CO2Sense helps Settle community group win £35,000, and develop low carbon action plan

CO2Sense worked with Settle Area Regeneration Team (StART) to help them win £35,167 from the Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF), and create a five year low carbon action plan for the area. The plan will help the town to continue to improve its sustainability and keep reducing carbon emissions.

The funding allowed the group to commission studies and evaluations of the area, some carried out by CO2Sense, which then formed the basis of the five year plan.

CO2Sense carried out an energy efficiency review of Victoria Hall, an important community building and theatre. The review identified some relatively straightforward measures that can be implemented, which will save up to 16% on the Hall’s yearly energy bill, and increase comfort of the building’s occupants. These included installing more efficient lighting, improving control of room temperatures and heat demand through the use of room thermostats and digital TRVS, and draft proofing measures. Together, these measures will save an estimated £830 per year, with an average payback time of 2 years.

CO2Sense also produced a renewable energy feasibility study of the entire Settle area, to assess what renewable energy could be installed and how much low carbon energy this could produce. The review also looked at what the local community could earn from renewable energy incentives if they installed any renewables. The study found that there was potential to install just over 1MW of renewable energy technologies, which would cut carbon emissions of the Settle area by 1,464 tonnes.

The energy efficiency audits were carried out by Bradford Environmental Action Trust (BEAT), in partnership with CO2Sense. They found that by improving the building fabric of local homes and buildings, and introducing energy efficiency measures, Settle could cut its energy consumption by 30% – saving 5,442 tonnes of CO2 each year. 

If the renewable energy and energy efficiency measures indentified in the reports were carried out, the low carbon plan found that Settle could meet 9.5% of its electricity demand and 13.4% of its heat demand with local, community-owned renewable energy sources. CO2Sense can carry out renewable energy feasibility studies, and energy efficiency audits, for community groups, and businesses, as well as producing long-term low-carbon plans.