The government has this week announced funding awards to 82 local green energy projects, at the same time as urging other potential initiatives to apply for a share of the £10m Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF).

The deadline for the second round of funding applications lapses at the end of this week, with the government calling on community groups and charities interested in renewable energy or energy efficiency projects to put themselves forward for funding.

Announcing the first wave of winning funding applications, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne said that local communities would be at the heart of the government's wider efforts to curb carbon emissions and enhance energy security.

"We face a gigantic challenge in the coming years to keep the lights on and energy bills down," he said in a statement. "This means nurturing cleaner, more secure, homegrown energy sources here in the UK so we are not so dependent on imported gas, and boosting the energy efficiency of our homes and businesses to cut out waste. Local communities, with their energy, drive and innovation, are going to be at the heart of this effort, and I hope that this funding acts as a booster rocket to the winning projects."

The 82 winning projects included a wide range of different proposals, including plans for show homes to demonstrate energy efficiency improvements, educational events to encourage greener behaviour, and installations of renewable energy technologies.

The government said the LEAF scheme, which is administered by the Energy Saving Trust, should ultimately support around 200 projects with each receiving an average of £50,000.

"Showing people that 'going green' is practical and realistic is essential if we're to successfully refurbish the housing stock, and enabling people to see energy efficiency measures installed in real homes in their area is a key part of this," said Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust.

"It's also absolutely crucial that residents of local communities have a say in what will work best in their area, so they can have a stake in our more sustainable future. LEAF, on both counts, sets the groundwork for success."

The announcement comes as the London Mayor's Office this week launched a new Low Carbon Prize, inviting students to put forward proposals for new building designs that promise to deliver significant cuts in carbon emissions.

The Mayor's Office said that a £20,000 fund was available to support the best ideas, and urged students to submit proposals before the deadline on Sunday 19 February.