Council to sign Nottingham Declaration on climate change
Archived press release
Date Published: 24/03/09
The Gateway offices are about to receive loft insulation
Aylesbury Vale District Council will this week become the latest local authority to show its commitment to fighting climate change by signing the Nottingham Declaration.
More than 300 local councils have signed up to the declaration, each pledging to actively tackle climate change in their area and help the UK deliver its national climate change targets.
Council Leader John Cartwright and Chief Executive Andrew Grant are due to put pen to paper on the agreement at the official launch of AVDC’s carbon management plan at The Barn, Chilton on 25 March.
By doing so, they will commit the council to develop plans with partners and local communities over the next two years.
AVDC will work with all sectors and industries in the local community to reduce energy use and congestion, improve the local environment and tackle local fuel poverty.
The signing also demonstrates the council’s commitment to working with the government to contribute locally to the delivery of the UK climate change programme.
AVDC has set itself a tough target of cutting its carbon dioxide (CO2 emissions) by 22 per cent over the next five years. And it’s not just about reducing emissions, it’s about saving council tax-payers money as well.
The council’s bills for energy are high, with not only gas and electricity for offices, community centres and leisure centres, but fuel costs for the council’s refuse collection vehicles and business transport. They total around £2.5 million a year and release 7,500 tonnes of CO2.
The council’s carbon management plan identifies where substantial savings can be made over the next few years and the first of four phases of energy saving works has already started:
• AVDC’s Aqua Vale competition pool will shortly have a cover which prevents water evaporation and heat loss
• Old, inefficient boilers at AVDC’s offices have been replaced
• Cavity wall insulation at the High Street offices will be installed
• The Gateway offices are about to receive loft insulation, to reduce heat loss through the roof-space
AVDC will save around 95 tonnes of CO2 as a result of these works, based on the lifetime of these early projects. Savings made in the first phase of works will be used to finance further energy saving works within the council, so that improvements become self-financing.
Councillor Sir Beville Stanier, Cabinet Member for Environment and Health, said: “Climate change is emerging as one of the greatest challenges for modern society; the world is warming up with much of the warming due to human emissions of greenhouse gases. Therefore I’m delighted that AVDC is leading by example when it comes to protecting our environment, by finding innovative ways to save energy and reduce the carbon emissions generated by our buildings and facilities. I hope other businesses in the district will follow our example – we’d be delighted to advise them.”
To find out more about what AVDC is doing as part of their Nottingham Declaration pledge, call 01296 585147.