Our council sets out its carbon reduction plans

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website team CRAGger Glasgow Leamington

Warren McIntyre, GCC’s Sustainability Project Leader, has send us this interesting news…

CARBON MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME – BRIEFING

Councillors will be asked to back an ambitious carbon management strategy as part of a major drive to make Glasgow one of the UK’s most sustainable cities.

The detailed plan to cut the authority’s emissions by 20% was passed by the Executive Committee on 4th April 2008.

The Energy Saving Trust has already recognised Glasgow as having some of the lowest emissions per household anywhere in Britain – achieving a reduction of more than 30% in the last decade.

Current situation

A comprehensive audit of fuel use, waste and energy consumption has determined that Glasgow City Council is responsible for 196,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

The bulk of that figure (67%) is generated through the day-to-day operation of council buildings – from offices to depots, care homes and schools.

Streetlighting is the next greatest CO2 generator at 14%, with waste at 11%, the city’s transport fleet at 7% and business mileage accounting for the final 1%.

All come with a financial, as well as environmental, cost. For example:

• 60,827 tonnes of CO2 generated supplying the council’s building with electricity – at a cost of £10.2 million.
• 71,367 tonnes from use of gas, oil and coal in buildings – at a cost of £7.9 million.
• Streetlighting generates 28,167 tonnes of CO2, at a cost of almost £3.5 million.
• Waste produces 21,321 tonnes of CO2, at a cost of £880,800 in landfill taxes.
• Fleet fuel use accounts for 12,887 tonnes of carbon dioxide, costing £5.9 million.

In total, the approximate cost associated with the council’s carbon output is around £30 million.

For reporting purposes, Culture & Sport Glasgow and City Building were included in the evaluation – so libraries, sports centres, museums and fleet and plant are included in all calculations.

Projections

Assuming no action, annual CO2 emissions are projected to rise to almost 210,173 pa – an increase of 6.7% by 2013.

• Government standards assume a 0.7% pa energy increase for all buildings – including electricity, gas and water use.
• The council’s own Lighting Network Renewal Project would result in a 15% increase in electricity use over seven years, due to the higher consumption of white light lamps, which replace orange sodium lights.
• National statistics assume a 2% increase in waste generation pa – meaning a potential 4,000 tonne increase for the council over five years.
• Government predictions indicate a 1.8% increase in emissions from transport per annum.

Carbon Management Strategy

The programme aims to reduce the council’s annual carbon dioxide emissions by almost 40,000 tonnes over the next five years.

More than 30 potential projects that will result in significant CO2 and revenue savings have been identified.

These include:

Staff & Member environmental engagement awareness programme
Assuming a 2% saving on electricity, this project would save the city 1,200 tns CO2 and £220k pa.

Blue Motion Vehicles
Will save 103 tns of carbon after three years and £38,595 every year.

Route rationalisation
The fuel efficiencies achieved will reduce emissions by 132 tns every year and reap an annual financial benefit of £100,000.

Building energy audits
Actions identified through energy audits will potentially result in a 2,677 tns annual carbon saving and £400,921 cash benefit pa assuming a 2% saving on electricity and 3% on gas.

Pool covers
Installation will save 877 tns in carbon and £118, 435 each year.

Urinal controls
Near £10,000 annual saving.

Vending machine time switches
Installing controls to vending machines, hot drinks dispensers and other equipment could cut £28,475 from power bills and save 157 tns in CO2 emissions every year.

ENDS