Leader highlights “significant progress” made over past year on reducing Council’s emissions
Custom-built solar panels are to be installed at Verulamium Museum in St Albans as part of a strategy to tackle climate change.
Due to be delivered later this year, the panels will provide a supply of clean renewable energy.
The initiative follows the completion last year of a new sustainable IKO Carrera roof at the Museum.
This innovative design uses cutting-edge technology to enhance the energy efficiency of the building.
It also improves the surrounding air quality by converting some gases which contribute to the greenhouse effect into harmless compounds.
An additional feature is a reflective finish which reduces the surface temperature to allow the solar panels to work more efficiently.
St Albans City and District Council, the Museum's owners, is undertaking the roof project as part of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
Councillors voted unanimously seven years ago to declare a climate emergency with the aim of cutting emissions to net zero across the District by 2030.
Councillor Paul de Kort, the Council’s Leader, gave an update on progress to a meeting of the Planning Policy and Climate Committee on Tuesday 9 June.
He highlighted some of the achievements made over the past year including the:
- Completion of plans to transition to low carbon heating systems at Verulamium Museum and the Civic Centre.
- Recruitment of staff dedicated to sustainability work including a Built Environment and Sustainability Manager and Decarbonisation and Energy Manager.
- Securing of a £1.5 million grant from the Government’s Warm Homes fund to make energy-efficient improvements to more than 80 privately-owned properties owned by low-income households.
- Distribution of 12,000 free trees to residents and community groups throughout the District as part of the Your Tree Our Future scheme. Planting of a further 4,550 trees at the former Abbey View golf course.
- Reseeding of 5,800 square metres of land - the equivalent of almost five Olympic sized swimming pools - to create wild meadows at locations in Harpenden, Redbourn and St Albans. The meadows provide a thriving environment for insects and other wildlife, boosting pollination.
Cllr de Kort said after the meeting:
Tackling climate change, restoring nature and increasing biodiversity are key priorities for this Council and it is vital that we continue with this important work at pace.
The past year has seen significant progress and we take great pride in the pioneering work we have undertaken at Verulamium Museum.
We’re the first local authority in the country to make use of a new sustainable roofing system which both enhances energy efficiency and air quality.
This adds to the already substantial action we have taken to contribute to this District’s overall climate altering emissions. We also have firm, approved, plans to do more.
Photo: the new Verulamium Museum roof.
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