Council boosts 'green' status

Herefordshire Council is building on its status as a ‘green’ council by winning £200,000 to spend on eco-friendly schemes to reduce the authority’s energy bills.

The money comes from Salix, an independent company set up by the Carbon Trust in 2004 to work with the public sector to reduce carbon emissions through investment in energy efficiency measures and technologies. The £200,000, to be spent over three years, will be match-funded by the council.

Projects to benefit from the fund will be in council-owned buildings including schools but exclude housing and transport projects as these are covered by other government schemes.

Schemes in the county which may benefit from the funding include swimming pool covers, installing low-energy lighting and cavity wall insulation. Discussions are taking place over which particular projects will benefit first.

Some £50,000 of the allocation is available to spend by the end of March next year. Projects carried out must save money in bills and the savings are then ploughed back into the fund so investments are on going.

Herefordshire is one of just 20 authorities in the country to have been granted this funding and the £200,000 will be paid over a three-year period. To gain the funding, the council had to show a good track record of energy management and a commitment to support and promote the fund.

Councillor Phil Edwards, cabinet member for the environment, said: “I am delighted Herefordshire Council’s work to reduce energy bills has been recognized in this way and feel sure this money will help us to become even more energy efficient.”
 
The council already has a certificate from the Carbon Trust, recognizing its commitment to cut carbon emissions year on year and improve energy efficiency. It is also a signatory to the Nottingham Agreement and thus committed to actively tackling climate change in the county and working with others to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Herefordshire also has 75 per cent of its schools registered as eco-schools as part of a European scheme which promotes recycling, energy conservation, healthy eating and bio-diversity.