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Devon pushes ahead with carbon reduction plans


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We won’t rest on our laurels when it comes to achieving our goal of cutting carbon emissions to net zero.

That’s the pledge made by Cllr Andrea Davis, Cabinet member for climate change, after senior councillors backed a plan to give five key buildings a low-carbon, Green makeover.

The £3.3 million scheme will cut carbon emissions and reduce energy use on our buildings in Exeter, Barnstaple, Tavistock and Honiton.

The buildings’ insulation will be improved and solar panels and air source heat pumps will be installed along with mechanical ventilation that recovers heat and LED lighting.

The work will be undertaken at Great Moor House in Exeter, Taw View in Barnstaple, Abbey Rise in Tavistock and St Michael’s in Honiton.

Work has already started on a fifth building, Lucombe House at County Hall in Exeter, as part of a routine refurbishment.

Andrea Davis told the Cabinet that a further five buildings were being retro-fitted using a separate, £2 million grant and solar panels were being installed on a number of the county’s salt depots.

“This is all part of our plan to be net zero carbon by 2030 as we recognise the need for a rapid decrease in our emissions.

“By the end of next year, we will have installed 400 electric vehicle charging bays across Devon and we’ve bought 28 acres of land to work with the Woodland Trust on planting trees to offset our emissions.

“We’re committed to converting half of our vehicle fleet to electric by 2030. It’s half because we want to convert the vehicles as they come to the end of their life because the carbon required to build a new vehicle is equivalent to the emissions created by driving 100,000 miles.

“This is an ambitious programme because we know we have to make significant improvements in our emissions. And, as community leaders, we are determined to share our experiences with individuals and organisations across Devon and take on board all the new developments in technology and research and development.

“We have pledged to reach net zero carbon by 2030 but there will be no resting on our laurels. There is a climate emergency and we need to do all we can to reduce the threat of global warming and restore the health of our environment.”

Work on retro-fitting the buildings will start this month and be completed in 2022.


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