Spring 2012 - Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

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Taking action Across the borough, moves are being made to cut the carbon footprint of our homes and businesses and in our communities – and to cope with the impact of extreme weather from snow to heatwaves. Our homes Stopping energy going through the roof In a bid to save residents money and lower the borough’s carbon emissions the council is working together with Hampshire County Council on the Insulate Hampshire initiative. ScottishPower is offering, for a limited period, free cavity wall insulation and free loft insulation for those in the borough booking surveys before the end of March, subject to certain conditions. For more information call 0800 952 0037, email enquiries@insulatehampshire.co.uk or see www.insulatehampshire.co.uk. Our businesses Lower carbon business Businesses can make real financial savings by improving their sustainable business practices. As part of EcoAdvantage, a European Social Funded project, the council has provided free carbon management training for over 80 local small to medium sized businesses. Although the project is coming to a close this year, an e-learning module is being developed to be freely accessible for all businesses,to advise them and help train their employees to work more sustainably. The module will be available at the end of March and will appear on the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council website. International eco business park plans The regeneration of Basing View aims to turn it into a green business park, with plans to cut energy use and encourage more environmentally-friendly travel built into proposals for its future. A possible bid for European funding for those running business parks to share good ideas for cutting carbon is being put together. This saw a group from France visiting Basing View in January. Solar panels to cut tenants’ bills Sentinel housing association is installing solar panels on the roofs of 145 properties in the borough. Focusing on suitable properties with the highest energy bills can save anything from £80 per year to £180 per year in electricity costs, dependant on usage patterns. The total project will save over 3000 tonnes of carbon per year. Planning for eco-homes New homes will all have to be zero carbon by 2016 under national requirements to address emissions and also to achieve a reduction of 15% in carbon emissions under the council’s proposed planning policies. Developments will also be expected to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes standards. Planning for greener businesses All new business developments will be expected to be zero carbon by 2019 under the national requirements to address emissions and under the council’s proposed planning policies to achieve a ‘very good’ standard for energy efficiency and construction. For more information on climate change in the borough or to sign up to the Greening Campaign email Lucy Martins at lucy.martins@basingstoke.gov.uk or call 01256 844844. For further information on cutting energy bills, renewable energy technologies and smart driving techniques visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk or call 0800 512 012.
on climate change Greening Chineham Campaign Our communities Small changes making a big difference Residents have already begun working together as communities to reduce their area’s carbon footprint under the Greening Campaign. Offering support and guidance, the Greening Campaign has been adopted in Chineham and Sherborne St John. The Greening Chineham Campaign, running since September 2010, focuses on making small changes which can then make a big difference. Ten simple energy saving actions have been adopted to challenge Chineham residents. These include: turning off the lights when you leave a room, turning off all standbys, washing laundry at 30ºC, only boiling the amount of water you need and turning the thermostat down by one degree. Encouraging renewable energy Community groups and individuals will be encouraged to identify and apply for wind power schemes in suitable areas in the borough in the future. This is among the council’s proposed new planning policies aiming to support new renewable or low-carbon energy development. Coping with extreme weather Communities are setting up schemes to cope with extreme weather and protect the most vulnerable people in their areas. A Snow Crisis Line is now being piloted in Whitchurch at the Gill Nethercott Centre and South Ham at Westside Community Centre. Whitchurch has managed to recruit around 30 volunteers willing to clear snow and fetch shopping and prescriptions for housebound older or disabled people during heavy snow. Greener community centres New community centres built by the borough council are being designed with carbon cutting technology in place. One example of this is the new Rooksdown Community Centre, which was designed to incorporate some of the latest sustainable technologies, such as a ground source heat pump system, that uses natural heat to cut energy bills, and a natural air ventilation system. Cutting the council’s carbon Reducing energy use The council has reduced its own carbon emissions by 21 per cent, the equivalent of filling 946 hot air balloons. This has been done through energy efficiency improvements and a reduction in mileage to deliver services. This exceeds the original target of 20 per cent. Greener grass cutting! The frontline team responsible for street cleaning and carrying out grounds maintenance in parks and open spaces throughout a largely rural borough has been doing its own bit to be greener. To be more energy efficient we ensure that the shortest route is taken and the use of satellite fleet monitoring systems allows the closest vehicle to attend call-outs if needed. We have also reduced the number of vehicles in our fleet and trained our teams in fuel consumption reducing techniques. Cabinet View Cllr Elaine Still, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: As a borough council, we have pledged to cut our energy use now, as well as planning for a more eco-friendly future and coping with the effects of climate change. We make this a cornerstone in all we do, raising awareness of the issues and supporting our businesses and residents to cut their energy use and carbon emissions. Basingstoke & Deane Today 9
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Spring 2012 - Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

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