Fight against climate change and energy poverty on a local level by self-organisations supported by social movements
Fight against climate change and energy poverty on a local level by self-organisations supported by social movements
Seminar
Developing strategies, visions and alternatives, Analysing present social issues, Cross-movement dialogue/debate ('confrontative dialogue')
Working for a sustainable world, food sovereignity, environmental and climate justice
In the fight against mounting energy costs and under the threat of a warming climate, civilians organize themselves in groups to look for sollutions that can answer the challenge to reduce their energy consumption. Social organizations assist and support them. In many European countries people own the house they live in. Those owners feel the need to invest in their house, even those who have a modest or moderate income. Many lack the knowhow and the financial means. They stand alone in their search for cheap(er) energy on a free market, and they don't have enough knowledge of this complicated matter, e.g. the processes behind tariffs and the laws and regulations concerning contracts. Collective action is the best approach: Social movements have developed methods to combine these actions with community building. Some of these methods use the internet. This approach has the additional advantage of generating political power that in it's turn can be used to force the authorities to take consequent action. In the Belgian province of Limburg, citizens organize collective purchases of energy (gas, oil fuel and electricity), of materials and equipment to make their houses cold-resistant and of alternative energysources (mainly solar panels). They are supported by ACW, a social organization. Actions taken: Raising public awareness and consiousness by means of actions, media releases and meetings. Organizing energy scans and audits of private houses. Actions aimed at lower prices: collective purchase of oil fuel (30,000 families involved) collective purchase of gas (15,000 families involved) collective purchase of electricity (15,000 families involved) Actions to facilitate investments: collective purchase of isolation materials (130,000 m² in 5 months) do-it-yourself construction of solar boilers (1,000 families involved) collective purchase of solar panels (500 families involved) These investments are further facilitated by offering low-priced loans. 'Climate quarters' come into existance. Groups of people living in the same quarter save energy by changing their behaviour. Political action to obtain bonuses or grants for investors and people who participate in collecive purchases. Build networks involving local authorities to develop campagnes.
ACW-Limburg
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Centrum Duurzaam Bouwen
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http://www.cedubo.be
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Belgium
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http://
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http://
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http://
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http://
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http://
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yes
English
