Phase two decarbonisation works will accelerate carbon neutrality

Released On 3rd Mar 2022

Phase two decarbonisation works will accelerate South Somerset District Council to achieve carbon neutrality

Phase two decarbonisation plans to deliver a significant contribution to SSDC’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 were approved by Full Council on Monday evening (28 February).

Phase one decarbonisation works are already being progressed at council owned leisure centres, and this second phase of works will specifically target those operational buildings that have a significant amount of service plant, which is near the end of its operational life expectancy and would need replacing soon anyway. There will also be economical gain by carrying out work at multiple locations under one contract, as well as energy saving costs and will help towards SSDC meeting its carbon reduction targets.

To determine which buildings would benefit most from decarbonisation work, last year SSDC appointed an expert consultancy, now called EQUANS, to carry out energy audits and surveys on ten of our larger buildings. The provider supplied detailed technical design and specifications for various packages of work, which will all contribute to reducing emissions.

Based on these audits and surveys, we will specifically target three operational buildings:

Westlands Entertainment Venue will see installation of air source heat pumps, LED lighting, solar PV, insulation glazing, a new chiller and electrically commutated fans.

John O’Donnell Building at Yeovil Recreation Centre will be fitted with an air source heat pump, LED lighting and solar PV

Brympton Way Council Offices, which already has solar PV on the roof will receive replacement LED lighting, a new chiller and electrically commutated fans.

Additionally, other buildings to benefit from solar PV and LED lighting are Lufton Depot Yeovil, Petters House Yeovil, Yeovil Innovation Centre, the Ranger’s Buildings at Ham Hill and Yeovil Country Parks.

Yeovil Crematorium will be fitted with new LED lighting.

The intention is to phase work over several years with a significant phase of improvements made in the next year.

Sarah Dyke, SSDC Portfolio Holder for Environment said, “The current Council Plan demonstrates our commitment to keep South Somerset green, clean and attractive and respond to the climate and ecological emergency. These planned decarbonisation works will significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, make the buildings more efficient and cost effective, and boost the delivery of the Environment Strategy action plan where we have to reduce our carbon emissions by 10% every year to reach our goal to be carbon neutral by 2030.”