Communities across Scotland have been awarded over £3.6 million from the Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) to help reduce their carbon footprint and become more energy efficient.

Nearly £30 million in total will be awarded to communities who come forward with innovative ideas to tackle their carbon emissions.

The money will allow people to play their role in tackling climate change, proving that the smallest action can make the biggest difference.

Successful projects benefitting from the sixth round of CCF include household carbon audits, the largest community owned windfarm, studies into bio-diesel potential and a regeneration programme creating local jobs.

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Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead announced the £3.6 million funding at Edinburgh University, whose People and Planet project received nearly £340,000 to promote low carbon travel between home and campus.

The project hopes to cut student and staff transport emissions by 4,000 tonnes in 2010; the equivalent of nearly 1,300 cars off the road.

Announcing the successful applicants, Richard Lochhead said: "I am encouraged by the innovative methods displayed by communities and businesses at each round of funding, and round six is no exception.

"I recently saw CCF funding in action at West Carse Hall, Perthshire, and I look forward to seeing the People and Planet project and the 80:40:20 Challenge join the remarkable trailblazers making a real difference to climate change in Scotland."

(GK/KMcA)