Energy Forum
You can check the dates for forthcoming roundtables on the Sustainability Calander page.
News from Last Forum
Wednesday 15 October 2008
The Energy Forum began with a presentation from Maggie Bosanquet Sustainability Section Manager, Durham County Council (DCC) on the new National Performance Framework for Local Authorities and Local Authority Partnerships.The Framework sets out 198 new National Indicators on which the authority and its partnerships will be measured. Out of these indicators, 35 have been selected as key priority areas for delivery in the County's Local Area Agreement (LAA). The County Durham Sustainability and Environment Partnership (CDSEP) has responsibility for delivering against 15 of these priorities. Maggie gave an overview of the National Indicators relevant to CDSEP and the LAA, before highlighting in more detail those relevant to the Energy Forum.
Andy Stephenson, Climate Change Partnership Officer, DCC spoke in detail on two of the national indicators which relate to climate change and are within the LAA, NI186 - Per Capita Reduction in CO2 Emissions in the LA Area, and NI188 - Planning to Adapt to Climate Change.
Andy’s presentation on NI188 - Planning to Adapt to Climate Change focused on the principles and overarching aims of the Indicator. Andy commented “only in partnership can we comply with this Indicator”. NI188 specifically focuses on adaptation as it assumes the effects of man made climate change are already occurring. Andy spoke about the indicators four levels of attainment…“with current achievements we have accomplished the 1st year target of level 1, we will accomplish the 2nd year target of level 2, but a big push must be made to ensure we meet the significantly higher targets of level 3 and 4”.
Andy gave a second presentation on NI186 - Per Capita Reduction in CO2 Emissions in the LA Area. Andy explained that the indicator includes notable CO2 emission exemptions, for example from motorways, railways, ports, airports, crown estates and any industry which is already included within the European Union Emission Trading Scheme (EUTS).
NI 186 broadly includes CO2 emissions from three areas; Domestic CO2 emissions, Transport CO2 emissions, and CO2 emissions associated with Industry and Commerce (not already included in the EUTS).
Andy informed the Forum that DCC had been set a percentage CO2 reduction target in the first year of 4%. Andy emphasised that although DCC’s 4% target reduction in CO2 emissions is challenging, CDSEP’s approach through continued partnership working will be best placed to meet and exceed our set targets.
To begin the process of engaging partners a workshop session was held. Forum members were asked to discuss a series of set questions relating to the challenges in tackling this indicator;
- Who should be the key partners in tackling this indicator?
- What technologies should we be employing? and,
- What priority areas should we be targeting?
The workshop session proved very successful, a detailed brief of outcomes will be presented by Andy at the next Energy Forum and will be available on the website in due course.
For more information on the event contact Calum Baker on 0191 383 4901, or email the Sustainability department.
Achievements and Other Projects
Some key projects include:In 1995, the county became the first ever to produce a Renewable Energy Strategy. A number of the 'star' renewable energy projects set out in the strategy have been developed.
In March 1999, Cassop School became the first school in mainland Britain to be powered by wind turbine. The turbine was launched by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair.
In addition, Sedgefield Community College and the Hermitage School at Chester-le-Street have become the first schools in the County to have demonstration Photovoltaic (PV) energy generation schemes installed. These convert sunlight to electricity, and each have a generation capacity of 600W.
Catchgate and Middlestone Moor Schools, the two newest schools to be built in County Durham, are amongst the most sustainable in the UK, with features between the schools including a wind turbine, photovoltaic cells, 'smart' lighting controls, and an 'EcoVat' that collects and stores rainwater to flush the toilets, which was funded by Northumbrian Water.
A regional conference on Adapting to Climate Change was organised in May 2001 by the County Council in partnership with Sunderland University's Centre for Sustainable Development.
A Climate Change Action Plan was produced in 2006 providing information on how we can work to adapt and mitigate the effects Climate Change.
