Carbon reduction plan

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4. February 2023 update

Decarbonisation survey undertaken to establish available Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) funding to establish corporate properties that qualify for retrofit, insulation and decarbonisation of heat. Survey established that two properties qualify – Riverside Leisure Centre and RAMM. Funding to be announced March/April 2023.
BMS upgrade and Energy Management Information system installed to better identify projects and measure improvements.
Guildhall Shopping Centre acquired in May 2022. Net Zero discussions with the Centre Operator have begun.
ASHP survey undertaken for two key leisure sites.
Heat Network Zoning Pilot being undertaken on City wide basis – potential if successful to feed high use sites.
Roof replacement to provide for solar array at Riverside Leisure Centre completed and solar array fitted alongside battery storage in December 2022.
Battery storage installed at 2 further sites with solar generation - Matford Centre and John Lewis Car Park, completed in January 2023.
Membership of South West Energy and Environment Group (SWEEG) progressing with projects for 2023/4 agreed and studies to include investigating decarbonisation of corporate estate and operational services.

Green Homes Grant – Local Authority Delivery of £1.6m secured and delivered in 2021/22.
426 properties retrofitted as part of a ‘fabric first’ strategy – with the inclusion of PV installation and smart heating controls.
Delivery target date being assessed on the basis of current delivery and resource/funding availability.
Review of mechanical and electrical strategy underway.
Analysis of non-traditional properties being completed – structural condition now known to be sound and design plans are being prepared to maximise building fabric thermal efficiency.
New rented Council housing currently continues to be delivered to Passivhaus standard – a 53 bed extra care scheme was completed in 2022.
The current new-build target is for 500 Council homes over a 10 year period – commenced in 2020.
Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund bid made in December 2022 for £1.4m – award announcement due in March 2023.

Continue Fleet and Equipment Electrification Plan.
Driver Training undertaken.
Electric Refuse Collection Vehicles (ERCVs) in operation.
Solar Farm at Water Lane co-located with energy storage technology with private wire will provide renewable energy and support charging infrastructure to the Council’s Operations Depot at Exton Road and electrification of the all operational fleet – to be completed in January 2023.
Review of Green Travel Policy underway, new policy to be developed following information gathered from Staff Survey 2023.
EV City Charging Strategy currently being undertaken by Cenex to prepare for LEVI fund.
Working with Waterways to undertake an Electrification and EV charging appraisal.

New eProcurement software to be amended to allow for better recording of Scope 3 emission data.
Discussions ongoing with partnering organisations to introduce improved supplier carbon accounting data and obligate suppliers to provide contract specific emissions data, and use in contract selection process.
Procurement T&F group established, looking at categorising spend and analysing contracts over £100k to seek out embodied emissions.
Working to get Commercial Endorsement Form to include whole life environmental cost for project – details on material, plant, waste, operative.
Green Accord relaunch in March 2023 providing an accreditation scheme allowing businesses to evidence carbon reduction and suppliers to use businesses with proven sustainable business practices and net zero targets. Branding and logo redesigned in December 2022. Website rebuild being carried out in January/February 2023.
Work to get all council printing on certification programme verified paper/card, e.g. FSC and PEFC underway.

Net Zero Ambassador for Waste will help enforce waste prevention and recycling in the work place.
Asses the carbon emissions of processing of waste recycling collected by city council collected and sold on. To seek study by SWEEG as part membership.
Discussions to be held with Corporate Property and Housing to ensure maintenance contracts include F gas losses.

Ground mounted 1,200 kWp array at Water Lane co-located with energy storage technology and a connection providing a renewable energy supply to the Council’s Operations Depot at Exton Road to support the electrification of the Council’s fleet. Full dissemination to be completed in Jan completed by SWEEG in first year of operation.
Solar PV on the Riverside Sports hall roof and battery store. Battery storage at Matford Centre and John Lewis CP. Outcomes to be included in above SWEEG study.
Review of Solar opportunities and new Invest to Save proposal for generation to provide energy security, protection against price increases, provide PPA potential, and to reduce carbon emissions through renewable self-supply.
Investigating relocation of Mary Arches CP solar canopy preparing for closure in 2023.

Within ECC Exeter P&G Spaces to move from 24% to 30% canopy cover (tree line cover), target for 2030. Working with Greater Devon Network partners to increase canopy cover further across remaining private open spaces.
64 standard trees planted city wide, and 591 whips in a new woodland project at Newhaven fields
Study to be undertaken to evaluate offsetting opportunities.
Parks officers have also continued to work closely with community groups and to support community-based initiatives. 2021/22 have seen the establishment and extensions of two community gardens in Exeter.
Officers working closely with Devon Wildlife Trust and Wild City, creating wildlife corridors, integrated process that relies on multiple methods to reduce aggregate use of chemical controls.

Quarterly meetings between Net Zero Ambassadors and Net Zero team established.
60 members of staff ( including Net Zero, business and car parking service team, Net Zero Ambassadors, SMB) and Councillors have undertaken Carbon Literacy training delivered by 2 members of Net Zero team.
30 members of staff and Councillors ‘certified’ as Carbon Literate so far with Carbon Literate Organisation Bronze Status achieved in November 2022.
Carbon Literacy training available to remaining all ECC staff.
New ‘Climate Emergency’ section created on ECC website which includes information ECC’s Footprint reports, Carbon Reduction Plan and Net Zero progress. Intranet pages to be created to highlight Net Zero team’s work.
Active Members of the Devon Emergency Response Group, Tactical Group and support of the Devon Carbon Plan.