Release date: 19 July 2024
The first phase of an ambitious programme to reduce the carbon footprint of West Sussex County Council’s buildings has been completed.
The £8.2m programme has introduced a range of measures to make seven libraries, six fire stations, and a day centre more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
It’s estimated the work will prevent almost 200 tonnes of carbon being released into the atmosphere each year, the equivalent of travelling over 600,000 miles in a petrol car.
The work included replacing gas boilers with air source heat pumps and installing solar panels, as well as upgrading windows and improving insulation.
Deborah Urquhart, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “The works mean we no longer need to use gas at most of the sites, which significantly reduces our reliance on fossil fuels and means the buildings can operate using renewable energy sources.
“This decarbonisation project supports our Climate Change Strategy target to be a carbon neutral and climate resilient organisation by 2030, and we are already considering how to fund and carry out further work to reduce the carbon footprint of many other county council buildings.”
The programme has been supported by just over £1.4m funding from the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, administered by Salix Finance and run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Paul Marshall, Leader of West Sussex County Council, said: “Since adopting our Climate Change Strategy in 2020, we have focused on reducing our carbon footprint, making sure we are ready to deal with a changing climate, and protecting the natural environment here in West Sussex.
“We have already reduced our carbon emissions by 11.4% against our original baseline, and by 2026/27 we aim to reduce our carbon emissions by more than a third compared to an updated baseline, which now includes more detailed information on our emissions.”
Deborah Urquhart, Paul Marshall, and Duncan Crow, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, recently gathered at Storrington Library to see the improvements made to the building.
Deborah Urquhart said: “I’m pleased to say Storrington Library, with its two air source heat pumps and solar panels, is now capable of running entirely on renewable energy. This saves more than 12 tonnes of carbon from being released into the atmosphere each year, the equivalent of driving from Chichester to Horsham 1,200 times in an average petrol car.”
Duncan Crow further commented that: “The work at Storrington also includes a stunning rooflight and fresh new interior to welcome our library users, thanks to funding from housing developer contributions.”
Marcus Tang, relationship manager at Salix, attended a celebratory event at the library. He said: “It was fascinating to visit Storrington Library and delighted to see so much enthusiasm for this project, it was a real celebration.
“It was so satisfying to talk to local people and to hear what they think of the upgrades and hearing all the positive responses.
“It was great to see how the library is clearly a more comfortable place to enjoy as well as being more energy efficient.”
The buildings included in this programme of work were:
- Glebelands Day Centre
- Crawley Library
- Durrington Library
- Southwick Library
- Broadfield Library
- Horsham Library
- Haywards Heath Library
- Storrington Library
- East Grinstead Fire Station
- East Wittering Fire Station
- Petworth Fire Station
- Haywards Heath Fire Station
- Midhurst Fire Station
- Steyning Fire Station
Pictured: From left Russell Allen, Head of Libraries and Heritage, Paul Marshall, Leader of West Sussex County Council, Sharon Sadler from Storrington & Sullington Parish Council, Deborah Urquhart, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, and Duncan Crow, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue.
