ENERGY from renewable sources has increased across council owned and occupied buildings in Denbighshire.
Denbighshire County Council’s Corporate Plan 2017-22 included a focus on the preservation of the natural environment.
The council also declared a Climate Change and Ecological Emergency in July 2019 and committed to seeking to become a Net Carbon Zero and Ecologically Positive Council by 2030.
A target was set to double the amount of energy from renewable sources used in council owned and occupied buildings between 2017 and 2022 as part of the corporate plan environment priority.
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The council has since signed up to a Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) backed energy tariff so that all purchased electricity is from certified renewable sources.
Efforts have also been made to generate the council’s own electric from installed renewable energy generation.
At the start of April 2017, the council had 147.8kWp of installed renewable energy.
As of last month, the council property section has increased the installed capacity of renewable energy to 539.62kWp, more than tripling the installed capacity.
This increase has been achieved primarily through roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.
An additional 338kWp is due to be installed by the end of this financial year.
Steve Gadd, Denbighshire's head of finance and property services, said: “We are pleased to have delivered successful projects such as Ysgol Dinas Bran where on site carbon emissions have been reduced by over 30 per cent by installing solar PV, modifying heating controls and LED lighting.
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“The council has also started installing air source heatpumps and battery storage to further reduce electricity demand and carbon emissions.
"This is on top of other work that is reducing consumption through the installation of LED lighting, loft and wall insulation, improved draught proofing and modification of heating systems to further reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
“The council’s energy team has also been running lessons in schools educating the pupils about the carbon reduction measures that have been installed in their school and also advising how they can reduce their own energy use and emissions at home.”
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