Wiltshire Council gets £4.4m to reduce carbon emissions
The government cash will be used to upgrade heating systems in many of its buildings
Last updated 21st Apr 2021
A large grant is being given to Wltshire Council to help the local authority do more to combat climate change
The local authority successfully bid for more than £4.4m from the Government's Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to reduce carbon emissions.
The money will be spent on updating the heating systems and generate electricity at several Wiltshire Council buildings.
A big chunk of the cash will be used to install air to water heat pumps at four leisure centres including Five Rivers Health and Well being Centre in Salisbury as well as Warminster Leisure Centre.
SOLAR PANELS
Solar panels will also be installed at Five Rivers as well as at Durrington Swimming Pool, Bourne Hill Offices and Churchfields Depot.
19 council buildings in total will get the greener source of energy.
A further 10 council properties will get heating and air handling upgrades including Durrington Swimming Pool.
In October 2020, the council also received £185,818 from the the same government scheme.
This was spent on replacing the gas boilers at Warminster Library with an air to water heat pump system and installing solar panels on the roof of the library.
The funding was also used to install solar panels on the roof at the Nadder Centre in Tisbury.
This work was completed in March and will save an estimated 30 tonnes of carbon each year.
BOOST FOR COUNCIL'S AIM TO BE CARBON NEUTRAL 2030
Simon Hendey, Director of Housing and Commercial, said:
"This is significant funding that will enable us to reduce our carbon emissions by upgrading heating systems, and also reduce our energy bills longer term. In addition, costs will be mitigated as electricity will be generated by solar panels at 19 of our buildings."
"Once all the upgrades are completed in the autumn, they will save 1,200 tonnes of carbon each year, and also bring the council financial savings.
"The changes will also help us to embed expertise on new, greener technologies, such as air and water heat pumps, into the Wiltshire workforce, which will make it easier for residents to make similar changes to their properties, should they wish to do so.
"We will continue to pursue all avenues for funding to help decarbonise our property estates as we progress with our aim to make the county of Wiltshire carbon neutral by 2030."