Environmental Sustainability
Greening the council
We have been working hard to reduce our impact on the environment.
In 2001 we signed up to the Nottingham Climate Change Declaration (
PDF 142K) on climate change agreeing to reduce the energy that we waste and to reduce harmful greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere as a result.
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In 2005 we produced a Sustainable Energy Strategy which sets out a number of policies and actions to reduce the borough's impact on climate change.
One of the main recommendations of this strategy was for us to set up a programme to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions from our own buildings and activities. As the borough's main employer and a major consumer of goods and services, we have a major role to play in reducing the borough's contribution to climate change.
We are currently implementing a Carbon Management Programme to reduce our energy consumption by 20% by 2010. This target will be achieved through an investment of around £1 million in a combination of technical controls to heating and lighting systems in civic buildings, schools and leisure centres, as well as a behavioural change programme for staff.
Linked to this programme, we have incorporated sustainability issues in our practices, business plans and monitoring processes. One example is our process for approving expenditure on large projects which now requests applicants for internal projects to answer questions on sustainability.
We have also produced a Green Office Guide to give advice to staff about how to be more environmentally friendly in the workplace. To help implement the guide, we have built up a network of green champions who promote good environmental practices at work.
We are also working to encourage staff to use public transport to get to work, cycle or walk where possible. We have produced a Green Travel Plan providing information for staff on public transport, car sharing, cycling and other issues relating to green travel.
We have formed a bicycle users group for staff which promotes cycling and supports council staff who cycle to work or cycle as part of their job. We have recently invested in 2 electric pool cars that staff will be able to borrow to use for work.
