Emissions statement made across council properties

Overall emissions from the South Lanarkshire Council buildings estate have more than halved in the past 20 years.

- STEWART MCCONNELL

They have been reduced by 51.7 per cent since 2005.

This has been due to implementation of energy-efficiency measures, the use of renewable technology such as solar PVs and boiler upgrades, and the national emission factors for grid electricity decreasing by around 60 per cent.

Many carbon reduction projects have contributed to the emissions reductions from the council's estate.

Energy savings and carbon reductions have been delivered through the installation of various technologies within council properties including voltage optimisers, insulation and draught proofing, secondary glazing, photovoltaic (PV) panels, Combined Heating and Power (CHP) boilers, LED lighting, BEMS controls and heat recovery systems since the start of the Central Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF) Programme in 2005/06.

This revolving fund has been responsible for a total of £6.377 million of investment, up to and including 2023-24, delivering a total of 395 energy-efficiency projects.

Solar photovoltaics (PV) panels are installed in 55 of the council's 128 primary schools with a peak capacity installed of 1735kW, producing over 1.2m units of electricity per year. A PV feasibility study for the entire primary school estate has been funded from the Climate Emergency Fund.