Emission levels drop in East Renfrewshire

Work to combat climate change in East Renfrewshire is hitting emissions reduction levels higher than targeted.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Mar 2019, 08:25 BST
Updated 13th Mar 2019, 09:32 BST

A report submitted to Scottish Ministers for 2017/18 reveals the area’s carbon footprint is falling faster than East Renfrewshire Council had planned.

CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions reduced by 6.7 per cent in the period covered by the report, beating the Council’s target of 2.5 per cent.

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Andrew Cahill, the Council’s director of Environment, said: “The report demonstrates that good progress is being made in terms of climate change mitigation.

“Overall, the Council has shown a further reduction in CO2e emissions of 6.7 per cent against last year’s emissions total.

This is in excess of the Council’s year on year target of 2.5 per cent.

“In total, the Council has reduced emissions by 3,055 tonnes of CO2e since reporting began in 2015/16.”

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His report to councillors says the reduction in emissions is related to a number of factors, including upgrades to schools.

Heating and lighting upgrades in a number of schools to improve energy efficiency generated around £46,000 of savings.

Further lighting upgrades in offices and schools, replacement boilers and improvements to energy management system controls at several council sites are anticipated to yield annual energy savings of £137,000.

An ongoing street lighting replacement project is estimated to save £26,000 in electricity costs, as well as reducing emissions.

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Mr Cahill also said the Council has benefited from the carbon intensity of Grid electricity reducing as more renewable generators are established while business travel emissions reduced over the year.

This saw a reduction in staff car mileage of 32,515 miles.

The report also found emissions related to water use had decreased.

It said this was due to better collaboration with Scottish Water to detect leaks as well as more efficient flush systems for school urinals.

Public bodies have a duty to report on their annual climate change impact under the Climate Change (Duties of Public Bodies: Reporting Requirements) (Scotland) Order 2015, which came into force on November 23, 2015.