Councils leading the way with green policies

2 March 2010

Some of the most inspirational examples of green policies by councils are in a new publication for Friends of the Earth - Cutting Carbon Locally - And How to Pay For It.

Here are a few of the highlights.

Case study: Kirklees - free home insulation

Kirklees Council in Yorkshire has teamed up with an energy supplier to offer all its residents free home insulation.

This is already saving over 28,000 tonnes of CO2 every year, as well as money for householders, and created over 100 new jobs.

Households have been offered both loft and cavity wall insulation. This has made homes in Kirklees warmer, more comfortable and more energy efficient.

Local authority housing has been improved, helping avoid fuel poverty for vulnerable residents.

Find out more information about the scheme in our report.

Case study: Darlington - improving public transport

Darlington Borough Council managed to significantly cut traffic and increase greener travel in just two years.

Single occupant car trips were cut by nine per cent, cycling doubled, and walking and public transport use increased too.

The secret was simple - better information for schools, workplaces and residents about how to get around without the car. There was also intensive cycle training and over 1,000 new cycle parking spaces were created.

Around 7,000 tonnes of CO2 have been saved annually since 2004.

Find out more information about the scheme in our report.

Aberdeen City Council created a combined heat and power (CHP) scheme in the city.

What is CHP?
CHP (combined heat and power) allows both heat & electricity to be generated at the same time. In conventional power stations, heat is wasted when electricity is produced. Using CHP, this heat is also captured.

Since 2002, three CHP plants have been installed and operate with 85 per cent efficiency.

A school, leisure centre and nearly 800 council flats are now powered this way. The scheme has reduced CO2 emissions in the flats it is connected to by around 50% and created at least 40 new jobs.

Fuel poverty has also been reduced - heating bills are now around 75% lower.

For more information on these and nine other case studies of pioneering local action, see our report Cutting Carbon Locally - And How to Pay For It.

Take action

All of the schemes above could be introduced by any council.

But Government needs to make it easier for them to do so.

Ask your MP to make sure every council does its bit on climate change.