Solar hopes Proposals to help power greener living
HOMES in the county could be heated with energy from the sun in the future. Residents in the Cotswolds could also benefit from the district council bulk-buying renewable energy in the not-too-distant future.
These are two of the proposals in Cotswold District Council’s Climate Emergency Strategy, it’s plan to be greener.
The district emitted 605,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2018, which is equivalent to burning about one and a half Cirencester leisure centre-sized pools of diesel everyday.
Just under a half of this stems from petrol and diesel fumes from road travel, a third is from gas and other fuels for heating homes and workplaces, and 15 per cent is from electricity for homes and workplaces.
The council itself is responsible for about 0.4 per cent of the carbon dioxide produced in the district, and aims to reduce its own production of that pverproduced gas by two thirds over the next decade.
By 2045, it is hoped that the council will be able to reduce its emissions to zero - without using tactics to offset how much carbon it produces.
Cotswold District Councillor Rachel Coxcoon, cabinet member responsible for climate change and forward planning, has described the strategy as “realistic but ambitious”.
“The response of individuals and the country as a whole to COVID-19 has shown how dramatically we can respond to a sudden crisis.” councillor Coxcoon said.
“The challenge with the climate emergency is whether we are capable of making changes in our behaviour and economy that are every bit as vital but will play out over decades. I believe we can.”
A meeting of Cotswold District Council held in July 2019 unaminously declared a climate emergency and the strategy describes the role that the council can play in reducing CO2 both in its own activities and, more importantly, across the district.
“Moving from a zero-carbon council will not be easy high but it is comparatively straightforward compared to the real challenge the council faces in reducing carbon across the district as a whole,” councillor Coxcoon said.
“The strategy sees a role for the council as a low carbon leader for the district, providing advice and incentives for businesses and residents to reduce their carbon use.
“It’s important that we both understand our role in Britain meeting its obligations under the Paris Climate Accord, and don’t underestimate how much has already been achieved.
“There have been days this summer when 70 per cent of the national grid was powered by renewable energy.
“That would have seemed incredible a decade ago.”
The council is investigating the feasbility of these initiatives and announcements will be made in due course as and when the council brings them forward as projects.
Bulk tariff switching has been done principally to offer lower cost electricity to residents who may be stuck on high cost variable rate tariffs.
The council is looking into whether such an initiative could be made available to residents of the Cotswolds with the twin objectives of offering a genuine zero carbon electricity supply, as well as minimising cost.
There have been days this summer when 70 per cent of the national grid was powered by renewable energy. That would have seemed incredible a decade ago.
Rachel Coxcoon