Archived press release

Date Published: 10/07/08

A ground source heat pump has been installed as part of the theatre works

Aylesbury Vale District Council is taking part in a pioneering scheme to help reduce its carbon footprint.

The council has been chosen to participate in the Carbon Trust’s ambitious Local Authority Carbon Management (LACM) programme, which aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions and reduce energy bills.

AVDC is one of 62 local authorities from across the UK to take part in the latest phase of the programme, which will see participants collectively cut their carbon footprints by 518,000 tonnes and energy costs by £50 million per year. The council is considering a target of reducing its carbon dioxide emissions by 22 per cent by 2013.

Working in partnership with the Carbon Trust, the council will produce an energy strategy setting out the actions and projects it will carry out to achieve significant carbon savings from sources such as offices, public buildings and refuse fleets. As well as producing financial savings for the council and environmental benefits, it will also save council taxpayers’ money.

Participation in this programme builds on some of the many measures the council has already put in place to reduce the district’s carbon footprint. Examples include installing a major renewable energy ground-source heat pump in the new Aylesbury theatre, setting up an automated system that turns off all council computers at night time and trialling energy saving measures in council car-parks and the Aqua Vale and Swan leisure centres.

Councillor Sir Beville Stanier, Cabinet Member for Environment and Health, said: “Reducing our carbon footprint is becoming increasingly important as we discover the effect it is having on the environment. By working in close partnership with the Carbon Trust, we will aim to challenge any wasteful behaviour and identify a set of practical actions that will help us to become more energy efficient. We are committed to taking action on carbon emissions and as a result make savings on our energy costs and ultimately reduce our impact on climate change.”

AVDC has joined in the sixth round of entries to the LACM programme. More than 140 councils have already been through the programme, saving around £70 million and 861,000 tonnes of carbon between them.

The council has signed up to the LACM programme in partnership with two predominantly rural Oxfordshire districts (Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire) to share ideas and develop good practice.

For tips and advice on saving energy, visit the energy saving trust website at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk