Case Studies

1 November 2010

Please note: not all of these funding streams are still available.

ENERGY: Southampton District Energy Scheme

Summary:

The Southampton District Energy Scheme is the largest commercially developed district heating scheme in the UK. The scheme includes geothermal energy and combined heat and power (CHP).

The scheme is a public-private partnership between Utilicom and Southampton City Council which began in 1986.

Heating and cooling are provided to more than 1,000 residential properties and large office buildings including a hospital and university.

Funding and Impact:

The scheme cost £8 million (equivalent to approximately £20 million at 2009 prices). Financing was provided primarily by Utilicom and through a European Union grant, and also through Community Energy grants from the Energy Saving Trust. The scheme now attracts funding from DEFRA and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The scheme offers customers savings of between 5 and 10% on their energy costs and it has also created around 80 full time equivalent jobs.

12,000 tonnes of CO2 are saved annually.

ENERGY: Barkantine combined heat and power

Summary:

The Barkantine combined heat and power (CHP) scheme provides heat and electricity to around 600 dwellings as well as to other buildings including a school, community hall and swimming pool.

The scheme is a private finance initiative between Barkantine Heat and Power Company and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

Funding and Impact:

The scheme cost £6 million. The project received a grant of £6 million from DEFRA and £12,500 from the Energy Saving Trust.

As part of the scheme, Tower Hamlets borough receives 40% of any excess beyond anticipated profits. Electricity not used on site is sold to the market and a share of this income is invested in the community. The scheme also addresses fuel poverty in the community through reducing fuel bills.

The scheme saves more than 1,700 tonnes of CO2 annually.

TRANSPORT: Brighton and Hove Buses

Summary:

A Quality Bus Partnership was introduced in Brighton and Hove to increase bus usage and decrease traffic. The project saw a significant increase in bus usage, walking and cycling.

The local authorities and bus operators worked together to improve bus services. The partnership involved investment in facilities by the local authority and investment in vehicles or services by the bus operators.

Funding and Impact:

The total cost of the scheme was £57.5 million. This was made up of £35 million in Government funding; £19 million of revenue investment from the City Council; as well as contributions from developers and funding from supplementary bids.

Almost 10 million more bus journeys are taking place annually and there has been a 10% reduction in private car journeys in and out of the city centre.

TRANSPORT: Transport for London Hybrid Bus Programme

Summary:

Under this Transport for London scheme all buses introduced in London after 2012 will have hybrid technology to reduce emissions and reduce fuel consumption. Hybrid buses have both a diesel engine and an electric motor. The electric motor is charged when the bus brakes, and this energy can then be used to power the bus.

It's hoped that hybrid buses are a stepping-stone towards the introduction of buses that are zero emissions at point of use. There are currently 56 hybrid buses in the London bus fleet. 

Funding and Impact: 

Initial costs were 75% higher than standard buses, but this is offset in the longer term through lower fuel consumption. (Hybrid buses use 30% less fuel).

There's a reduction of more than 30% in CO2 emissions per bus, while the new improved hybrid bus that will come into operation from 2011 will be 40% more efficient than conventional buses.

The scheme in London was funded by a climate change fund introduced to support London's Climate Change Action Plan. 

TRANSPORT: Darlington: a sustainable travel town

Summary:

When Darlington was selected as a Sustainable Travel Demonstration Town, a five year project to reduce traffic levels was introduced. The project combined a Smarter Choices scheme with improvements in infrastructure like cycle lanes. These infrastructure improvements were aided by Darlington having been selected as a Cycling Demonstration Town.

Personalised travel advice was available to everyone who wished to receive it. Schools also took part. Many installed secure cycle parking and took part in a campaign to encourage sustainable travel to school. Businesses in the area developed travel plans so that 30% of the workforce was covered.

Funding and Impact:

The total cost of the scheme was £3.3 million which was funded by the Department of Transport (DfT). Darlington's Cycling Demonstration Town status meant an additional £1.5 million.

The project led to estimated annual CO2 reductions of 7,000 tonnes. The scheme saw an increase in walking (15%) and cycling (120%) and a decrease in car use.

TRANSPORT: York, Cycling City

Summary:

When York was designated a cycling city from 2008-2011, the Council began improving cycling infrastructure and encouraging more people to cycle.

Cycle routes and bike parking facilities were improved, school children were encouraged to cycle to school and the council helped businesses improve their facilities for cyclists.

Funding and Impact:

£3.68 million in Government funding financed the scheme.

York Council hopes to increase cycling by 25% by 2010, with a 100% increase in children cycling to school and a 10% rise in cycling to work.

TRANSPORT: Nottingham Workplace Parking Levy

Summary:

Nottingham City Council has introduced plans for a levy for employers with 11 or more parking places for employees. All the money raised from the levy will be used to improve public transport in the city.

Funding and Impact:

It's hoped the scheme will remove 2.5 million cars from Nottingham's roads by 2015. The levy will raise as estimated £14 million annually. The scheme will simultaneously tackle congestion and CO2 emissions.

HOUSING: Birmingham Energy Savers

Summary:

Birmingham Energy Savers is a city-wide energy efficiency and renewable energy scheme led by the City Council. It is the first major project to make use of the feed-in tariff, campaigned for by Friends of the Earth.

Starting with 2,000 social houses or vulnerable privately owned properties, the scheme will eventually be extended to up to 100,000 homeowners, 100 businesses and 1,500 tenants.

Residents will be offered loans to improve the energy efficiency of their house, together with free solar panels - meaning they'll benefit from cheaper energy bills. The loans are repaid as energy bills come down, and the council and its partners also collect the Feed-in Tariffs for the solar panels - meaning the scheme can be self-financing.

Funding and Impacts:

The initial part of the scheme will cost £13 million; as it expands across the city it will cost £100m.

The pilot scheme received £1.2m from the local strategic partnership and delivered solar panels to 60 properties. The next phase will be fully funded by the Council, while financing for the city-wide stage of the scheme will come from a partnership that includes the Council, a bank and a utility.

The project aims to create or protect 270 green jobs and apprenticeships.

Long Term Aspirations:

The scheme is part of Birmingham's plan to reduce CO2 emissions from the local area by 60% by 2026.

HOUSING: Kirklees Warm Zone

Summary:

Kirklees Warm Zone was the largest local authority home insulation scheme in the UK. Free loft and cavity wall insulation was offered to all Kirklees residents.

Kirklees Warm Zone is a good example of how projects aimed at cutting carbon emissions can also create jobs and relieve fuel poverty. The Kirklees scheme created almost 200 jobs and will save householders over £9 million annually on fuel. 200 fitters were also trained as part of the scheme.

Funding and Impact:

The scheme is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 34,000 tonnes annually by the end of the project.

The scheme cost £20m over three years - £9m from the council itself and £11m from Scottish Power as part of their Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) commitment. It is estimated that every £1 invested in the scheme returns £5 into the local economy.

COMMERCIAL EMISSIONS: Islington Climate Change Partnership

Summary:

Islington Climate Change Partnership is a partnership of organisations from the public, private and voluntary sector with a target of reducing their CO2 emissions by 15% by 2010. The project was launched in 2007 and now has 185 members. The scheme provides energy surveys and workshops on improved energy management and energy saving measures.

Funding and Impact:

The partnership has a budget of £150,000, funded by Islington Strategic Partnership. By the end of 2009 over 8,600 tonnes of CO2 had been saved, representing a 6.65% reduction in emissions.

OWN OPERATIONS: London Borough of Haringey

Summary:

The London Borough of Haringey has drawn up a Carbon Management Plan with the help of the Carbon Trust. The plan will reduce CO2 emissions in council buildings, schools, and care homes for example, through insulation, draft proofing and replacing lighting. It will also implement awareness raising campaigns.

Funding and Impact:

The measures will cost £5.4 million but the plan aims to save an estimated £38 million over 5 years. The measures could save almost 6,500 tonnes of CO2 annually.

OWN OPERATIONS: Warwickshire County Council

Summary: 

Warwickshire County Council has implemented a range of energy saving measures in its operations including installing an innovative eco cooler unit, replacing lighting in many schools, and improving insulation.

The eco cooler unit uses cool air from outside to keep the Council's server room cool. This is unlike most air cooler units which use energy to cool down air inside the building.

The eco cooler unit cost just £21,810 and will save £300,000 over its lifetime. It was the first of its kind in the UK.

Funding and Impact:

A recycling fund of £600,000 was used to finance the measures.

The projects are expected to save more than £2 million over their lifetime. Up to 11,500 tonnes of CO2 will also be saved. 

OWN OPERATIONS: Nottinghamshire County Council

Summary:

Nottinghamshire County Council has implemented around 80 projects to cut its emissions. These include upgrading lighting and improving insulation in schools in the area. A local community college has also had point of use water heaters installed.

Funding and Impact:

An estimated £900,000 was spent on the 80 projects. The projects have the potential to save the council over £2.5 million and to save almost 16,000 tonnes of CO2.

OWN OPERATIONS: London Borough of Bromley

Summary:

The London Borough of Bromley has introduced an energy saving programme for street lighting in the Borough. Street lights have been fitted with equipment so that they are dimmable resulting in substantial energy savings.

Street lighting is the second largest emitter of CO2 in the Council's operations, accounting for around 15% of overall annual emissions.

Funding and Impact:

If 500 lights are upgraded annually as expected, 6,675kg of CO2 will be saved each year.

It costs £8,500 to upgrade 500 columns. Over the 20 year expected lifespan of the equipment, electricity savings of £34,000 are expected from the 500 columns.

The project was part-financed by Salix Finance.