|
To date, the Carbon Trust has worked with 143 of the UK’s 468 local authorities - just under one third – through its Local Authorities Carbon Management (LACM) programme, which provides local authorities with practical advice on cutting their carbon footprint and reducing energy bills. Annual savings of more than £43 million and 570,000 tonnes of CO2 have been identified for the sites involved – equivalent to the annual carbon footprint of more than 52,000 UK consumers.
Public sector organisations currently account for approximately five per cent of the UK’s overall carbon emissions – equivalent to around 21 million tonnes of CO2. The Local Authority Alumni Event gives participants of the Carbon Trust’s LACM programme participants the opportunity to highlight the steps they are taking to reduce this figure, and share their experiences of working alongside the Carbon Trust to implement good carbon management practise.
Richard Rugg, Public Sector Programme Manager at the Carbon Trust and chair of the event, said: “Climate change is the biggest environmental threat currently faced by the UK and the reduction of carbon emissions, the main cause of climate change, should be a key priority for local authorities. By taking steps to cut carbon, councils can play a key role in fighting climate change, as well as setting a good example for local residents and businesses, not to mention a bottom line reduction in energy bills.
“It is important for local authorities to share their carbon saving expertise in a way that will engender positive development across the sector. The carbon and energy savings made so far as a result of the LACM programme have been great, and collaboration provides local authorities with a valuable opportunity to share their experiences of improving carbon management and look ahead to how they can further build on this success.”
Iain Wright MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government added: “It is important that everyone does their bit to tackle climate change. Individuals can play a part and so must government, both local and central. Those councils already taking part in the Carbon Trust Programme will see real financial savings on their energy bills as well as showing vision, leadership and ambition. I would encourage others to follow their lead."
The LACM programme is designed to help councils deliver improved energy management to reduce emissions under their direct control such as buildings, vehicle fleets, street-lighting and landfill sites. It also provides practical support to organisations by helping them identify carbon saving opportunities, providing tools to analyse energy consumption and delivering workshop support for staff and senior managers to enable them to ‘embed’ carbon management into the day to day business of the council. The programme is supported by a bespoke toolkit – a web-based manual that gives detailed guidance on the programme’s process, technical advice and examples of best practice.
The fifth phase of the Carbon Trust’s LACM programme will run until March 2008. Any local authority that would like to be considered for the next phase of the programme should contact the Carbon Trust by emailing richard.rugg@carbontrust.co.uk.
Case Studies
Milton Keynes Council:
Milton Keynes Council joined phase three of the Carbon Trust’s LACM Programme. Working in collaboration with the Carbon Trust, it was able to identify priority actions that would have a drastic impact on its carbon footprint, bringing annual carbon emissions down from 33,000 tonnes, by 2.5 per cent by 2010. This would represent a cumulative CO2 saving of 18,900 tonnes, and a cumulative cost saving of £4.72 million.
Priority actions:
Through the LACM Programme, the Carbon Trust advised Milton Keynes Council on several key actions, including:
• Carrying out energy surveys (and implementing recommendations) on the council’s least energy efficient buildings. This is a crucial action as buildings are among the biggest offenders when it comes to emissions.
• Carrying out staff awareness training programmes. Staff have a key role to play in improving energy efficiency and tackling emissions.
• Investigating the use of renewable energy, for example biomass boilers, biodiesel fuel and more efficient bulbs for street-lighting. The council realises that cutting-edge technology has a central role to play in helping it to become more ‘green’.
• Setting targets for lower staff travel mileage, and offering discounted bus tickets for staff commuting will generate significant savings.
Work is already underway on these actions, and payback on the initial capital investment of more than £750,000 is likely to be achieved as soon as 2007. In 2010, expected savings are £727,000, or 4,735 tonnes of carbon emissions.
Islington Council:
Islington Council joined phase three of the Carbon Trust’s LACM Programme. Working in collaboration with the Carbon Trust, it was able to identify priority actions that would have a drastic impact on its carbon footprint, bringing annual carbon emissions down from 40,980 tonnes, to 37,490 tonnes by 2010, a reduction of 8.5 per cent.
Priority actions:
• Through the LACM Programme, Islington Council and the Carbon Trust developed several key actions, including:
• Awareness campaigns. Energy efficiencies achieved through campaigns aimed at staff and schools will save £43,000 and 196 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
• Computers. The introduction of auto-sleep mode for computers and screens will generate significant savings. The cost of introducing this action will be contained within existing IT maintenance budgets.
• Facilities Management. The council will introduce regular utility meter readings at all operational buildings and spot-check visits for use of unauthorised equipment.
• Buildings. Improving the thermal performance and energy efficiency of council buildings, including leisure centres and council houses, will create annual savings of £105,000, or 3,280 tonnes of carbon emissions.
Work is already underway on these actions, and payback on the initial capital investment of more than £3 million is likely to be achieved as soon as 2009.
|