Council reduces carbon emissions from its buildings

Work has begun to make Council buildings more energy efficient

Solar panels, LED lighting and improvements to control systems are being installed at seven of the authority’s sites including the Civic Centre, Nursling Depot and City Depot. When complete, it is estimated these measures will save 197 tonnes of CO2 and more than £138,000 each year across the sites.

The works are the first phase in the CADs programme, that seeks to decarbonise the authority’s properties as part of its efforts to be net zero by 2030 and create operational efficiencies by invest-to-save. £20 million of capital funding has been assigned to support the programme and the current activities benefit from a further £1.6 million of funding secured from government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

The Council has switched to a green tariff for all its supplied electricity, and this programme will further support its net zero ambitions. As well as generating local solar power and making lighting systems more energy efficient, it will provide opportunities to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for heating through the use of improved insulation and zero emission technologies.

Councillor Steve Galton, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: "We recognise that our buildings contribute to Southampton’s carbon emissions so we’re working hard to reduce our own footprint as well as asking residents to reduce theirs. We all have a part to play in protecting our planet and this new equipment on our buildings is another step forward in reducing the overall carbon emissions across the city. It also helps to reduce our operating costs."

As a city, Southampton will need to reduce its carbon emissions by more than 60% by 2025 if it is to stay on track to meet the Government’s targets.

Find more information about how the Council is going greener.