Fossil fuel combustion is
still the main process used to produce energy in the United Kingdom.
Burning
these fuels (coal, oil, petrol and gas) produces carbon dioxide - a greenhouse
gas which contributes to the phenomenon known as "climate change".
Climate change in the UK has caused the average mean temperature to increase by
about 0.5 degrees over the last 100 years.
Continuing increases will effect
flora, fauna and agriculture, and threaten the well-being of future generations.
To try to stabilise the trend of continually rising global temperatures, a
reduction in the emissions of carbon dioxide is needed.
This will require more
use of renewable energy sources (such as wind power, solar power and bio-fuels)
instead of fossil fuels.
It will also require everyone to use energy more
efficiently.
The Kyoto Agreement, signed in 1997 sets legally binding targets for individual
countries to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases.
The UK is committed
to reduce its emissions by 12.5% of 1990 levels by 2008 - 2012.
In addition,
the Government has set its own 'domestic' target to reduce carbon dioxide
emissions by 20% by 2010.
Regional Energy Strategy
The North East Regional Energy Strategy was
published by the Northern Energy Initiative (TNEI) in 1999.
Durham County
Council is responding to the objectives set out in the strategy in a number of
ways:
Improving energy efficiency in its own buildings and services
Promoting and demonstrating aspects of energy efficiency and renewable energy
through other key plans and strategies (e.g.
the County Durham Economic
Development Strategy, the County Durham Local Transport Plan and the County
Durham Sustainable Waste Management Strategy).
Organising events for raising public awareness about energy issues,
technologies and good practice
Energy Management in County Council Buildings
The Energy Management
Unit at County Hall is responsible for managing the energy use in approximately
500 council properties, with a combined annual energy bill of over �3.5
million.
The County Council has a good record on energy efficiency.
The following are examples of the measures taken in recent years - many of
which could be repeated by other organisations.
Boilers at 24 sites have been converted from solid fuel to gas firing, reducing
energy consumption by 25% and CO2 emissions by 40%.
Maintenance costs have
also been substantially reduced.
A policy is in place to to completely phase
out solid fuel and oil-fuelled boilers by 2005
Boiler plants at 4 schools have been converted from solid fuel to run on wood
pellets derived from clean waste wood
A state of the art biomass boiler plant has been installed at Cassop Primary
School
A 50kwh wind turbine has been installed at an existing school, and a 20kwh wind
turbine has been installed at a new school
2 new schools have been designed to utilise rainwater for flusing WC's
The installation of cavity wall insulation at schools and social services
residential homes has improved comfort and reduced energy consumption by 10%
Installation of swimming pool covers at 22 pools has reduced energy consumption
by 20%
29,000, 100 watt tungsten light bulbs have been replaced with 23 watt compact
fluorescent lights, each saving �60 over its life
A microturbine combined heat and power unit has been installed at County Hall
The County Council's Energy Management Unit is regularly audited by the
District Auditor who concluded that "in comparative terms Durham is a good
practice authority".
The County Council has also been accredited under the
Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme - the first County Council to receive
this recognition.
(( Energy Efficiency Accreditation logo ))
Public Lighting
Road lighting and illuminated signs consume over 30
million units annually at a current cost of �1.3m.
Energy consumption for
public lighting is increasing due to the adoption of lighting associated with
the expanding highway network, together with meeting the demand for additional
and improved lighting as a community safety measure.
The increase is being
limited by employing the latest technology in efficient electronic control gear
and dimming techniques at times when traffic flows are minimal.
The use of
"white light" sources is being investigated which may allow lower lighting
levels to be employed without detriment to night-time visibility.
Renewable Energy
County Durham is well placed to benefit from the
development of renewable energy as clean and cost-effective source of power.
Wind energy, landfill gas, solar energy and biofuels all represent areas of
opportunity, and their potential contribution to the County's energy demand is
estimated in the Renewable Energy Strategy (1995) and the study "Renewable
Energy in County Durham" (1994).
(( Turbine ))
However, the exploitation of these 'environmentally friendly' resources must be
balanced with careful attention to the physical and social environments.
Planning decisions for renewable energy projects are subject to the same
Government guidance as all other types of development.
The importance of developing sources of renewable energy was identified in the
1995 Renewable Energy Strategy.
Several demonstration projects have been
implemented, and most significantly England's first wind turbine on a school
site connected to the national grid.
The County Council is currently working
with another school on the installation of photo-voltaic cells to produce
electricity from solar energy and a heat-pump scheme using mine water to heat a
museum.
New demonstration projects will be identified and developed as part of
the County Council's response to the Regional Energy Strategy.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
All organisations generate carbon dioxide
through the use of energy.
To reduce this contribution to climate change, most
could reduce their energy-use substantially.
Beyond this point, it is also
possible to seek energy from sustainable sources which do not produce carbon
dioxide, such as wind, water or solar power.
In theory, any remaining carbon
dioxide emissions could be neutralised by planting trees which 'fix' the carbon
out of the atmosphere.
(( Emissions Chart ))
Durham County Council has set a target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from
energy use in its buildings by 2% per year between 2003 and 2008
The current level of carbon neutrality for the County Council's energy use
(excluding transport) is estimated to be 13%.
(i.e.
about 13% of carbon dioxide
emissions are being absorbed by the trees planted over the last 20 years).
The
County Council will strive to increase this figure to meet a target of 20%
neutrality by 2005.
This could be achieved by:
Reducing the overall amount of energy used
Increasing the proportion of energy used from renewable sources
Increasing tree cover by planting trees on County Council land