E Factor finalists wow judges

Energy projects from as far afield as Sheffield to Scarborough, Harrogate to Hebden Bridge and Huddersfield to Hull have the chance of being crowned as one of the region’s energy superstars next week.

Earlier this year, the search was launched for green energy pioneers to take part in the 1st Yorkshire and Humber Microgeneration Awards.

One of the most popular categories has been the Best Home Installation section (See full list of entries below), giving local people the chance to show how well they’ve used renewable sources like solar panels or ground sourced heat pumps to power their homes.

Entries are also being judged on how much energy is produced sustainably and steps the householder has taken to reduce energy demand in the home.

The Awards, set up by the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly and the Energy Saving Trust, will showcase the best small renewable energy projects in the region, from wind turbines to solar panels.

They will dovetail with a major conference, entitled ‘Mainstreaming Microgeneration’’, to address the planning policy, skills and technical implications of new approaches to tackling renewable energy issues.

BBC Look North Weatherman Paul Hudson will announce the winners at an awards ceremony, also sponsored by the Centre for Alternative Technology and Microgeneration Yorkshire, next Thursday (26 April) in Harrogate- the same day as the conference.

The award categories are:- Best Home Installation; Best Public Building Installation; Best Community Installation; Best Business Initiative; and Best Policy/Policy Tool supporting Microgeneration

Each of the winners will receive £1000 worth of residential courses at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales where they’ll be able to use the knowledge they’ve gained to make further improvements to homes and developments.

Andrew Cooper, Energy Policy Manager at the Assembly said, "This is an exciting and expanding area with more and more people taking the opportunity to generate their own heat and electricity from on-site renewable sources such as solar, wind, heat pumps or biomass boilers.

“This not only saves the householder money but also means that the more people who use renewable energy, the greater the benefit to the environment".
(See below for full list of entries shortlisted.)

Shortlisted entries

Best Home Installation
James and Angela Dignan, Sheffield
Mr and Mrs Hargreaves, Bridlington
Mrs Goodwin, Appleton-le-Street, Ryedale
Mr and Mrs Taylor, Scarborough
M G M Mattock and Ms A C Townley, Todmorden
Mr and Mrs Fletcher, Scarborough
Jane Smith and David Barnard, Sheffield

Best Public Building(s) Installation
City of York Council
Waterton Countryside Discovery Centre, Wakefield
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
The National Trust, Gibson Mill, Hebden Bridge
Sheffield City Council
Kirklees Metropolitan Council, Huddersfield (Entry 1)
Kirklees Metropolitan Council, Huddersfield (Entry 2)

Best Community Installation
Connect Housing Association Ltd, Leeds
South Yorkshire Energy Centre, Sheffield
Blackshaw Environmental Action Team, Hebden Bridge
Kingston upon Hull City Council, Hull
Bradford Community Housing Trust Group
Harrogate Borough Council
Pioneer Projects (Celebratory Arts) Ltd, Bentham, North Yorks

Best Business Initiative
Swinton Park Estate and Swinton Park Hotel, Malham, North Yorks
Solarcentury, Sheffield.

Best Policy/Policy Tool Supporting Microgeneration
Kirklees Metropolitan Council, Huddersfield
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council