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Local Authority Sustainability News – Latest Action in England
Published 06 March 2012 in Local Government
DECC publishes short case study of the Big Energy Upgrade project coordinated by Kirklees Council; Wrexham Council installs 30,000 solar panels on 3,000 council homes; Birmingham City Council consults on a new supplementary planning document which emphasises sustainable development; and Bristol launches online map that rates every building in the city on its suitability for solar panel installation.
DECC Case Study on Big Energy Upgrade
Led by Kirklees Council, the Big Energy Upgrade project is a large scale project delivering installation of energy efficiency measures and micro generation technologies to houses in Yorkshire and the Humber by adopting a whole house/ whole community approach. Yorkshire Energy Services (YES) carry out individual household assessments and identify a highly individual package of measures for each of the households, providing optimal insulation and energy control to the house. The project also works with communities to embed behaviour change around energy consumption. Findings are of particular relevance to the forthcoming Green Deal. More.
Wrexham Installs 30,000 Solar Panels
On 5 March the Guardian reported that Wrexham Council has completed installation of 30,000 locally manufactured solar panels on 3,000 of its council houses. The council plans to install further solar panels on six schools and some public buildings. One of Europe’s largest solar panel factories is based on the outskirts of the town. The council borrowed nearly £28million for the 5MW scheme, which is expected to generate energy savings of £200-£300 per year for tenants. Due to changes to the government’s Feed In Tariff (FITs) scheme, a council spokeswoman said the council would still profit from the project, but that it will take longer than anticipated. Through the scheme, the council expects to achieve a 70% reduction on its 2005 carbon emissions. More.
Birmingham Consults on Supplementary Planning Document
Birmingham City Council is currently consulting on its draft ‘Places for the Future’ Supplementary Planning Document, which provides detailed guidance for future development and investment in Birmingham, with particular emphasis on safeguarding our resources for future generations. The SPD's specific objectives are to: set out how national and strategic policy will be interpreted in detail in Birmingham’s development; identify the elements of sustainable development which all future developments must consider; provide detailed guidance on these elements; ensure the City meets its agreed carbon reduction targets; ensure the City adapts to future climate change; and ensure the City’s overall natural environment, biodiversity, ecology and historical heritage are nurtured and maintained. More.
Bristol Online Map Alerts Residents and Businesses to Solar Potential
The Bristol Evening Post reported on 28 February that Bristol City Council have launched an online map that rates every residential and commercial building in the city on its suitability for having solar panels fitted. The council estimates that one third of the city’s buildings have rooftops suitable for solar energy generation. The map colours buildings where there is at least an estimated 10 square metres of unshaded roof space, and indicates whether the sun’s strength in the unshaded area is reasonable, good or very good. The map also provides users with a rough estimate of the amount of solar power they could generate. The council’s solar energy webpage also provides information to users on types of solar panel, planning permission requirements and financial support. More.