Warwick district's carbon footprint reduction plans 'on track despite lockdown'

This is according to Warwick District Council which is aiming to become a zero-carbon organisation by 2025 and the district becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

Despite lockdown being introduced and with some restrictions still in place, the auhtority has still been able to achieve a number of objectives.

planning permission for low carbon homes at Turpin Court has been granted

The programme of works in place to improve our Council houses will include measures to improve energy efficiency

A Housing programme for retrofitting worst EPC rated Council homes (to bring E, F, G rated homes up to C) will be commissioned after the first step of property surveys, currently commissioned, has been completed

A Citizens Assembly has been commissioned which is due to commence in October 2020; this will enable the council to receive external advice on areas to consider as priorities

Forty eight Electric charging points for the council's car parks have been commissioned with Warwickshire County Council; these will be installed in Spring 2021.

From October 2020 the council will be switching to green electricity.

It has been estimated that this will save 2,470 tonnes Co2e

A report for energy savings in the top six energy consuming Council buildings is to be considered by the Executive on 1st October; this will significantly further reduce the Council’s carbon footprint and is a clear statement of intent to help achieve the 2025 target

The ‘Better Points Sustainable Travel’ initiative originally trialled in Leamington, is now being rolled out more widely across the District’s towns with particular reference to the Commonwealth Games

The first tree planting initiatives will be implemented in this winter’s tree-planting season (subject to the Executive’s approval on 1st October)

Two electric pool cars are now in place for the use by the Council’s staff (although sadly not currently in use due to the Covid restrictions)

Funding has been established to introduce electric charging for taxis and incentives for taxi drivers to switch to electric vehicles

All events supported by the Council have guidance to now support plastic free events

The ‘Refill Scheme’ encouraging residents to refill water containers has now been extended to 85 outlets located across the District; this scheme is designed to reduce the use of ‘single-use’ plastic bottles

The Council has eliminated ten plastic sources from its organisation.

The Portfolio Holder for the Environment, Councillor Alan Rhead commented: “This progress is due to the hard work and commitment of the Council’s Officers, despite being in lockdown, for which I am most grateful.

"The key piece of work for the next couple of months is to establish Carbon monitoring so that we can report regularly to Members on our progress towards zero carbon.

"“We have the baseline but monitoring and recording progress is being established.

"With the South Warwickshire initiative now in place I am expecting not only more progress but also some economies of scale as we work together with our Stratford District neighbours.”