In the heart of West Linton, a dedicated group of individuals are determined to change their community’s environmental footprint. 

Sustainable West Linton and District is a charity dedicated to advancing environmental improvement and sustainability in the West Linton area. Their focus includes executing local environmental projects and providing educational opportunities for all ages, aiming to achieve zero waste and promote sustainable living within the community.  

Through their work, they show us the incredible potential of communities coming together to address climate challenges head-on.   

What makes this group truly remarkable isn’t just their vision, but their boots-on-the-ground approach to tackling climate challenges. They’re not waiting for change; they’re making it happen. 

Engaging Locals with Thermography 

Sustainable West Linton & District set up their project with a team of enthusiastic local volunteers last winter with support from National Lottery funding. They armed themselves with a simple, yet powerful tool: a handheld thermal camera.

With this, they started to conduct heat surveys in the homes of community members to help make householders aware of how and where their homes might be losing heat and signposting them to organisations that can help.  

Not only could this save money on energy bills and help keep homes warmer, but it could also help reduce CO2 emissions. 

Tim Crick, project lead at Sustainable West Linton & District said:  

“The thermal camera works really well as a visual tool; everybody is always fascinated to look at pictures of their own house and where the heat disappears to.”   

They filmed West Linton from a birds eye view capturing thermal imaging, showing where heat was being lost, as well as carried out initial surveys which effectively sparked interest and engaged community members, drawing them into discussions about energy efficiency and sustainability.  

Since the project first kicked off, they have surveyed a range of houses, from old to new, and have uncovered unexpected findings. Like in newer houses, where surprising insulations gaps stood out. 

Wilma, a local resident living in an older property which she finds difficult to keep warm, found the heat survey insightful. 

“Cost was a motivating factor but also an interest in the environment.”  

“The survey highlighted a number of fairly small easy-fix things which would make a difference to how warm the house would be, but also how challenging it would be to insulate the walls of this type of house.  

“Overall, the experience was easy and very interesting, we must have saved some money by making some changes and I feel better knowing that I have at least tried to reduce our impact on global warming.”  

Reducing Carbon Footprint and Combating Fuel Poverty  

This project isn’t solely about warmth; it’s about fuel poverty, carbon footprints, and the bigger environmental picture.  

“By making homes more efficient,” Tim notes, “we’re chipping away at our carbon footprint.” 

But what makes their story truly exceptional? It’s the heartbeat of the project – the volunteers. These individuals, armed with knowledge and passion, are the catalysts for change. Their dedication transforms them into trusted advisors, fostering a community built on trust and shared goals. 

“Our advisors are all volunteers, they’ve all been trained and now have the basic qualifications.”   

“Their training has empowered them to provide invaluable advice to their neighbours, building a bridge of trust within the community. They” 

“Any community could do this with the right support. It’s very empowering and rewarding and I do think there’s a big opportunity for communities to collaborate in different ways to work towards Net Zero.” 

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Sustainable West Linton & District is a shining example of the transformative power of National Lottery funding. It’s not just about financial support; it’s about fostering community-driven solutions and empowering individuals to make a difference.  

At its core, this project is a celebration of what communities can achieve when they unite under a cause: to create a greener, more sustainable future for their community.