The drive to reduce carbon emissions from buildings in Bath and North East Somerset to help tackle the climate emergency has received a boost with more than £2m of Government funding won for key projects – including Cleveland Pools.
Bath & North East Somerset Council was one of a number of local authorities which secured several successful bids from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, each of which will accelerate carbon reduction.
Reducing the carbon emissions of both homes and commercial buildings in the district is one of the three key priority areas where action across the district by all organisations is needed to tackle the climate emergency, alongside transport and increasing renewable energy.
Of a number of bids submitted, two grants were together awarded £950,000 from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to reduce the carbon emissions of a council-owned residential care home at Charlton House, and for the installation of heat pumps as part of the refurbishment of the Cleveland Pools which is being delivered by the Cleveland Pools trust with the support of the council.
Funding to support householders to reduce carbon emissions has also been made available through the council’s Green Affordable Warmth Grants. These help householders on low incomes living in low energy-efficiency homes with grants for improvements such as home insulation or low-carbon heating. The scheme is being funded by £1.175m from the Local Authority Delivery Scheme.
Councillor Sarah Warren, joint cabinet member for Climate Emergency, said: “It’s a competitive process securing this type of government funding, so it’s great that we have successfully achieved this substantial amount of money to reduce carbon emissions across Bath and North East Somerset.
“Tackling the climate emergency effectively means councils need to press central Government for system-change and for the resources too. The council, like other businesses and homeowners, need to take advantage of the support and finance that is made available to us to make our buildings more energy-efficient. This is one of the ways the district can reach our goal of making the district carbon neutral by 2030.”
Households with an annual income of less than £30,000 and living in a low energy efficiency home EPC rating D, E, F or G may be eligible for a grant for home insulation and low carbon heating improvements via the council’s Energy At Home service.
All residents can access free information and advice from Energy at Home to improve the energy performance of their homes. The service aims to help people identify which energy efficiency measures might be appropriate for their home, signpost them to suitable installers and find out which grants and finance they may be able to access. Visit www.energyathome.org.uk or email energyathome@bathnes.gov.uk
Find out more about the work of the Cleveland Pools project www.clevelandpools.org.uk
If you’re an SME and want to reduce your environmental impact, see Green Business Grants for a carbon assessment, and grant funding to make changes. https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/business/green-business-grants/
Find out more about how the council is tackling the climate emergency
