Energy efficiency measures help Leicestershire County Council slash CO2 emissions by 7000 tonnes

Leicestershire County Council reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 34% in the past 12 months, thanks to a range of energy saving measures.

In the same period (2017/2018) the council also reduced its greenhouse emissions by 29% generated by its operations. This success can be mostly attributed to the installation of a biomass boiler at County Hall, which significantly reduced gas use in council run buildings, however a range of energy efficiency measures also contributed to this outstanding achievement:

• Changing its street lights to LEDs resulted in a 68% reduction in carbon emissions since 2014/15.
• A decrease in electricity and gas consumption following a review of council buildings and an investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy.
• A 23% reduction in emissions from the council’s fleet vehicles.

To further this effort the council has joined Leicester City Council by committing to using 100% clean energy by 2050. By becoming a signatory of the UK100 campaign, which advocates for the creation of a Clean Air Act, the council has committed to ensuring energy will come from renewable sources such as wind, water and solar power and not from fossil fuels. 

Council leader Nick Rushton commented: “Pledging our support to the campaign will mean we can work with communities and businesses in the county to change to a low carbon economy, which will help to secure an environmentally sustainable future”.

Elmhurst Energy welcomes this news from the council and congratulates them for adopting a range of energy efficiency measures that will bring both environmental and financial benefits.

Most public buildings are required to have a Display Energy Certificate (DEC), which are undertaken by qualified DEC assessors and provide recommendations for appropriate energy saving measures. DECs are the government’s ‘measuring stick’ to compare the energy efficiency of public buildings, with an energy rating system that spans from A-G (A being the most efficient and G being the least).

To find out more about DEC certificates click here.

Article Published: 13th December 2018