Information on Loughborough

Council commended by Carbon Trust

Posted on 14/09/07
P. Klein

carbon moleculeWe reported a back at the beginning of August about how Charnwood Borough Council had received an award for their energy efficiency (http://www.inloughborough.com/news/council_040807.shtml). Now the Carbon Trust has said that our Council based in Loughborough is an excellent example of success .

The Carbon Trust is a company that is independent and funded by central Government. The purpose of the Carbon Trust is to make sure that the country moves to what is known as a low carbon economy. It aims to do this by targeting businesses and the public sector (e.g. Borough Councils) and showing them how they can both save energy and reduce carbon emissions. For businesses it also shows the commercial opportunities that the new technologies can create for companies.

The Carbon Trusts Local Authority Carbon Management Programme, LACM, provides local councils with the information and support that will help them change and make savings in carbon emissions. This is achieved through technical support, change management. By targeting certain areas such as street lighting, how landfill sites should be used, insulation and management of council office and the vehicles which the council uses substantial savings in emissions can be made. Since the launch of the LACM programme in 2003 there have now been 98 Local Authorities who have completed the programme set up by the Carbon Trust. Many of the authorities have made substantial savings in CO2 reduction. It has been identified that almost half a million tonnes of CO2 could be saved by Local Authorities at a financial saving of 43,000,000.

The Carbon Trust, talking about our Council have said: "Charnwood Borough Council has been an excellent example of success. The framework they have in place will see further carbon savings over the next 5 " 10 years. We will continue to work with the Council on their future plans, supporting them through many of the identified projects and future initiatives.

Richard Shepherd, Leader of Charnwood Borough Council and Conservative Councillor for Quorn & Mountsorrel Castle, said: "We all know about the importance of doing our bit for the environment and this is first class recognition of the work that Charnwood Borough Council is doing.