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Agenda item

Scrutiny Review: Net Zero Carbon Programme - Buildings ( Commercial and infrastructure)

Minutes:

Matt West, Director of Housing Services and James Wilson, Energy Sustainability and Consulting Manager gave a presentation, with the following points highlighted:

Priority is to reduce carbon emissions from commercial, industrial and public sector buildings, which consist of 158,822
tonnes from electricity (54%)

124,080tonnes from gas (42%), 9,892tonnes from ‘other’ fuels (3%) 166tonnes from large industrial installations and agriculture (0.06%)

 

Presently 33% of borough emissions emanate from commercial buildings, 7% from public sector buildings and 6% from industrial buildings.

It was noted that emissions from gas in commercial buildings is one of the few areas where there has been no emission reduction since 2005, in fact it has noticeably increased by 4%.

 

With regards to Council owned buildings, reduction in carbon emissions will be achieved by replacing gas heating with zero carbon alternatives, maximise energy efficiency of buildings through insulation and retrofit, maximise on-site renewables and purchase where possible any remaining electricity needs from renewable sources

 

In the case of reducing carbon emissions from other commercial/industrial/public sector buildings, the Council will not only continue to raise awareness of the need for businesses to make changes as climate change is a big issue, but encourage local organisations to act and provide support for local organisations to act.

 

The Council have identified buildings in scope for feasibility studies–all non-Housing and non-school sites, developed a specification for feasibility studies to assess buildings. The Council will be identifying the most cost-effective zero carbon heating system to replace gas boilers, including possible connection to or creation of new district heating networks.

Other proposed measure will include identifying and introducing energy efficiency improvements, such as insulation, glazing, heating controls, lighting upgrades, passive cooling measures.

Members were advised of Council’s unsuccessful application for a grant from the Low Carbon Skills Fund which would have enabled the Council carry out the feasibility studies to produce a Heat Decarbonisation Plan for 57 corporate buildings with gas heating.

 

Over the next 12 months, meeting was advised that the Council will procure and complete the feasibility studies, prioritise buildings for work and create a retrofit programme. It will also identify and try and secure funding to start delivery

 

With regards schools, the officer advised that so far the Council has successfully applied to the Low Carbon Skills Fund (Nov 2020) for project development funding for pilot feasibility studies at three schools (Beacon High, Drayton Park Primary, New River College), this will provide funding to decarbonise buildings as it becomes available.


In addition, the Council recently applied to the Low Carbon Skills Fund to carry out feasibility studies on 20 additional schools, however this was  unsuccessful due to an oversubscription of the fund, but there is another opportunity to apply on 13 September. A Schools page is being planned for net zero information website with ideas for teachers and students

 

In terms of commercial and industrial buildings, the Council has launched the Energising Small Business Fund, offering grants to small businesses for energy efficiency improvements. In addition the Islington Community Energy Fund, will offers grants to organisation for innovative energy projects, which include energy efficiency measures for buildings.

Council continues to promote the Solar Together scheme to encourage small businesses to install solar PV and it continues to support the Islington Sustainable Energy Partnership (ISEP), which brings together organisations in the borough that are interested in sustainability.

 

With regards to Residential Homes, Commercial and Industrial buildings, the officer advised that in September the Council will start a business audit scheme for small businesses, launch a new net zero information website in November with a section dedicated to businesses, which his will include information on what organisations can do and how they can do it.

In November, the Council aims to get organisations to pledge action using a pledge tool being developed for the net zero website, refocus ISEP to the net zero agenda and make it more targeted towards smaller businesses.

 

On whether ventilation measures were being considered as one of the proposed energy improvement efficiency improvements, the Director of Housing Property Services, acknowledged that this is taken into consideration in all the council’s new build right from conception and not as an afterthought.


Meeting was advised that staff have a role to play in ensuring the Council meets it’s carbon emissions target, that the Council has a staff communication plan, that training modules have been developed which will be delivered via e training and the Council will be appointing recycling champions amongst staff to help promote the council’s vision 2030

On the question of whether the Council could take advantage of the Solar Togetherness Scheme, meeting was advised that the eligibility criteria was only suitable for small firms and not corporate organisations like the Council.

The Solar Togetherness Scheme is promoted via Newsletters and also a communication plan exist for small firms to apply and that the Council will be using it’s tried and tested channels/forums to signpost firms for such schemes

On timescales with regards to the proposed feasibility assessment to be carried on whether council housing stock would be suitable for solar panels, the officer advised that an external consultant is to be commissioned so it will be completed within the year so that the Council can then move onto the next phase.

On what options exists for replacing the heating system at the Council Town Hall, officers advised that no decision had been taken and that any technology employed or introduced will have been tried and tested . Members were also reminded about the importance of the Enable Vehicle 2 Grid 1 trial in the town hall

The Chair thanked Matt West and James Wilson for their presentation


RESOLVED:
The presentation was noted
    

 

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