Ashden Awards
Encyclopedia
The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy are annual awards given by a charity of the same name that is based in London
. They reward local sustainable energy
projects in the UK and developing countries that protect the environment
, and improve quality of life
.
Sarah Butler-Sloss created the awards in 2001, from the Ashden Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts.
solutions in the UK and the developing world. Through the awards, they aim to raise awareness of the huge potential of local sustainable energy to both tackle climate change
and improve the quality of people's lives.
To help their winners, the Ashden Awards gives cash prizes, presented at an Awards ceremony in London every June.
There are three first prizes of £30,000 each, and three second prizes of £15,000 each.
products and services more accessible. The focus is on enterprises which have opened up new opportunities. The 2009 winners were Geothermal International and Architype.
and/or increase the supply of local renewable energy
(heat and electricity), and also promoted the wider use of sustainable energy through local planning and policies. The 2009 winners were Kirklees Council and Devon County Council
.
.
, in which the responsible use of energy
is a key component. The Award carries a first prize of £15,000 and two second prizes of £7,500.
The 2009 winners were Ashley Primary School, Walton-on-Thames and Currie Community High School, Edinburgh.
Awards are given for the service to communities provided by the use of sustainable energy
, rather than for the technology used. In 2009, awards will highlight the particular achievements of each winner, rather than be offered in specific categories, with the main areas of interest being:
Food security
Renewable energy can be used in any part of the food supply chain, from growing, processing, storage and cooking, through to marketing and distribution.
Health, education and welfare
Renewable energy
can be used directly in healthcare facilities and schools (including providing light, refrigeration
, sterilisation and communications), and provide light for study at home. It can also bring improvements to health in homes or schools (including reducing smoke from stoves, and improving sanitation
).
Light and power for homes and businesses
Renewable electricity can power clean, efficient portable lamps or fixed lighting for homes or community buildings both in areas which are not connected to grid power, and also where mains electricity is unreliable or unaffordable. Small scale renewable electricity can also enable businesses and social services to develop.
Enterprise
Businesses can play an important role in delivering renewable energy and encouraging its rapid spread.
in London
in June, where the finalists present their achievements and receive their awards before an invited audience of politicians, business leaders, and key figures from the environment, development and energy worlds.
Previous hosts include broadcasters Anna Ford
, John Humphrys
and Jonathan Dimbleby
and environmental journalist Mark Lynas
.
Guest speakers over the last three years include Prince Charles, Sir David King, Wangari Maathai
, Al Gore
, David Attenborough
, Hilary Benn
, the UK Secretary of State for International Development, Dr RK Pachauri
, Chair of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
, David Cameron
, leader of the Conservative Party and Lord May of Oxford, former Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government.
After presenting the prizes at the 2007 ceremony Al Gore
commented:
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. They reward local sustainable energy
Sustainable energy
Sustainable energy is the provision of energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable energy sources include all renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, solar energy, wind energy, wave power, geothermal...
projects in the UK and developing countries that protect the environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
, and improve quality of life
Quality of life
The term quality of life is used to evaluate the general well-being of individuals and societies. The term is used in a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development, healthcare, and politics. Quality of life should not be confused with the concept of standard of...
.
Sarah Butler-Sloss created the awards in 2001, from the Ashden Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts.
About the Ashden Awards
The Ashden Awards rewards and promotes local sustainable energySustainable energy
Sustainable energy is the provision of energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable energy sources include all renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, solar energy, wind energy, wave power, geothermal...
solutions in the UK and the developing world. Through the awards, they aim to raise awareness of the huge potential of local sustainable energy to both tackle climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
and improve the quality of people's lives.
To help their winners, the Ashden Awards gives cash prizes, presented at an Awards ceremony in London every June.
The UK Awards
In 2009, the Ashden Awards will be giving awards for the UK in the following categories:- Energy business
- Local Authority
- Charity
There are three first prizes of £30,000 each, and three second prizes of £15,000 each.
Energy Business Award
This award is for businesses which have made local renewable energy and energy efficiencyEfficient energy use
Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature...
products and services more accessible. The focus is on enterprises which have opened up new opportunities. The 2009 winners were Geothermal International and Architype.
Local Authority Award
This award is for Local Authorities which have undertaken effective initiatives and programmes to improve energy efficiencyEfficient energy use
Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature...
and/or increase the supply of local renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
(heat and electricity), and also promoted the wider use of sustainable energy through local planning and policies. The 2009 winners were Kirklees Council and Devon County Council
Devon County Council
Devon County Council is the county council administering the English county of Devon. Based in the city of Exeter, the council covers the non-metropolitan county area of Devon...
.
Charity Award
This award is for not-for-profit groups such as Energy Agencies and charities, which have carried out projects or programmes to reduce energy demand and/or increase the supply of renewable energy (heat and electricity), at a local level. The 2009 winners were Sustainable Energy Academy and Marches Energy AgencyMarches Energy Agency
Marches Energy Agency is an energy agency in the United Kingdom, operating on a not-for-profit basis. The agency was formed by Shropshire County Council in 1995 to promote the use of sustainable energy in the area. Richard Davies has been director since 1998, having previously worked as a chemical...
.
The UK Schools Award
This Award is open to any UK school, providing education for pupils aged between 5 and 16, which has developed both an ethos and practice of sustainabilitySustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
, in which the responsible use of energy
Energy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
is a key component. The Award carries a first prize of £15,000 and two second prizes of £7,500.
The 2009 winners were Ashley Primary School, Walton-on-Thames and Currie Community High School, Edinburgh.
The International Awards
In 2009 there will be up to seven International awards of £20,000 each, and one Ashden Energy Champion Award of £40,000 for the work which most impresses the judging panel.Awards are given for the service to communities provided by the use of sustainable energy
Sustainable energy
Sustainable energy is the provision of energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable energy sources include all renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, solar energy, wind energy, wave power, geothermal...
, rather than for the technology used. In 2009, awards will highlight the particular achievements of each winner, rather than be offered in specific categories, with the main areas of interest being:
- Food securityFood securityFood security refers to the availability of food and one's access to it. A household is considered food-secure when its occupants do not live in hunger or fear of starvation. According to the World Resources Institute, global per capita food production has been increasing substantially for the past...
- Health, education and welfare
- Light and power for homes and businesses
- Enterprise
Food security
Renewable energy can be used in any part of the food supply chain, from growing, processing, storage and cooking, through to marketing and distribution.
Health, education and welfare
Renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
can be used directly in healthcare facilities and schools (including providing light, refrigeration
Refrigeration
Refrigeration is a process in which work is done to move heat from one location to another. This work is traditionally done by mechanical work, but can also be done by magnetism, laser or other means...
, sterilisation and communications), and provide light for study at home. It can also bring improvements to health in homes or schools (including reducing smoke from stoves, and improving sanitation
Sanitation
Sanitation is the hygienic means of promoting health through prevention of human contact with the hazards of wastes. Hazards can be either physical, microbiological, biological or chemical agents of disease. Wastes that can cause health problems are human and animal feces, solid wastes, domestic...
).
Light and power for homes and businesses
Renewable electricity can power clean, efficient portable lamps or fixed lighting for homes or community buildings both in areas which are not connected to grid power, and also where mains electricity is unreliable or unaffordable. Small scale renewable electricity can also enable businesses and social services to develop.
Enterprise
Businesses can play an important role in delivering renewable energy and encouraging its rapid spread.
The Awards Ceremony
The Ashden Awards hold an awards ceremony at the Royal Geographical SocietyRoyal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in June, where the finalists present their achievements and receive their awards before an invited audience of politicians, business leaders, and key figures from the environment, development and energy worlds.
Previous hosts include broadcasters Anna Ford
Anna Ford
Anna Ford is a retired English journalist and television presenter, best known as a newsreader....
, John Humphrys
John Humphrys
Desmond John Humphrys , is a Welsh-born British author, journalist and presenter of radio and television, who has won many national broadcasting awards...
and Jonathan Dimbleby
Jonathan Dimbleby
Jonathan Dimbleby is a British presenter of current affairs and political radio and television programmes, a political commentator and a writer. He is the son of Richard Dimbleby and younger brother of British TV presenter David Dimbleby.-Education:Dimbleby was educated at Charterhouse School, a...
and environmental journalist Mark Lynas
Mark Lynas
Mark Lynas is a British author, journalist and environmental activist who focuses on climate change. He is a contributor to New Statesman, Ecologist, Granta and Geographical magazines, and The Guardian and The Observer newspapers in the UK; he also worked on the film The Age of Stupid...
.
Guest speakers over the last three years include Prince Charles, Sir David King, Wangari Maathai
Wangari Maathai
Wangari Muta Mary Jo Maathai was a Kenyan environmental and political activist. She was educated in the United States at Mount St. Scholastica and the University of Pittsburgh, as well as the University of Nairobi in Kenya...
, Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
, David Attenborough
David Attenborough
Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FZS, FSA is a British broadcaster and naturalist. His career as the face and voice of natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years...
, Hilary Benn
Hilary Benn
Hilary James Wedgwood Benn is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Leeds Central since 1999. He served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for International Development from 2003 to 2007 and as the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs...
, the UK Secretary of State for International Development, Dr RK Pachauri
Rajendra K. Pachauri
Rajendra Kumar Pachauri has served as the chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change since 2002, during which his tenure has engendered controversy. He is also been director general of TERI, a research and policy organization in India, and chancellor of TERI University...
, Chair of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a scientific intergovernmental body which provides comprehensive assessments of current scientific, technical and socio-economic information worldwide about the risk of climate change caused by human activity, its potential environmental and...
, David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
, leader of the Conservative Party and Lord May of Oxford, former Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government.
After presenting the prizes at the 2007 ceremony Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
commented:
"No one can attend an event like the Ashden Awards and fail to be inspired. We must find a path from an unsustainable present to a sustainable future.
What impresses me most about these projects is they truly are becoming the change that is needed in the world.
These Awards tell us how to illuminate this path to a sustainable future together. I hope that we can make it quickly."
Ashden Awards seminars and conferences
The Ashden Awards also holds specialist seminars and conferences bringing together Award winners with practitioners, academics, and those who make or influence policy. Examples of recent seminars include one held at Imperial College and another held at DFID.List of winners
The Ashden Awards have been presented to a number of organisations, including NGOs, businesses, local governments and schools.See also
- Renewable energyRenewable energyRenewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
- Energy Globe AwardsEnergy Globe AwardsThe International Energy Globe Awards have been awarded by a marketing-agency annually since 1999 to recognise projects that 'make careful and economical use of resources and employ alternative energy sources.' The winners, in the categories of Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Youth, are selected by a...