TENS of thousands of pounds are up for grabs for groups looking to improve the environmental credentials of community buildings in Cumbria.

A cool quarter of a million pounds has been provided by the Cumbria Waste Management Environmental Trust (CWMET) to help tackle energy efficiency and carbon emissions from community buildings like village halls and community centres.

Up to £150,000 is now available in 2007/8 from CWMET's sustainable community buildings project and eligible groups are invited to apply for grants of up to £20,000.

Around £100,000 spent on the project last year has already helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions from community buildings in Cumbria by 125 tonnes, through funding measures such as insulation, draft-stripping, pipe-lagging and providing advanced, efficient zoned heating.

CWMET decided to dedicate the £250,000 to a sustainable community buildings project to tackle energy efficiency and carbon emissions with the help of Eden Local Agenda 21 - a county-wide charity which helps communities and businesses address environmental issues.

The cash comes from Cumbria Waste Management Ltd and Lakeland Waste Management Ltd as a portion of their tax bills under the landfill tax scheme. The grants can be made once a building has had a special energy audit.

Last year saw more than 35 village halls and community centres receive professional advice, ranging from as far afield as Roadhead in the north east of county to Thwaites Village Hall near Millom.

For information contact: Helen Squires at Cumbria Waste Management Environmental Trust on 01768-242140 or enquiries@cw met.org.uk or Phil Davies at Eden LA21 on 01768-210276 or email your hall's details to phil@edenla21.org.uk