A city is only as good as its people. And in these stringent economic times, this statement could not be true. Throughout history, those who fell on hard times created strategic and moralistic battles for their governing leaders. How exactly do you house the homeless, and how much is appropriate for budgeting their support? Nottingham poses a much harsher problem for this question as Nottingham is nestled in the East Midlands where it is cold throughout most of the year. Many of the buildings and shelters in Nottingham are not energy efficient, and as a result, the expenses for housing the homeless gets costly for Nottingham Council. Is there a way for urban planners to create sustainable housing for the less fortunate?
Solar panel leasing is slowly but surely capturing the eyes of residents across the world. Solar panel leasing allows for residents, as well as private firms, to lease energy not used to other residents or firms. The city of Nottingham can take part because of their ownership of homes in the city. By leasing out energy to residents, the city not only makes a profit which helps supplement the cost for homeless care, but it can also use a percentage of the energy being leased out towards the shelters.
How it Works:
The city installs necessary smart meter monitoring and capturing equipment in city council owned homes with solar panels. This is needed in order to monitor those who are utilizing their energy the best and saving energy, which can be leased out to other residents. The extra energy can then be used for homeless shelters, helping to reduce the overall costs during peak times in the winter months.
The overall benefit is a clear winning solution for city council. The city would have more funds freed up and more coming in that could supplement the budget for the less fortunate, while promoting an innovative energy efficient model. However, it will be up to the urban planners of Nottingham and the United Kingdom to team up with local businesses to ensure that all homes, including homeless shelters, are well insulated and primarily energy efficient.
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