A local authority in Gloucestershire is set to lower its energy bills by more than £100,000 by signing up to the Carbon Trust’s Public Sector Carbon Management scheme.
Wyre Forest District Council in Gloucestershire is also hoping to reduce its carbon emissions by more than three million tonnes over the lifetime of the programme, which it aims to achieve by cutting the commercial energy used to power street lighting, public buildings and vehicle fleets used by the local authority.
The district council is one of 20 organisations participating in this phase of the Carbon Trust’s programme.
Council bosses say that the 247 organisations who have already participated in the first eight phases of the programme, have already implemented projects that over their lifetime are expected to save more than 3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and more than £100 million, with more projects in the pipeline.
The Carbon Trust’s Public Sector Carbon Management scheme provides public sector organisations with practical advice on how to cut their carbon footprint and reduce energy costs. Larissa Lockwood, public sector manager at the Carbon Trust, said the carbon and energy savings made so far had been great, and the Trust was looking forward to building on these achievements with the new participants.
“Given the success of the previous phases of our Carbon Management programme, we are excited to be working with 20 more organisations, including Wyre Forest District Council, to establish good carbon management practice,” she said.
Commenting on Wyre Forest district council’s participation in the scheme, Councillor Julian Phillips – district council cabinet member for place-shaping – said:
“Our participation in this programme, together with the construction of our new, highly energy efficient headquarters will enable us to plan and deliver carbon emission reductions and energy savings across our entire estate.”
