SPONDON could win a major £500,000 windfall after residents put the community forward to come up with ground-breaking ideas to cut the UK's carbon footprint.

The Government is searching for 20 communities to help develop new ways of tackling climate change.

More than 500 places in the country have put their name into the mix and 10 have already been chosen.

David Hayes, chairman of the Cleaner, Greener Spondon group, has been working with Derby City Council to submit a bid to be one of the other 10 selected by the Department of Energy.

Mr Hayes said he believed Spondon was the ideal choice, as the entire community has shown a strong desire to tackle the issue.

If selected, Spondon will receive up to £500,000 to devise and implement innovative energy-saving schemes in the area that it would be able to share with the rest of the country.

In the meantime, Mr Hayes said the community had already come up with plans to reduce its carbon footprint.

He said: "Seven Trent Water have submitted plans to build wind turbines in the area. We'd look to liaise with them to consider how we could use water more efficiently.

"We're also looking to run a programme aimed at assisting people in making their homes more efficient, with financial incentives added into that.

"West Park Community School has already reduced its energy use by 20% over the past year by installing lights that switch off when no-one is in the room.

"It's also looking at how the school could generate its own electricity using a ground source heat pumping system.

"The school also wants to install its own small wind turbines and solar panels for producing hot water.

"And then there's St Werburgh's Church which is also on board and considering similar projects."

Mr Hayes said these ideas and others could be put into practice if Spondon was given funding.

"We'd then ask the community and hold events to come up with unique ideas such as kerbside collections of batteries and electrical goods," he said.

It would not be the first time Spondon has made its mark at national level.

In 2005, the area won gold in the Britain in Bloom competition and is hoping to repeat that success again this year.

It also came up with a re-usable shopping bag scheme for the area.

Mr Hayes said: "What makes Spondon stand out is that it has demonstrated an ability to do things as a community.

"Not only have we done well in the In Bloom competitions, we've been very successful in introducing things like the Spondon Bags.

"There are 5,500 households in Spondon and nearly 3,000 of the bags have been distributed.

"One butcher says he's managed to halve the amount of plastic bags he's given out because of the scheme."

Councillor Bob Troup, cabinet member for housing and the environment, said the council chose to work with Spondon because of the community's willingness to take action against climate change.

He said: "Spondon recognises climate change as an issue.

"There are plans to build wind turbines in the area which have the backing of about 70% of the community.

"It is unusual to have that number of residents behind such plans and is testament to how dedicated Spondon is reducing energy emissions."