as shared ambient loop heating systems with heat pumps, to deliver sustainable heating at a community level. Benefits include revenue retention (profits from local energy generation are reinvested within the community, reducing reliance on external suppliers), reduced energy costs (community members often benefit from lower energy bills through shared ownership and usage agreements), energy resilience (local control of energy resources provides resilience against price fluctuations and supply issues) and environmental benefits (whereby low-carbon technologies reduce community reliance on fossil fuels). 

19. Are you putting windmills up around the village? 

Our ambition is to identify a way to end Nassington’s reliance on oil and other fossil fuels through assessing the feasibility of low-carbon heating (such as a district heat network powered by heat pumps). We will also be investigating ways to offset the electricity needed to power the network through renewable energy generation, including solar PV and wind turbines, but this is unlikely to result in the recommendation of multiple wind turbines around the village.