Community Energy Solutions (CES) is leading the way in educating heating engineers from across the region about low-carbon heating solutions.

CES, a non-profit distributing organisation, supported by One North East and the Department of Energy and Climate Change, is providing heating installers with the opportunity to become qualified air source heat pump installers, completely free of charge.

CES chief executive Chris Leek commented: “We are in an incredibly privileged position to be able to keep our workforce at the forefront of new, greener heating technologies.

The leading organisation responsible for the provision and promotion of domestic renewable technologies in the north east of England has expanded its team.

Sharon Lashley has joined the Community Energy Solutions (CES) team and in her new role as project manager will oversee a number of schemes designed to reduce the carbon footprint of whole communities across the region. CES is a non-profit-distributing organisation which is supported by the Government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change and regional development agency, One North East.

Community Energy Solutions (CES) has appointed Jonathan Cripps of Cramlington into the role of Project Assistant. A geography graduate of Durham University, Jonathan aims to bring a fresh and enthusiastic approach to the role.

The 23-year-old said: “I think my degree in Geography not only helped me secure this position, but also has armed me with the knowledge necessary to understand environmental issues which prevail in the North East as well as the issues that come with supplying energy on a mass scale.

“Certain areas of the North East are in desperate need of alternative energy solutions. I am really excited about working for an organisation which is so instrumental in tackling these issues and making domestic renewable technology accessible for so many people across the region.”

Following the Mobilisation of Micro-Renewables event on the 5th of November 2009, CES is pleased to announce that it has opened it’s new heat pump training centre in conjunction with Myson on the Team Valley, Gateshead.

The training is a series of one-day courses on each of Daikin, HeatKing and Mitsubishi air source heat pumps, delivered by the manufacturer’s own trainers and covering installation, servicing and trouble shooting. It is open to all central heating engineers in the North East and is free of charge.  On completion of the course installers will be approved to fit and maintain heat pumps of each manufacturer whose training they attend. They will therefore be well placed to take advantage of CES’ tendered prices for heat pumps.

If you would like information, or to attend a course, please contact us for available dates.  Once we have confirmed your attendance dates, we will ask you to fill in and return an application form for each installer’s course you wish to attend.

Please contact Jonathan Cripps (jonathan.cripps@communityenergysolutions.org.uk; 0191 537 7230) or Penny Stobbs (penny.stobbs@communityenergysolutions.org.uk; 0191 537 7208) to book a place on a course.

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A North East organisation committed to providing renewable and sustainable energy solutions for thousands of residents across the region has won a major national award for its work.

The SDUK Annual Award for Sustainability 2009 is aimed at public and third sector organisations across the UK and Northern Ireland, and it has named Boldon-based Community Energy Solutions as the winner of its coveted title.

Over the last two years Community Energy Solutions has helped scores of urban and rural communities access financial and practical assistance in updating old, expensive and environmentally unfriendly heating systems.