Leicester council buildings benefit from carbon cutting programme

The energy efficiency of over 90 city council-owned buildings in Leicester, including 55 schools, is being improved through a £24m carbon cutting programme.

New energy saving LED lighting was installed in over 50 buildings over the summer, and work had now been completed on the first installations of new solar photo-voltaic panels on school buildings.

Wyvern Primary School, in Rushey Mead, is one of the first schools to benefit. Work is now complete on the installation of a 45-panel photo voltaic array on its main roof. The school has also seen all 880 of its light fittings upgraded to energy efficient LEDs.

These two measures will help the school cut its own carbon footprint by almost 20 tonnes per year, and make an estimated annual energy saving of around £12,500.

Solar panels are due to be fitted on 60 buildings as part of the Council’s programme, funded through the Salix Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

The programme will also see over 12,000 square meters of replacement double glazed window installed across 40 buildings, and 35 sites are set to benefit from new air source heat pumps to replace gas boilers.

Deputy City Mayor Cllr Adam Clarke said: ‘The need to retrofit older buildings to make them energy efficient is among the many challenges presented by the climate emergency. This new funding was a huge boost to our low carbon ambitions as a council, and it is great to see the progress being made to help cut the carbon cost of our schools, libraries, leisure centres and other buildings.

‘It is an ambitious programme of investment that will help us dramatically cut carbon emissions from our buildings and save hundreds of thousands of pounds in energy costs – something that is very welcome in these challenging times. It also just one part of a major, multi-million programme of investment in the city that will help us make an important step forward in our citywide response to the climate emergency.

‘Now, more than ever, it is vital that we work with local partners to maintain this momentum and continue to urge central Government to support Leicester’s vision to be carbon neutral by 2030.’

In related news, new homes and buildings in England will have to produce significantly less CO2 under new rules announced by the government.

Photo by Bill Mead