Fourteen British communities will go head-to-head, competing to become Britain's most innovative 'green community', as British Gas kicks off its Green Streets community energy challenge today.

British Gas has committed £2 million worth of microgeneration and energy efficiency measures to the Green Streets programme. The communities selected to take part will now compete in a year long challenge to see who can do the most to cut energy use, lower carbon emissions, generate their own energy and increase engagement in these activities amongst members of their own community. The community that best achieves these objectives will receive a £100,000 prize to spend on a local environmental project of their choice.

The fourteen projects that have been chosen to take part in the Green Streets challenge are spread across the country, and include: a group in Suffolk that has saved the local lido from closure and now plan to install heat pump and solar technology to provide heating for the pool; a group in Lincolnshire planning to install renewable energy technologies in four community buildings which provide nurseries, family and community services; and a group in London working with the local school to install solar panels on the roof and measures to help the community reduce energy usage by 20 per cent.

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The community groups are a test-case for a new innovative community-led approach to saving and generating energy and provides an opportunity to trial new technology. In Llangattock, Wales, for example, the rural community will be installing a micro hydro system to provide electricity for homes in the village. With some of the proposals including ideas that have never been tried before, British Gas and the community groups will be learning together.

Explorer, Conservationist and Community Activist Ben Fogle, who is backing the campaign, said: "If Britain is going to meet its tough carbon reduction targets, we need to look at new ways of helping people cut their energy consumption and reduce emissions. There is a groundswell of communities wanting to learn how to save money and go green by developing plans around saving and generating energy locally. Green Streets taps into this demand, and will help create a blueprint for building a more sustainable future.

"The range of communities involved is fantastic. From solar panels near a lido, to a wind turbine to power floodlights for a sports facility, there is a breadth of technology being used by a diverse group of communities up and down Britain. Ten years on from my experience on Taransay, I'm particularly excited to see a remote Scottish island installing technology which will help the community towards a more sustainable existence."

All the projects are supported by at least twenty local residents who will be attempting to lower their energy usage.

(CD/GK)