Ferryhill Town Council is pleased to announce its commitment to the Investors in the Environment Accreditation Scheme, a scheme designed to help businesses and organisations reduce their environmental impact, while also being promoted for achieving their green credentials.
In response to the Climate Change Emergency declared across County Durham, the Town Council adopted its own Environment Policy and begun the process of monitoring all of its resources including gas, electric, water, fuel, paper and waste. Determined to reduce its resource usage and its Carbon Footprint, the Town Council made a pledge to Investors in the Environment, and is currently working towards a Bronze Award as part of the scheme.
An Action Plan, Travel Plan and Communication Plan have all been developed by the Town Council; each identifying methods that the Council will adopt to reduce its environmental impact. As part of its commitment and thanks to external funding secured through the Rural Community Energy Fund, the Council was also able to employ the services of a specialist company, Narec Distributed Energy, to produce an Energy Audit of all of its buildings. This was followed up with the production of procurement specifications, which moving forward will enable grant funding to be applied for by the Town Council, to deliver the installation of renewable technologies such as solar panels and air source or ground source heat pumps across its buildings, in a phased approach. This in turn will assist the Council greatly in its commitment to the Climate Change emergency, helping to reduce the number of greenhouse gas emissions released into the environment, while also saving the Council money through reduced energy bills.
Claire Thompson, Executive Manager of Capability North East, who deliver the Investors in the Environment Accreditation Scheme across the North East of England said “We are delighted that Ferryhill Town Council is working hard to become Investors in the Environment accredited, to reduce their environmental impact and take action on the Climate Emergency. The team are using the iiE process to help identify green actions already carried out across their operations and the opportunities to do more. Karen Younghusband’s enthusiasm and can-do attitude to implement iiE is great and she is a real credit to the climate team. I am really looking forward to seeing Ferryhill Town Council progress their green ambitions and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions over the coming years.”
