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An innovative project to cut energy consumption has
been awarded more than £770,000 funding by the
Government.
The groundbreaking energy efficiency scheme,
developed by the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE),
involves Bath & North East Somerset Council and its
partners in the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP).
Funding from this project is from the Treasury’s
Invest to Save Budget designed to bring about
improvements in the delivery of local public
services.
The aim of the project is to cut energy consumption
for participating members of the LSP by at least 10 per
cent over the next three years. It could save an
estimated £4.7 million between now and 2012.
CSE, a Bristol-based national charity with more than
20 years’ experience in large scale energy projects,
will provide the expertise to manage the initiative.
The project is two pronged. On the one hand more than
20 high energy use buildings will have the latest in
high-tech monitoring and metering equipment installed in
the first two years. This will show where savings are
being made and where more work needs to be done.
In addition, thousands of staff will be trained at
all levels in each organisation to deliver changes at a
grass roots level. This will include training energy
champions, building managers and frontline staff.
The Bath & North East Somerset Local Strategic
Partnership (LSP) was formed in June 2002. It aims to
meet local needs by promoting partnership working. It is
made up of public services, as well as voluntary,
community and business sector representatives.
Together the organisations involved in the project
employ more than 14,000 staff and their combined fuel
consumption costs are more than £6.2m. This also
produces more than 78,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide
emissions. With rising energy costs and the impact on
climate change there is a strong incentive for reducing
energy consumption.
Bath & North East Somerset Council leader Paul
Crossley, who is Chairman of the LSP, said: “This scheme
will provide a blueprint for cutting energy use that we
believe other organisations across the country will be
able to adopt.
“The training of staff at all levels and in all
departments of participating partner organisations will
create a cultural shift in energy use in Bath and North
East Somerset that will be felt not only at work but
also in people’s homes.
“With members of the partnership facing 35-50%
increases in their fuel bill this initiative should also
offer better value for money as well as improving the
environment.”
Simon Roberts, Chief Executive for the Centre for
Sustainable Energy, said: “This project is all about
making sure the simplest things get done through better
management and more sensible energy use. It should
result in multi-million pound savings which can underpin
local services and cuts in carbon emissions which will
reduce the area’s impact on the global climate.
“By working with the Local Strategic Partnership we
will engage some of the largest energy users in Bath and
North East Somerset. The approach will set a new
benchmark for partnership working to take control of
spiralling energy costs and tackle climate change.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. The full title of the project is ‘Promoting and
sustaining energy efficiency across Bath & North
East Somerset Local Strategic Partnership’. The award
from Government totals £772,158
2. Information on the budget is available at:
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk
3. The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) is a
national charitable company established in 1979. It has
a staff of 36 and is based at the CREATE Centre in
Bristol. Its mission is to ‘advance sustainable energy
policy and practice, seeking energy solutions that
engage people and communities to meet real needs for
both environmentally sound and affordable energy
services’. Funders and clients include national,
regional and local government and associated agencies,
energy companies and charitable sources.
4. The bid partners brought together by the LSP and
who are taking part in the project are:
- Bath & North East Somerset Council
- Avon and Somerset Constabulary (Bath & North
East Somerset District)
- Bath & North East Somerset Primary Care Trust
- Royal United Hospital Trust
- Somer Housing Trust
- Bath & North East Somerset Council for
Voluntary Services
- Bath & North East Somerset Racial Equality
Council
- City of Bath College
- University of Bath
- Bath Spa University
- Norton Radstock College
- Bath & North East Somerset Group of the Avon
Local Councils Association
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