UK: Council aim to cut carbon to avoid fine

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A council is planning to cut its carbon footprint in a bid to avoid a £700,000 Government fine. West Sussex County Council currently spends £10 million a year on electricity, gas and water services across it’s offices, fire stations, depots and schools.

It hopes to cut this by 10% in the first year and make more savings against a Government-imposed carbon reduction scheme, to avoid a £700,000 bill.

As well as helping to protect the environment, West Sussex County Council also hopes it will save £1 million in taxpayers’ money in the first year.

Called the Carbon Reduction Commitment Scheme, the mandatory Government initiative charges organisations £12 for every tonne of carbon produced in a year.

Last year the council produced 62,000 tonnes.

Deborah Urquhart, the council’s cabinet member for environment and economy, has approved plans to cut the authority’s energy consumption through water and energy management.

West Sussex County Council is pioneering the project for its own buildings before offering its expertise on the subject to its Public Service Board partners, which include the NHS and Sussex Police.

A report by council officers said: “Actions taken now could reduce this cost and the council’s overall energy bill substantially.”

To tackle the problem, a number of measures are being put in place.

The council will focus on improving insulation and damp-proofing in its buildings, and installing more efficient energy systems, such as thermostats and zoning controls.

To pay for the carbonreducing measures, the council will apply for external finance to match its own investment.

Projects which save energy will be expected to return a proportion of their financial savings to help fund it in the future.

The council will also look at how schools can become involved with the programme to save energy and share the benefits.

Daire Casey, West Sussex County Council’s climate change officer, said the plan was to “be able to offer a service to our partners that will be of value to them”

and to combine environmentally- friendly practice with money-saving features.

He said: “We are aware that the environmental benefits associated with carbon reduction need to be matched by financial benefits for taxpayers as well.”

By Samuel Underwood