Cotswold District Council advances towards net-zero with solar energy investments
Cotswold District Council is taking a significant step forward in its journey towards achieving its net-zero by 2030 goal by installing photovoltaic solar panels at its Cirencester office. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to combat climate change and reduce the Council's own carbon footprint.
The new solar panels will not only contribute to environmental sustainability but also demonstrate fiscal responsibility. They are expected to reduce the Council's CO2 emissions by approximately 43 tonnes each year, which is equivalent to the emissions from driving the average petrol powered car about 160,000 miles.
Moreover, the solar panels will result in substantial energy cost savings for taxpayers.
The project is funded through the innovative Cotswold Climate Investment, launched in 2022, which allows residents and others to invest as little as £5 in local green initiatives.
In addition to the Council's own solar investments, the Council recently launched Cotswold Home Solar in partnership with Make My House Green, an initiative that aims to help homes and businesses across the district reduce both their energy costs and carbon footprint.
Councillor Mike McKeown, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Sustainability at Cotswold District Council, said: "We must think innovatively in our response to the climate crisis. Solar investment is a significant step for the Council in meeting its clean energy targets, insulating against dramatic fluctuations in the energy market and importantly limiting the amount of fossil fuel energy being used to run council buildings. The Council is delighted to collaborate with EcoVision Asset Management, a Gloucestershire-based company, to deliver this project, which is expected to be completed in the coming months.”
To date, the Cotswold Climate Investment platform has raised an incredible £500,000 to accelerate the local response to climate and ecological emergencies.
The Council is also exploring the feasibility of installing solar panels on other buildings it owns as part of its commitment to achieve 100% clean energy use across its operations. Last year, solar panels and other low carbon technologies were fitted at Cirencester and Bourton-on-the-Water leisure centres.
In a further move to reduce climate impacts, the Council has recently taken delivery of four new Peugeot Partner E-vans which will be used to support its parking and environmental regulatory services operations.