Local Authority Carbon Management Programme

Salford City Council took part in the Local Authority Carbon Management Programme run by the Carbon Trust. The city council completed a comprehensive inventory of greenhouse gas emissions from its business operations. A carbon management plan was submitted to the Carbon Trust, the city council is now implementing this plan.

Reducing emissions will result from reducing energy use, it is estimated that the programme will generate significant annual financial savings.

The council has already made good progress in reducing emissions from its own operation. By taking part in this programme we are in a strong position to meet the requirements of government targets and the implications of the carbon reduction commitment.

Carbon management plan

The council's carbon management plan outlines the city council's commitment to an aspirational 40% reduction in CO2 over five years. The plan is supported by elected members and senior management and the plan identifies the best opportunities to reduce CO2 most effectively.

It represents a programme of physical projects and a programme of behavioural change that will challenge every member of staff to be part of the commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon Saver Gold Standard for energy efficiency

Salford City Council has gone through an assessment process in order to achieve the Carbon Saver Gold Standard for energy efficiency accreditation for the authority. The process involved a comprehensive analysis of our energy data and energy monitoring systems. The accreditation body has confirmed Salford City Council has achieved the overall maximum five-star rating on the Carbon Saver Gold Standard, based on a comprehensive set of ten different criteria and site visits.

Carbon Reduction Committment (CRC) energy efficiency scheme

The Carbon Reduction Committment energy efficiency scheme is a new mandatory UK-wide carbon emissions scheme covering large non-energy intensive businesses and public sector organisations, including large local authorities. The scheme is a central part of the UK's strategy for reducing CO2 emissions and delivering the ambitious targets set in the Climate Change Act. It has been designed to provide participants with the financial and reputational incentives to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in the most efficient way.

From April 2010, the city council has been a mandatory participant in the scheme, and from April 2012 onwards, will need to pay for every tonne of CO2 it produces from all its buildings, including schools. This could equate to approximately 34,000 tonnes of CO2 or £408,000. The more energy efficient the council can become the less it will have to pay.

Salford City Council recognises its important role in responding to the challenges of climate change. Reducing the city's carbon footprint and adapting to the inevitable impacts of climate change is understood as an important part of the council's role in community leadership.

Further information can be found at the Department of Energy and Climate Change or the Environment Agency website.

Greenhouse gas emissions

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has introduced a new proposal for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from local authority own estate and operations.

DECC has asked each local authority to measure and report its greenhouse gas emissions from its own estate and operations and for this report to be published on its own website on an annual basis. Below you can download the first such report on GHG emissions for Salford City Council.

For further information on the carbon management programme or Salford's greenhouse gas emissions report you can contact:

Majid Maqbool - Energy manager
Telephone: 0161 607 6987
Email: majid.maqbool@salford.gov.uk

This page was last updated on 25 July 2011