Our objectives

In this section of the strategy, our goals are to:

  • Develop a roadmap to net zero
  • Develop and adopt our greenest Local Plan
  • Reduce the carbon footprint of our contracted waste provision
  • Reduce the carbon footprint of our leisure facilities
  • Reduce the carbon impact of our assets
  • Enable staff and councillors to become more climate conscious so it becomes part of the EHDC culture
  • Reduce the carbon impact of the community buildings we own
  • Reduce the carbon impact of the things we buy (procurement)
  • Ensure that our work in regeneration and economy contributes to a reduction in district-wide emissions
  • Embed sustainability in our affordable housing strategy
  • Reduce the carbon impact of our street lighting
  • Improve the environmental performance of our investment portfolio 

Our new offices

Our move to Monterey House is a key element of reducing the council's carbon emissions as part of the target of reaching net zero carbon by 2035.

Solar PV at Monterey House

We have installed 331 panels (supplying up to 165kW per hour on a sunny day) and nine Tesla batteries to store energy.

During the day, the solar panels power Monterey House and any excess is stored in the batteries. When the batteries are full, the power will be fed into the grid. During the evening or when the system isn't generating power, the batteries will be used to power Monterey House. If the batteries are empty, power will be taken from the grid.

Electric vehicle chargers

We have six 7kW electric vehicle chargers. These will be used to charge our electric pool cars and staff electric vehicles (for a fee).

Our Green Team

A Green Team of officers from across the council has been brought together to reduce our carbon emissions and limit our impact on the environment through our Climate & Environment Strategy.

We also care about embedding the culture and have established a Green Roots Ambassadors Group.

Governance

The Climate & Environment officers are supported by:

  • Cllr Robert Mocatta as Portfolio Holder
  • Cllr Penny Flux as Portfolio Holder Assistant for Climate Action