Since December 2008 the Comrie community have been working to reduce the collective carbon footprint of the village, in line with the Scottish Government target of 42% by 2020. In 2012, the Trust embarked on 3 three exciting new projects aimed at tackling behaviour change at a local level. All three projects are geared towards finding local solutions to climate change and reducing the collective carbon footprint of the village.
- Youth Conference: young people in the village will be invited to attend a two-day action packed event to gauge their attitudes to climate change and create their own Carbon Action Plan
- Rural Research Project: householders will be invited to take part in a three year behaviour change study to assess barriers to change and how to overcome them.
- Energy Advisor: all residents in Comrie will have access to a dedicated Energy Advisor who will provide energy Audits and promote a solar thermal and PV bulk-purchasing scheme.
Previous achievements of the group include:
- 420 households returned completed Home Energy Check Questionnaires (HECs), received Home Energy Reports and Energy Awareness advice through the Street-by-Street project.
- 162 households referred to Clyde Insulation for surveying through the Energy Audit and Insulation Programme.
- 79 households installed insulation through the Programme with a further 8 installing independently.
- 500 low energy light bulbs distributed to Street-by-Street households.
- 21 households participated in the Comrie Energy Competition with the winners reducing their household electricity consumption by a minimum of 50%.
- 46 households had their properties thermally imaged to indicate heat loss.
- 32 households referred to the SCARF Home Renewables Advisor.
- 30 community allotments up and running since April 2009 resulting in more local food production for over 30 families.
- Comrie Liftshare launched in April 2010.
- 2 Zero Waste Fortnights held diverting an additional 4 tonnes of waste.
- 8 community composting bays erected at Cultybraggan.
- 1 rocket installed at Cultybraggan through the Compost Doctors Scotland Programme.
- 8 Zero Waste Volunteers recruited across four communities in Perthshire (Comrie, Muthill, Letham and Guildtown).
- 120 attendees at the Climate Change Conference for Communities in June 2009 bringing over £32,000 into the local economy.
- Community Orchard funding secured and Orchard and Woodland Working Group established to plan, plant and provide ongoing maintenance.
