Council Carbon Management Programme

ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COMPLETES CARBON MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

Argyll and Bute Council has successfully graduated from the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Management Programme, with a commitment to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2014, delivering an annual energy bill reduction of £800,000.  Argyll and Bute Council is one of 25 organisations in Scotland who graduated from the sixth phase of the Carbon Management Programme, receiving a certificate from the Carbon Trust and Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, at the official ceremony in Edinburgh.  The Carbon Management programme is designed to help organisations develop a targeted framework to deliver carbon reduction practices by establishing their current baseline emissions, assessing the risks and opportunities posed by climate change, and developing a robust strategy to reduce carbon footprints over a five to ten year period.  Since the programme began in 2003, 25 organisations in Scotland, including local authorities, universities and NHS boards, have graduated from the programme.  So far these organisations have reduced their carbon dioxide emissions by over 100,000 tonnes, with associated energy bill savings in excess of £6 million.  Argyll and Bute's spokesperson for Economy, Environment and Rural Affairs, Councillor Robert Macintyre, said: To date the Council's efforts have been largely focused on improving the energy efficiency of our buildings.  "However, to achieve our target of reducing our carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2014, 5,298 tonnes carbon dioxide emissions per annum, we will be implementing a host of project ideas which will deploy well researched and reliable technologies.  "These can deliver energy savings and can harness potential for renewable energy generation. We must at the same time challenge council staff in their travel and energy usage behaviour by raising awareness of the issues and creating an open forum for staff to suggest carbon and energy reduction ideas.” The Carbon Trust has welcomed a further 11 organisations to the programme who will commence the seventh phase of the programme this year.  John Stocks, Manager, Carbon Trust Scotland, said: “The environmental benefits of cutting carbon are clear. "However, even more significant for organisations in the current financial climate is the need to cut costs. Improving energy efficiency by implementing good carbon management is a key way of achieving financial savings and releasing funds which could be better spent elsewhere.  “The Carbon Management Programme offers advice and guidance on how to achieve this and offers the opportunity to network with organisations that have already been successful in achieving significant targets and can offer additional real life hints and tips! “This year’s cohort has been particularly successful, with a typical carbon management plan indicating a carbon emission reduction of 20% over a period of five years.” The Carbon Management Programme is designed to deliver improved energy management of buildings, vehicle fleets, street lighting and landfill sites. The programme is supported by a bespoke toolkit – a web based manual that gives detailed guidance on the programme’s process and technical advice. It also facilitates the sharing of best practice between participants, enabling them to learn from each other’s experience, thereby optimising results.