Energy efficiency and procurement of energy

Energy efficiency covers anything that can be done to use less energy. For example, adding insulation to a building or using better equipment. We also want to make sure the energy we buy comes from renewable sources.

We aim to use less energy by: 

• replacement of the Metrodome’s coal fired boilers with a gas combined heat and power unit, which has reduced emissions and improved air quality

• an ongoing programme for the conversion of existing streetlights to more efficient LED lights

• updating the heating and ventilation in council buildings, and installing solar panels to rooftops

• ongoing home energy efficiency schemes which have supported hundreds of homeowners and private tenants to live in warmer homes which are more affordable to heat 

• continuous improvements to the energy efficiency of council homes by improving insulation levels through Berneslai Homes

Resource efficiency

Resource efficiency means making the most of the resources we have and wasting as little as possible. We do this by working as part of the Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham Waste Partnership to help households reduce their waste.

Sustainable transport

We'll provide sustainable transport and reduce emissions through the following: 

• Promotion of walking and cycling in the borough using Barnsley Bike Works, located within Barnsley Interchange.
  

• A scheme to install electric vehicle (EV) charging in public car parks across the borough using funding from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS), to provide EV charging for residents without access to off-street parking.
  

• Leading on a project across South Yorkshire to provide additional electric vehicle charge point infrastructure.
  

• Replacement, on a phased basis, of our vehicle fleet with electric vehicles. Approval has been given for 25% of our fleet to be replaced with ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs), and for 100% of our pest control fleet to be upgraded to electric vehicles.
  

• Improving air quality with Barnsley’s Air Quality Action Plan, aiming to reduce industrial, domestic and road transport emissions. This includes plans to:

  • introduce emission standards for buses

  • introduce measures to reduce traffic congestion

  • encourage walking and cycling

  • work with heavy goods and bus fleet operators in order to reduce emissions

  • work with developers to minimise the air quality impact of new development

  • encourage the uptake of low emission vehicles and alternative fuels
    

• Our Modeshift Stars programme - how we work with schools and businesses to help them support cycling and walking.
  

• Funding of Active Travel Plan – Department for Transport-led schemes to encourage walking and cycling.
  

• Funding for Transforming Cities – which includes active travel routes both on and off road, and also includes bus priority measures.
  

• Hydrated vegetable oil (HVO) replacement in our some of our commercial vehicles. Hydrotreated vegetable oil is a direct replacement alternative to diesel. It helps to reduce emissions by 90%, runs the engine more efficiently, creates cleaner local air, and offers improvements to our employee's wellbeing. We're trialling hydrotreated vegetable oil in some of our commercial vehicles as part of our ongoing work to make Barnsley more sustainable and will continue our trial for three months before reviewing the benefits to our organisation and the environment.

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Renewables

Renewables are sources of energy that don't reduce and disappear with use like fossil fuels. Examples of renewable energy are solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity, and wind turbines that use wind power to generate electricity.

We'll work to use renewables by: 

• The design and build of solar panels into The Glass Works.

• Making council homes greener by installing air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, and biomass boilers through Berneslai Homes.

• Installing solar panels on roofs on council homes, allowing tenants to benefit from free, renewable electricity. Berneslai Homes have worked with Energise Barnsley to provide this, and the team is currently working on adding batteries to the solar panels to store electricity for times when it's not sunny.

Decentralised heating

Decentralised heating means heating our homes via zero or low carbon measures, away from traditional sources of heat. We'll be looking at the potential for expanding district heat networks, where several buildings are heated from a single source.

We'll do this by:

• managing 24 district heat networks across Barnsley through Berneslai Homes

• considering opportunities for expanding the 24 networks or setting up new ones, including looking at district heat networks from renewable sources of heat including naturally heated underground water from mines and sewers

Other projects

Other work being done to reduce emissions, transition to secure energy sources, and improve air quality, include the following:

• Working with community groups to increase the number of trees planted in Barnsley.

• Our Parks Services team are working hard to conserve our green spaces and biodiversity.

• Our Warm Homes team, which work with households to help with energy bills and advise how to keep warm and healthy at home.

• In the North Area of the borough, the charity DIAL runs its Warm Connections advice service, assisting residents to lower their energy bills and reduce social isolation.

• Bringing partner groups together through Barnsley's Affordable Warmth Charter Mark. Here they share knowledge, skills and resources to tackle health differences caused by fuel poverty.

What is climate change?

Greenhouse gas emissions which are trapped in the atmosphere cause an increase in global average temperatures, commonly referred to as global warming. However, increases in global temperature impact on global weather patterns which will mean local weather or our climate will change; this is commonly referred to as climate change.

What is the impact of a changing climate?

Over time the increased concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere has had a number of effects on our climate. Effects of climate change include:

• rising global temperatures and heat waves

• melting of the polar ice caps (the ice at the north and south poles of the planet)

• rising ocean levels (caused by the melting ice)

• more frequent and more powerful storms

• animals and plants threatened with extinction as their habitat is lost

• droughts and wildfires

• ocean acidification, as the ocean absorbs greater amounts of carbon dioxide

All of these effects are already visible and we estimate that currently human activity has increased the global average temperature by around one to 1.5 degrees C.

To try and prevent these global impacts local councils, business and national government are coming together to try and reduce the amount of carbon they emit and keep the global increase in temperature to within 1.5 degrees C of current levels.

What type of emissions do we need to reduce?

Carbon dioxide is one of a group of gases known as ‘greenhouse gases’. Greenhouse gases also include gases such as methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons.

The main source of greenhouse gas emissions is the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, petrol, diesel, or natural gas. Coal emits more carbon than petrol or gas (lowest levels of carbon). These gases persist in the atmosphere, and an increase in the concentrations of these gases in the atmosphere is proven to cause an increase in global average temperatures, commonly referred to as global warming.

How can I reduce my emissions?

Measuring your carbon footprint is a great place to start when thinking about how you can reduce your emissions. There are lots of websites that allow you to calculate yours, such as on the WWF carbon footprint calculator.

Find out more about reducing your emissions.

Why aren't you aiming to reduce emissions by 2030?

We'll only commit to targets which are both achievable and deliverable; our existing 2040 date is both. If opportunities arise which will allow us to rapidly reduce emissions before 2040, we'll take advantage of these.

What is the Barnsley Air Quality Action Plan?

Barnsley’s Air Quality Action Plan, aims to tackle industrial, domestic and road transport emissions. Road transport related actions within the plan include:

• introducing emission standards for buses

• measures to reduce congestion

• encouraging walking and cycling

• working with heavy goods and bus fleet operators in order to reduce emissions by improving fuel consumption

• working with developers to minimise the air quality impact of new development

• encouraging the uptake of low emission vehicles and alternative fuels

What is the impact of trees?

Trees absorb carbon dioxide and potentially harmful gasses, such as sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, from the air and release oxygen. One large tree can supply a day's supply of oxygen for four people.

We've taken advantage of opportunities to increase the number of trees across the borough, and will continue to increase the amount where feasible to do so.