PRESS RELEASE
Issued by:
Councillor Gill Gardiner
Cabinet Member for Environment
Date of Issue: September 16th 2009
Contact numbers:
0151 625 2738
07983 624610
Lib Dem office: 0151 691 8544

WIRRAL LIBERAL DEMOCRATS CELEBRATE CARBON FOOTPRINT SUCCESS

Wirral Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Gill Gardiner today praised the Council's success in reducing its carbon footprint through the introduction of innovative new measures across the borough.

Commenting on a report due to be presented to the Council's Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Monday night, Councillor Gardiner said, “I am delighted that the council has already achieved so much towards reducing its carbon footprint. The Liberal Democrats have been at the forefront of ensuring this priority has been driven forward and this evidence shows we have made enormous strides in the right direction.”

Councillor Gardiner continued, “It's extremely important that we showcase the significant improvements we have made so far and keep up the pressure to build on this good work to remind people it's one of our key priorities and highlight opportunities for others to do their bit for the environment too.”

Carbon saving measures achieved to date and being rolled out across Wirral include sustained increases in recycling, home energy efficiency schemes, the launch of a green building developers guide, awareness raising programmes, energy efficient lighting, introduction of solar power at council buildings, heat recovery systems at leisure centres, energy reducing eco-schools, boiler replacement, insulation schemes and energy certificates for council buildings and the forthcoming launch of CRed, an innovative and ambitious scheme for individuals and businesses across Wirral to make pledges to save carbon.

Councillor Gardiner added, “The best schemes are the ones which, as well as benefitting the environment and saving money, people can relate to by actually seeing them in action. For example:

• The new Floral Pavilion has a boiler fuelled by wood pellets. These pellets are produced from renewable, managed forests in Wales and are the by-product of a manufacturing process that would otherwise go to waste. Unlike gas or oil, wood pellets won't run out and they are cheaper too.
• The new Pensby Primary and Park Primary schools will be getting bio mass boilers, solar water heating and rainwater harvesting; these are also being extended to suitable buildings across the borough.
• Another good example presented in the report is a new type of lighting. ‘Intelligent luminaires' could result in energy savings of up to 80%. The idea is that they switch on and off when they detect movement and are also sensitive to the amount of natural light, so each light can dim itself independently. This idea has also been extended to a street lighting pilot scheme where we will have the ability to dim or brighten lights according to activity, for example brighter lights around theatres as people exit. ”

Wirral Council has committed to a long term Climate Change Strategy target of a 60% reduction in carbon emissions by 2025. With its new Sustainability Unit now up and running, the council is achieving further significant reductions with carbon saving measures being rolled out across Wirral.

For the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee report, ‘Reducing the Council's Carbon Footprint' – Six Monthly Progress Report No 2 CLICK HERE