Priority 2: Low cost, low carbon energy across the district
The Council will look to find ways to reduce energy consumption and bills in Council civic buildings, Council housing, and help others to do the same, such as privately owned homes, businesses and other public and voluntary sector organisations. Support programmes and initiatives will be developed that meet national standards of accreditation to ensure performance in use is optimised. A performance measurement approach will be developed to assess the long-term benefits of the improvements made.
2.1. Reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions from the council’s public buildings
Ways we will deliver this
Lead portfolio
2.1.1. Significantly improve the energy efficiency of Council buildings and introduce renewable energy generation capacity where possible.
Climate
2.1.2. Assess the creation of an investment fund for energy conservation and energy generation projects.
Climate
2.2. Reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions from existing Council housing
Ways we will deliver this
Lead portfolio
2.2.1. Develop a Decarbonisation and Energy Efficiency Strategy, for existing Council homes to reach a minimum of EPC C by 2030. Aim to go further to reduce carbon emissions and energy bills for Council tenants by exploring how we can maximise the impact and prioritisation of our maintenance programme and any external funding opportunities. This will include developing the toolkit to measure and assess impact.
Climate
2.3. Provide homes which are safe and meet the Decent Homes standard for all our tenants, including improving the energy efficiency of their homes.
Ways we will deliver this
Lead portfolio
2.3.1. Working with tenants and using sector best practice to ensure that our homes are safe, energy efficient, free from damp and mould and, as a minimum, meet Decent Home standard.
Housing and assets
2.4. Ensure new housing developments led by the Council are exemplars of planning and construction to meet the climate emergency and other challenges.
Ways we will deliver this
Lead portfolio
2.4.1. New Council homes are net-zero carbon in operation. To support this, we will set out our aspirations relating to carbon performance of WDC-led developments, whilst recognising that there may be times when these aspirations cannot be fully achieved in light of viability constraints.
Climate
2.5. Explore multiple, innovative approaches to make it easier for others in the district to reduce their energy needs.
Ways we will deliver this
Lead portfolio
2.5.1. By working in partnership locally, regionally and nationally, we will identify, evaluate and undertake initiatives to help local people reduce their energy needs.