RURAL community buildings across Hampshire have been considering how they can save energy as part of a national campaign led by Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE).

Run almost entirely by volunteers, village halls are a cornerstone of community life, providing what are often the only spaces where people can meet and socialise. They also sustain many livelihoods connected with use of the venue.

But over the past couple of years many halls have struggled to meet rising energy bills – indeed many buildings are old, off the mains gas grid, and difficult to heat. 

In the Test Valley, Sherfield English Village Hall used Village Halls Week to tell local people about their efforts to achieve the ‘three R’s’ – reduce, reuse, recycle. The hall uses energy efficiency lighting and the management committee have a policy of using the most efficient option when bulbs need replacing. They’ve recently been donated several long strips of cloth bunting which hall hirers can use for their events. 

Campaign organisers, including local charity Action Hampshire, believe there is great potential to connect these concerns with broader action to address the climate emergency. 

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Village Halls Week has been a call to action with management committees being encouraged to consider how they can go green – to safeguard their own future, and that of the wider environment.

On Monday March 18, a livestream marked the publication of a new design guide produced by stagg architects which offers practical advice on retrofitting halls to reduce energy consumption and dependency on fossil fuels. The design guide features the efforts of six pioneering halls which have done just that – improving insulation, replacing heating systems and even generating their own electricity.

Kevin Sawers, of Action Hampshire, said: “We’ve been delighted to take part in Village Halls Week 2024. Community halls, both rural and urban, play a vital role in their community, bringing people together for a huge range of activities and addressing the growing challenge of social isolation. We ran several training sessions through the week, including an introduction to the new Net Zero Design Guide. This is a great resource to help village halls reduce their environmental impact and running costs.”