A NEW green team will be taking to the streets of Basingstoke to offer support to residents to cut their emissions and tackle the ongoing climate emergency. 

The carbon-busting specialists will take to the streets of the borough from Friday, August 18.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) is launching the green team to help people and organisations become more sustainable and play their part towards achieving a net zero carbon borough by 2030.

Heading out into communities to talk to residents on their doorsteps and attend events, the team will help people and businesses save money and cut their emissions by using less energy, as well as give advice on other topics including travelling sustainably, turning gardens and green spaces into havens for plants and wildlife and buying less, reusing items and recycling more.

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To help its team go even further to provide more specialist energy-saving advice and support to residents, the council has successfully secured an additional £197,000 funding boost from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Cabinet member for the climate and ecological emergency Cllr Chris Tomblin said: “As one of the first of its kind in the country, the Basingstoke and Deane Green Team will help our communities and local organisations to make a bigger difference in the fight against climate change.

“Our team will attend events and go door to door and, if you are looking for more support to cut your carbon footprint, you can also book a face-to-face appointment for advice tailored to your individual circumstances.

“This could include showing you how to improve your home to make it more energy efficient and, thanks to our successful government funding bid, our team will be able to go even further to support those who need more help or own difficult-to-improve properties.

“With this funding, we’ll be sourcing specialist software that will help to recommend home energy efficiency improvements, such as insulation, and support you to find and apply for grants to help pay for them.

He continued: “Our specialists will also soon be able to arrange free professional full-home assessments to give you more specific recommendations if you live in an older or unique home that could be harder to improve in traditional ways.

“And, to make it easier to speak to our team in person, we’re also looking at using this funding to help create a green hub for visitors to Basingstoke town centre to drop in to for advice. This includes how to use less energy, as well as how to cut carbon from how you travel, care for your garden to benefit plants and wildlife and recycle more and waste less.

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“We all have a part to play to tackle climate change. I encourage everyone to speak to our green team to find out how they can go further to cut their emissions and live more sustainably.”

People will be able to meet the team as it heads out into communities and attends events over the coming weeks.

This includes at:

  • Fri-YAY on Friday, August 25 with a stall on Cross Street at the Top of the Town from 11am to 3pm,
  • The Community Wardrobe on Tuesday, August 29 at the Roger Morris Community Centre on Eastrop Lane in Basingstoke from 11am to 1pm,
  • the Oakridge Hall Summer Festival on Saturday, September 2 at Oakridge Hall for All on Forsythia Walk in Basingstoke from 1pm to 5pm, and
  • A community lunch on Wednesday, September 6 at the Hatch Warren and Beggarwood Community Centre on Long Cross Lane in Basingstoke from 12.15pm to 1.15pm.

Community centres and organisations with upcoming events can invite the green team to attend by emailing GreenTeam@basingstoke.gov.uk.