LAST week at Otley library residents were offered information on solar panels as well as useful energy saving advice.

In 2019, Otley 2030 - a community group working to develop a climate and sustainability plan for the town - worked in collaboration with Solar for Schools to install solar panels on the Otley Library roof, as well as Prince Henry’s Grammar School and All Saints Primary School.

Solar for Schools (SfS) return to schools yearly to offer a day of education to the pupils and staff who are benefitting from the electricity created by the panels on their roof.

Otley Library was the first, and to date only, non-school building that SfS have installed panels on, so they consulted Otley 2030 about what they could offer instead of the education day they deliver in schools.

An Otley 2030 spokesperson said: "Given the recent hikes in energy prices and deepening cost of living crisis, the two groups decided it was best to offer members of the local community the chance to drop in and discuss how best they could reduce their energy bills. Whilst Richard Smith from SfS gave advice on the costs and benefits of installing solar panels on your domestic property, Andrew Howarth, Toby Putman, and Rod Holt from Otley 2030 and Otley Energy talked to worried residents about the best ways to reduce their energy consumption in the short term."

Andrew, community development lead for Otley 2030, added: “It was amazing to see how many people dropped by who are desperate for help because they’re not sure how they’ll be able to afford to heat their houses going forward.”

Toby Putman, of Otley Energy talked about how they are working with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds City Council to try and create a programme for people to retrofit their houses to a level where their heating bills would be dramatically reduced.

“The problem at the moment is that there is just no joined up thinking from the government on this, that’s why we’re working closely with local authorities to create the support people need,” said Toby.

Over the next year, Otley 2030 and Otley Energy will be working closely with organisations like Solar for Schools to support Otley residents, businesses, and schools as they look to reduce their energy consumption.

For more information visit the Otley 2030 website: www.otley2030.com or email hello@otley2030.com