Skip to main content
Site logo
Wealden Constituency
Conservative Association

Main navigation

  • Elections 2021
  • About
  • News
  • Events
  • Get Involved
  • Campaigns
  • Contact
  • Survey
Site logo
Wealden Constituency
Conservative Association

Conservative-run East Sussex awarded Green Scheme grant funding

  • Tweet
Saturday, 20 March, 2021
Conservative-run East Sussex awarded Green Scheme grant funding

East Sussex County Council has taken a step closer to reaching its carbon neutral target by securing grant funding worth just under half a million pounds.

The council has successfully secured £478,423 from the government’s £1 billion Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme which provides grants for public sector bodies to fund energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation measures. 

Part of the funding will be used to enable the council’s first pilot decarbonisation of heat project at Ninfield Primary School.

Grant funding will also be used by the council to produce feasibility studies and decarbonisation of heat plans, and to install low carbon heating and solar panels with battery storage on several corporate buildings. 

The improvements made as part of the decarbonisation of heat project at Ninfield Primary School will include the replacement of old oil boilers with more efficient air source heat pumps and battery storage, the installation of improved insulation throughout the school, and upgrading lighting to low energy LED lights.

The pilot project will help create an environmentally efficient learning environment that will see CO2 emissions cut by an estimated 43%, energy bills and maintenance time reduced, building comfort improved, and the health and safety risks associated with the delivery and storage of liquid fuels removed.

Cllr Nick Bennett, lead member for resources, said: “This government grant is great news for our work to reduce the council’s carbon footprint and will help build on our success over recent years.

“Since 2008/9, we have reduced our own direct carbon emissions by 60% but we need to do much more. Securing this funding for feasibility studies and pilot projects is invaluable in informing the rollout of further measures across more council buildings as we strive to achieve our net zero carbon goal.”

In October 2019 the council declared a Climate Emergency and set a target of achieving carbon neutrality from its activities as soon as possible and in any event by 2050, in line with the new target for the UK agreed by Parliament in 2019. 

Cllr Bennett added: “The benefits of reducing our carbon footprint are clear - cleaner air, less fuel poverty, healthier lifestyles and more efficient businesses.

“Reducing carbon emissions from heating is the next big challenge. As a council, we need to generate more of our electricity through on-site renewables and continue to invest in energy efficiency measures, which reduce energy demand and improve the comfort of our schools and offices.

“The action we must take, as an organisation and as individuals, is only just beginning.”

The projects will be delivered by the council’s Property Energy, Maintenance & Climate Emergency teams working with consultants and contractors. It is anticipated that the Ninfield Primary School decarbonisation of heat project will start this summer.

For more information on how the council is working to reduce its carbon emissions visit https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/environment/priorities/whatawearedoing/

  • Local News

You may also be interested in

Working towards a Greener Wealden and East Sussex

Working towards a Greener Wealden

Our climate is changing as a result of human activity since the industrial revolution.

Cllr Nick Bennett

Nick Bennett

ESCC Conservative candidate for Arlington, East Hoathly and Hellingly; May 2021

East Sussex County Councillor for Arlington, East Hoathly and Hellingly, Nick is Lead Member for Transport and Environment.

Message from Councillor Pam Doodes, Conservative Chairman of Wealden District Council: 

Message from Councillor Pam Doodes, Conservative Chairman of Wealden District Council 

Friday, 9 April, 2021

“It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.

The Councillors and Officers of Wealden District Council are deeply saddened and our thoughts are with the Royal Family at this time.”

Flowers:

Show only

  • Articles
  • Local News
  • Media
  • National News
  • Speeches in Parliament
  • Westminster News

The action we must take, as an organisation and as individuals, is only just beginning

The £1 billion Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme supports the government’s net zero and clean growth goals and is part of the Chancellor’s ‘Plan for Jobs 2020’ commitment to support the UK’s economic recovery from COVID-19, supporting up to 30,000 skilled jobs in the low carbon and energy efficiency sectors - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-sector-decarbonisation-scheme-psds

The original £1bn fund was split into two pots of funding:

  • Low Carbon Skills Funding towards consultant costs for feasibility studies, project identification and delivery, and
  • Grant Funding for decarbonisation of buildings projects particularly those that were heated focused but also covering renewable generation and other energy efficiency measures that reduce building carbon emissions.

The scheme is managed by the BEIS delivery body Salix Finance - https://www.salixfinance.co.uk/PSDS

Wealden Conservatives

Footer

  • About RSS
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies
  • Privacy
  • Branches & Wards
  • Campaign Wealden 2021 - keep East Sussex Conservative
  • Conservative Policy Forum
  • Constitution and Rules
  • Donate to Wealden Conservatives
  • Get a Postal Vote
  • Our Values
  • The 200 Club
  • Volunteer code
Site logoPromoted by Tom Liddiard on behalf of Wealden Constituency Conservatives, both of Woodclyffe, Buxted, Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 4JT
Copyright 2021 Wealden Conservatives . All rights reserved.
Powered by Bluetree