Greening Community Assets: Reducing the carbon impact of community buildings

Posted on 18 November 2021 by Christie McAlpine in Funding Climate

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is inviting community groups and social enterprises to submit an expression of interest to their Greening Community Assets Fund. This is a time limited, one-off opportunity for capital funding.

Greening Community Assets is being delivered in partnership with Local Energy Scotland who deliver CARES (Community and Renewable Energy Scheme) on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Greening Community Assets enables communities to invest in heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures which will reduce the carbon footprint of community owned and managed buildings such as village halls, community centres, community-owned shops, etc. 

• Energy efficiency:  Measures such as LED light fittings, new windows, insulation or water reducing devices
• Renewables:  We may be able to contribute to the costs of a CARES approved Let’s do Net Zero Community Buildings project

Funding can be up to 90% of total costs and can be used as match-funding to existing awards from other sources. They anticipate most grants being less than £30k but larger awards may be considered.

The fund will prioritise projects that will deliver strong low carbon outcomes and can claim HIE assistance this financial year. 

To apply, submit an Expression of Interest via the HIE website as soon as possible, but ideally no later than Friday the 26th of November 2021.