What is the County Council doing?

What are we trying to achieve?

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is one of the main gases that contributes towards man-made climate change. The County Council has set a target of reducing its CO₂ emissions by 80% by 2050. Since 1990, we have reduced the amount of CO₂ we emit by approximately 37%.

Staffordshire County Council has been working hard to identify where it can cut its carbon emissions. Some of our schemes include:

Installing smart meters into all of our buildings to accurately measure the amount of emergy they are using. This will make it easier to determine how much money we spend on energy, consequently acting as an incentive to reduce usage and consequently bring down our CO₂ emissions.
Creating software that automatically shuts down computers that have been left on overnight - saving £10,000 and 90 tonnes of CO₂ each year.
Replacing illuminated bollards on the road with a reflective version: saving one tonne of CO₂ for every eleven bollards replaced.
Looking at energy use in schools and helping them to cut their emissions, and worknig with partners to teach the pupils about climate change and energy efficiency.
Installing renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels, on new and existing buildings, including schools.

Our Climate Change Strategy, 'A Hard Rain', details these projects and the work we are doing in more detail.

The OC3 partnership

In June 2008, with our partners, we launched the OC3 'Our County, Our Climate, Our Choice' website. It is a guide to climate change in Staffordshire and covers local events, projects, farmers markets, local food and grants. It also offers advice and support for anyone wanting to take action at work or at home.

Log on at www.staffsoc3.org.uk||||| .