Covenant of Mayors – Sustainable Energy Action Plan

October 2010

This Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) has been produced to meet part of the requirements arising from the EU Covenant of Mayors, signed by the County Council in January 2009. It pulls together information from a number of other key Council and Northumberland Strategic Partnership plans and strategies. The SEAP should be read in conjunction with those plans and strategies which it does seek to replicate in full.

1. Introduction

1.1 Northumberland County Council signed the European Covenant of Mayors in January 2009. This committed the Council to produce a Sustainable Energy Action Plan within one year of signing, setting out how it intends to deliver reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of at least 20%, based on a 2005 baseline year, by 2020. All Local Authorities in the North East of England have signed the Covenant of Mayors, the first region in Europe to have achieved this degree of political leadership.

1.2 By agreement with the EU Covenant of Mayors Office in Brussels, outline SEAPs for the twelve North East authorities were submitted through the online Covenant of Mayors web portal in February 2010. It was also agreed that submission of the more detailed SEAPs would take place by the end of October 2010 – with these submissions subject to approval by each council through appropriate mechanisms, a requirement under the terms of the Covenant of Mayors.

1.3 This Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) has been developed using a carbon modelling software tool called Vantage Point that was designed specifically for local authorities in the UK. This allows the development of scenarios to analyse a range of technologies and carbon reduction measures in housing, transport, and public sector and commercial buildings. The tool also provides indicative net present value and capital costs associated with different carbon reduction measures.

1.4 The costs included in this Sustainable Energy Action Plan are the initial indicative costs generated by the Vantage Point software. NCC officers are working closely with the other 11 North East local authorities to explore options to drive down costs and develop robust financial models in order to fund the priority measures that will contribute to reducing our emissions by 2020. A significant proportion of the measures in the Sustainable Energy Action Plans have multiple benefits (such as reducing fuel poverty), and improving organisations’ energy efficiency will save money in the medium term.

1.5. The Government has stated:

The Government believes that climate change is one of the gravest threats we face, and that urgent action at home and abroad is required. We need to use a wide range of levers to cut carbon emissions, decarbonise the economy and support the creation of new green jobs and technologies. We will implement a full programme of measures to fulfil our joint ambitions for a low carbon and eco-friendly economy. (Source: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/409088/pfg_coalition.pdf )

1.6. The UK Government is introducing legislation and potential funding mechanisms, such as the Green Investment Bank, to support this aim. For example, in August 2010 it was confirmed that rules will be changed to allow local authorities in England and Wales to sell any electricity they generate. The Government has also started to provide information on the proposed Green Deal that will allow householders to make their homes more energy efficient without the need for them to provide up-front finance. It is suggested that up to 14 million homes could benefit from the Green Deal – and that the measures could unlock tens of billions of pounds of private sector spending.

1.7 It is expected that the Government will publish further proposals in autumn 2010, with new measures taking effect in 2012. Until clarity on these mechanisms is established, and the impact in Northumberland fully assessed, the scenario that NCC has developed to inform its Sustainable Energy Action Plan is presented as a plausible way of meeting our carbon reduction commitments. It is based on an assessment of the range of measures currently available to local authorities, the effectiveness of different options to reduce carbon emissions, and an analysis of what measures are needed in the local area.

2. Long-term Vision the Local Authority

2.1 The overall vision for County is set out in the Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) for Northumberland to 2021, adopted by the Northumberland Strategic Partnership in September 2007 and currently being refreshed in September 2010. Under the overall priority of ‘We care about our environment’ the SCS includes the following vision statement:

‘By 2021, more Northumberland residents will recognise the increasing vulnerability of the natural assets they rely upon and will be taking action to combat climate change.’

2.2 Specifically on the matter of using energy wisely, the SCS identifies the following areas for action:

“- We will accelerate the take up of micro-generation from renewable sources. - We will continue to introduce innovative ways to reduce our consumption of unsustainable fuel resources. - We will continue to lead research, development and application within the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector - We will provide vocational training courses for the installation, service and maintenance of renewable energy technology. - We will develop a support framework for sensitively located renewable energy generation.”

A review of the SCS is underway as this SEAP is being produced but it is clear that addressing issues associated with climate change will remain at the heart of the revised SCS, with “Making Climate Change Work to Our Advantage” being identified as one of six core ‘big partnership issues. The detail on how the Northumberland Strategic Partnership is delivering against this priority is defined through “The Heat Is On: The Strategic Framework for Climate Change Planning in Northumberland” and associated action plan.

2.3 The Council, as a key partner in this work, has also identified climate change and the reduction of carbon emissions as key corporate priorities. This has been publicly confirmed through the signing of the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change and the EU Covenant of Mayors.

2.4 In January 2010 Northumberland was selected as one of only nine pilot areas in England for a new Government sponsored pilot project – ‘Local Carbon Frameworks’. After a period of some uncertainty following the election of the new coalition Government in June 2010, confirmation was given in August 2010 that the Local Carbon Frameworks pilot programme is to continue.

2.5 The aim of the Local Carbon Framework pilot programme is to test an approach which could build on, strengthen, and deepen the established National Indicator process. The two key indicators of relevance are NI 185 (CO2 emissions from local authority operations) and NI 186 (per capita reduction in CO2 emissions in the local authority area). Northumberland has also identified NI 187 – relating to alleviation of fuel poverty – as one of its priority indicators. The Government hopes that these Local Carbon Frameworks will develop into something which more closely links with national targets, are long term, have clear trajectories for achievement, and involve robust, deliverable plans. Engagement in this process will thus directly contribute to delivery of the Covenant of Mayors commitments.

2.6 Northumberland County Council is committed to reducing CO2 emissions, both from its own activities and throughout the county as a whole, and has developed a range of policies in its Climate Change Action Plan (adopted in April 2010) to achieve this. This Action Plan, which also incorporates key actions from the former District Councils climate change plans, sets out how the County Council will be addressing climate change issues over the coming years. This covers mitigation, as well as adaptation and the Council's community leadership role. Successfully tackling climate change is a clearly recognised as a matter for all Council services. The Council’s Carbon Management Plan which sets a target to reduce emission from the Councils estate and operations by 50% within five years – from a 2008/9 baseline.

2.7 The County Council Climate Change Action Plan is being developed within the wider strategic framework set by the NSP Strategic Framework for Climate Change Planning in Northumberland – ‘The Heat is on’. Work on the Delivery Plan for the ‘Heat is on’, which will involve all partners in the Northumberland Strategic Partnership, is well advanced and this delivery plan is due to be finalised and adopted through the NSP Board in autumn 2010.

2.8 A number of key plans and strategies that will affect delivery of a low carbon future in Northumberland include:

- The Northumberland Economic Strategy – adopted July 2010 - The Local Transport Plan (LTP3) – due to be adopted in Spring 2011 - The Local Development Framework – Core Strategy due to be adopted late 2012 - The Northumberland National Park Local Development Framework – Core Strategy adopted in 2009

2.9 Delivery of commitments under the Covenant of Mayors represents an opportunity for the Council to take the policies from its own Climate Change Action Plan, Carbon Management Plan and its contribution to the Strategic Framework for Climate Change Planning a step further and to produce quantified and costed actions to reduce carbon emissions. Some of these actions are already being implemented; in particular the early wins identified in the Council’s Carbon Management Plan. However, as indicated in the introduction to this SEAP, ongoing changes to the national and regional context of this activity and in particular the financial structures that will be available to support particular activities, make it impossible at this stage to be sure what particular balance of measures will be most appropriate.

2.10 Clearly all this activity cannot be delivered by the Council working alone. Key partners and projects in the delivery of the overall vision for a low carbon future for Northumberland include:

- The regional Climate Change Partnership (under the auspices of SustaiNE, the regional sustainability lead)

- The regional Covenant of Mayors Support Group (under the auspices of the Association of North East Councils)

- The Energy Savings Trust – which is assisting the development of Council policy and practice through its local authority ‘One-to-One’ support programme

- The Carbon Trust which is providing support to the County Council in development of its own Carbon Management Plan, and to other businesses and organisations in Northumberland

- The Place Shaping Thematic Partnership for the Northumberland Strategic Partnership which is leading the Delivery Plan for the ‘Heat is on climate change strategy for the county.

- The Northumberland Renewable Energy Group – a well established group that brings together public and voluntary sector bodies together with businesses involved in the energy and energy efficiency sectors in Northumberland

- Northumberland Warm Zone, a key delivery organisation in the county for energy efficiency measures in domestic properties in partnership with the County Council and Scottish and Southern Power

- The Low Carbon Blyth programme, a coordinated programme of projects and initiatives led by the County Council that seeks to promote and position Blyth at the heart of the transition to the low carbon economy and low carbon living – it is has been agreed that this project should be an ‘initial focus’ for action in the County and work on specific delivery measures is now being led by the Council’s

- The Northumberland National Park Authority which has the stated ambition to become a ‘Low Carbon Park’ and is being very proactive on initiatives to work with its communities to deliver energy efficiency measure and innovative energy projects including deployment of small scale wind and hydro, sustainable heat based on biomass and ground / air source heat pumps – and low carbon transport provision for Park residents and visitors

- The Berwick Low Carbon Communities Challenge project, awarded funding at the end of 2009 to support a series of projects including installation of domestic PV systems in Berwick-upon-Tweed

- The National Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) at Blyth that is an internationally recognised centre for the development of technology in this area and very involved in projects across Northumberland and the wider region to ensure early deployment

- Education institutions including schools at all levels, Northumberland College that has developed specialist courses in the energy field, and local Universities

- A wide range of local initiatives coming forward across the county including Transition Town programmes in Tynedale and Alnwick, and community ‘greening’ projects centred on, amongst others, Allendale, Haltwhistle, Glendale (Wooler).

2.11 There are considerable opportunities for micro and macro renewable energy generation, particularly on and off-shore wind turbines, solar voltaic and solar thermal systems; and heat pumps which will both create new jobs and protect energy intensive industries. Northumberland aspires to being a leader in the region’s transition to a low-carbon economy, and a number of strengths leave it well placed to lead action:

• The scale of development and redevelopment proposed for the Blyth Estuary area, including through the South East Northumberland New Growth Point and Blyth Estuary Growth Areas;

• The tangible “positives” that Blyth offers in terms of renewable and low carbon development, including the cluster of renewable opportunities across the Blyth Estuary area;

• The opportunities for a dispersed approach to low carbon energy action and the potential for many small-scale installations across the county; and

• The positive outcomes that would be achieved for the county’s communities and the local economy.

2.12 The rural nature of much of the county presents many challenges. Particular issues that affect delivery of innovative carbon reduction measures in rural areas of Northumberland include:

- Potential impacts of renewable energy development on environmentally sensitive areas

- The large number of hard-to-heat properties including off-gas areas and a high proportion of solid walled properties that are often difficult to insulate

- Economic factors affecting the ability of many to pay for capital works, with associated problems of fuel poverty

- The challenges of addressing fuel poverty and energy issues in the private rented sector

- The rurality of the county means that there is a high level of dependency on car use in some areas

- Public transport is not always commercially viable and so provision of public transport services may be limited.

3 Coordination and organisational structures

3.1 Northumberland County Council was formed from seven former authorities (the old county council and six former districts) in April 2009. The new Council is a single-tier authority responsible for all local government functions across 5000 sq km in the far north east of England, with a population of approximately 311,000. The county is bounded to the north and west by Scotland and Cumbria, to the south by Co. Durham and the Newcastle / Tyneside conurbation, and to the east by the North Sea. Some 20% of the western part of the County is covered by the Northumberland National Park – the Northumberland National Park Authority is the local planning authority in this area.

3.2 The overall approach on responding to climate change across Northumberland is coordinated through the Place Shaping Thematic Partnership of the Northumberland Strategic Partnership (NSP). This includes representatives from a wide range of private, public and third sector organisations. The NSP is responsible for development and delivery of the Sustainable Community Strategy for Northumberland, covering the period up to 2021 - which clearly identifies climate change and carbon reduction as priority matters for the partnership. More specifically, the NSP has produced a Strategic Framework for Climate Change Planning in Northumberland – ‘The Heat is on’ – published in January 2009. The Delivery Plan for this Strategy is under development and is due to be adopted in autumn 2010.

3.3 Within the County Council, a cross-party working group for elected members of the authority, supported by senior officers, has been established to advice the Executive of the Council on all matters relating to climate change and environmental sustainability. The Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Working Group (CCESWG) meets regularly to review progress and to comment on draft plans before these go the Executive / Council for adoption. Emerging plans are also reviewed by the Council’s Senior Management Team before going to the Executive. A formal scrutiny system is also in operation through the Council’s Communities and Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

3.4 A mapping exercise has been undertaken looking at the many organisations involved in this delivering against this agenda. Appendix 2 to this SEAP summarises the wide range of climate change activity currently taking place across Northumberland.

4. Staff capacity allocated

4.1 A Climate Change Board has been formed with senior officers from across the range of council services. This Board is chaired by the Head of Commercial and Property Services who is now corporate lead on climate change and carbon reduction. The Board oversee all activity relating to the carbon management and climate change agenda. This will enable the council to ensure that there is an appropriate overview, governance and management of all this activity. The Board will then provide overview reports to the Executive, SMT and Scrutiny Committees on the overall programme of activity.

4.2 The activity of the Board will be broken into three key areas.

• Policy Overview- Keeping track of central government and regional policy and legislative changes and producing a consolidated overview for the council. The board will also input into key strategies of the council e.g. the Local Development Framework, Economic Strategy, Commissioning and Procurement Strategy, Sustainable Schools Strategy etc. Finally the Board will provide a governance overview of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan and review its contribution to the Heat is On.

• Project Board -There are number of projects being developed and delivered which are linked to the carbon management agenda. The Board will then co-ordinate these key projects but will also from time to time review other projects to ensure carbon management issues are being fully considered. So far example the Board will be responsible for overseeing the proposed Energy Service Company (ESCO) procurement project but may also review a new building project to assess its carbon management proposals.

• Finally the Board will be responsible for providing leadership to the Council in the delivery of the carbon management agenda and co- ordinating the communication element of the strategy. This will focus on what the council can do to change the attitudes and behaviours of our staff, partners and residents.

• The leadership element will also ensure that the climate change agenda is firmly embedded in the Council’s learning and skills strategy for Northumberland. This is essential to deliver the Council’s long term aim of moving Northumberland onto a low carbon economy.

4.3 Northumberland County Council has two full time Climate Change and Sustainability Officers based in the Planning Strategy section of the authority. The primary responsibility of these officers is to support delivery of climate change policies and programmes, including the SEAP, across all areas of the Council’s operations. This work is undertaken within the overall framework of actions set out in the Climate Change Action Plan. The ongoing co-ordination of the Heat Is On across the Northumberland Strategic Partnership and through the Corporate Policy Function of the Council will continue through the allocation of 0.5 of a full time position within the Corporate Policy Team within the Transformation Group.

4.3 Work on delivering the specific carbon reduction actions set out in the adopted Carbon Management Plan is led by the Council’s Energy Officer. Specialist officers coordinate work on:

- Energy efficiency within council buildings and schools, including capital investment in energy saving initiatives and also work with building managers and caretakers to ensure heating and lighting systems are set up and run in the most efficient ways

- Transport and fleet issues – developing measures to reduce emissions from the Council’s transport demands including purchase of more fuel efficient vehicles, driver training to improve fuel efficiency and reducing the need for unnecessary travel

- Travel planning – working with schools and other council services to ensure the most efficient travel arrangements are in place, including introduction of measures such as car-sharing

- Streetlighting – reducing emissions from streetlighting and signage through introduction of more efficient lighting systems and potentially targeted switch- off of some lighting systems

- Public and sector housing – development of innovative energy saving measures across the housing sector, including maximising the opportunities arising from new funding streams such as the national Feed In Tariffs and emerging ‘Green Deal’

- Communications and awareness raising – development of staff awareness and training on energy and climate change issues and initiatives

4.4 The County Council is the statutory planning authority for the majority of Northumberland – with the Northumberland National Park Authority providing this function for the 20% of the county that lies within the National Park. The planning system is an essential to the delivery of a low carbon future including the provision of carbon efficient buildings, renewable energy and land uses that reduce the need for travel. The Core Strategy for the new Local Development Framework (LDF) for Northumberland is currently being developed and it is due to be adopted in 2012. Staff preparing the new LDF and the elected Members who will make the formal decision to adopt the Core Strategy are being provided with specialist support to ensure that climate change matters are fully embedded into the LDF process. The LDF Core Strategy for the National Park was adopted in March 2009 and gives particular emphasis to addressing climate change issues.

4.5 The Local Transport Plan (LTP) for Northumberland is currently being reviewed. Measures aimed at reducing adverse impacts of transport, including emissions, will be an important element of the new LTP which is due to be adopted in spring 2011. Staff preparing the new LTP and the elected Members who will make the formal decision to adopt the plan are being provided with specialist support to ensure that climate change matters are fully embedded into the LTP process.

4.4 Northumberland County Council is a large energy user and thus is required to register under the terms of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), a national carbon trading scheme that comes into force from 2011. Work on the CRC is led by an officer in the Council’s finance section, working alongside specialist energy and climate change officers.

4.5 Clearly additional resources are available within certain key partner organisations. For example the Northumberland National Park Authority’s activity is led by its Programmes Manager who in turn is supported by other officers from across that Authority’s range of services.

5. Involvement of stakeholders and citizens

5.1 The adopted Climate Change Action Plan and Carbon Management Plan both include agreed actions relating to awareness raising and involving council staff and service users in carbon reduction initiatives. Officers from the Council’s communications are closely involved in the development of this activity, including working with colleagues from other authorities in the North East to share experience and ideas.

5.2 One area that has been recognised as of particular importance is the need to work with schools and young people to raise awareness of climate change and the need for emission reductions. Northumberland is an active participant in the regional Climate Change Schools Project, with first, middle and high schools across the county taking part as lead-schools. The county’s Youth Cabinet has also been active in this area – in 2010 a competition to encourage innovative projects was run involving teams from the high schools, won by Queen Elizabeth’s High School in Hexham. Plans are now being developed to extend this to involve middle schools in the next school year. In addition, specific awareness raising activity on energy and climate change matters has been undertaken with school Headteachers and Chairs of Governors by the Council’s climate change and sustainability officers.

5.3 Activity to ensure that carbon reduction and climate change adaptation is widely embedded within stakeholder organisations across Northumberland is focussed through the Strategic Framework for Climate Change in Northumberland – ‘The Heat is on’. The activity in the Delivery Plan for this Strategy, which is due to be adopted through the NSP Board later in 2010, focuses on a) promoting activity among all partner organisations b) targeting activity specifically on actions which require a number of partners to work together to achieve change (due to scale complexity or bring together disparate specialist expertise) and c) activity which focuses on providing the right regulatory and infrastructural conditions for individual organisations or citizens to take their own action. The Delivery Plan will include a range of measures which will contribute to the achievement of the Covenant of Mayors Commitment and identified actions will directly contribute to the delivery of the SEAP. Further detail on these aspects may be developed once more clarity is available on the new national measures that the incoming Government has indicated it plans to introduce.

5.4 One of the specific elements of engagement activity identified in the Covenant of Mayors is that signatory authorities should organise Energy Days to allow citizens to ‘benefit directly from the opportunities and advantages offered by a more intelligent use of energy’. The County Council and NSP have supported a number of energy events for the public in recent years including an energy day at County Hall in Morpeth and stands at the annual County Show at Corbridge. Most recently an energy day was held in Blyth in June centred on sustainable architecture and a weekend renewable energy information fair was held in August in association with the Tall Ships Race. A programme of future energy days and events will be developed, building on these existing initiatives.

6 Baseline Emissions Inventory

6.1 A primary source of baseline data for overall annual carbon emissions across the UK is provided in the figures collected for National Indicator186 - per capita emissions in each local authority area. Data is collected from a range of national and local data sets under three broad emissions groups

– industry and commercial - domestic - residential

Certain emission sources are excluded as they are deemed to be ‘national’ emissions – for example large industrial plants covered by the European Emission Trading Scheme. In Northumberland this means emissions form the coal fired power station at the Alcan plant at Lynemouth are excluded from NI 186. This approach is consistent with that adopted in the baseline requirements for SEAPs.

6.2 In Northumberland the data is currently provided for the six former districts and then has to be collated to provide overall county wide figures. There is a time- lag in the production of NI186 data and currently information is available for three years – 2005, 2006 and 2007. The NI 186 figures for Northumberland are as follows:

NI 186 CO2 emissions (kt CO2) - Northumberland Summary 2005 - 2007 Dataset issued by DECC September 2009

Total Population Road Transport Industry and Commercial Per Capita Emissions (t) Per Capita Emissions ('000s, mid-year estimate) estimate) mid-year ('000s,

LA RegionName Domestic Alnwick 2005 89 90 77 256 32.0 8.0 2006 85 90 76 251 32.0 7.8 2007 80 88 80 248 32.3 7.7 Berwick-upon-Tweed 2005 118 73 91 282 26.0 10.8 2006 117 73 90 281 26.0 10.8 2007 119 73 93 285 26.0 11.0 Blyth Valley 2005 198 194 111 502 81.5 6.2 2006 184 194 108 486 81.2 6.0 2007 178 186 109 473 81.3 5.8 Castle Morpeth 2005 140 144 127 412 49.6 8.3 2006 118 144 124 385 49.5 7.8 2007 108 138 124 370 49.8 7.4 Tynedale 2005 416 161 185761 59.3 12.8 2006 427 161 182 770 59.5 12.9 2007 442 155 185 782 59.5 13.1 Wansbeck 2005 555 151 71 776 61.6 12.6 2006 564 150 71 786 61.7 12.7 2007 519 144 71 735 61.7 11.9 NORTHUMBERLAND 2005 1516 813 662 2989 310 9.64 2006 1494 812 651 2959 309.9 9.55 2007 1446 784 662 2893 310.6 9.31

6.3 The NI 186 data shows a fall in recorded total emissions in Northumberland from 2989 kt in 2005 to 2893 kt in 2007. In terms of per capita emissions, this represents a fall of approximately 3.5%.

SEAP Baseline

6.4 The Covenant of Mayors has provided a template for the completion of the SEAP, requiring various fields to be populated in the form of a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet uses data that is entered on energy consumption and local electricity production to produce a carbon baseline.

6.5 Some of the information required for the baseline can be provided using data from National Indicators 185 and 186 and the Carbon Trajectories spreadsheet. Local authorities in the North East are not expected to be able to complete all of the cells in the spreadsheet due to the information not being readily available.

6.6 The baseline year adopted for the twelve SEAPs in the north east is 2005 – this gives a baseline figure for Northumberland of 2,988,450 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions. Further details of the breakdown of this figure across sectors is included in the SEAP reporting template and this has been a key input to the VantagePoint software that has been used to develop the scenario of measure that is used in the SEAP.

6.7 The SEAP baseline for Northumberland can be broken down into 811,980 tonnes from residential properties 1,514,910 from industrial sources and 661,560 from transport.

The table below shows how this baseline is made up:

2005 Energy consumption (MWh) CO2 emissions (tonnes CO2) Electricity Gas Other Total Electricity Gas Other Total Residential 617943 2137405 307069 3062418 327510 395420 89050 811980 Industry 1117887 1722973 2414720 5255580 592480 318750 603680 1514910 Total 1735830 3860378 2721789 8317998 919990 714170 692730 2326890

Transport total 2468507 2468507 661560 661560

Total 10786505 2988450

7. Specific measures included in the Sustainable Energy Action Plan The Status of the SEAP Scenario 7.1 This Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) has been developed using a carbon modelling software tool called Vantage Point that was designed specifically for local authorities in the UK. This allows the development of scenarios to analyse a range of technologies and carbon reduction measures in housing, transport, and public sector and commercial buildings. The tool also provides indicative net present value and capital costs associated with different carbon reduction measures.

Domestic and Commercial Energy Emissions

Cavity Wall and Loft Insulation

7.2 Northumberland County Council works in partnership with Northumberland Warm Zone to reduce fuel poverty and provide warmth and insulation to houses across the county. Housing Services use the warm Zone database that covers over 80,000 properties in Northumberland to target interventions. This includes triangulating this database with the Building Research Establishment stock models for Northumberland which are predictive tools on housing conditions.

7.3 The Warm Zone undertake energy efficiency measures across Northumberland either via an able to pay scheme or a free grant scheme for cavity and loft insulation for qualifying households- those on certain benefits. This work is supported by Single Housing Investment Funds of £179,000 per annum; this was a grant awarded by the North east assembly following the submission of the Northumberland Housing Strategy in 2007. Clearly all these measures will result in reduced carbon emissions from domestic properties. Warm Zone will report on carbon emissions at future partnership meetings rather than just on numbers of measures installed. The Warm Zone are also piloting a hard to treat scheme in Northumberland, funding external insulation to approximately 80 properties.

7.4 Northumberland Warm Zone aims to connect householders with help and support to provide: • loft and cavity wall insulation • draughtproofing • hot-water cylinder jackets • central heating • heating repairs • replacement boilers • low energy lightbulbs • energy efficiency and benefits advice

7.5 Since 2005, the County Council, in partnership with the Warm Zone, has insulated approximately 7629 cavity walls. It is expected that the rollout of cavity walls will continue at the same rate up to 2020. It is therefore reasonable to calculate that an additional 4046 cavities will be filled in the Northumberland LA area. This would bring the total number of cavities filled between 2005 and 2020 to 11675.

7.6 Since 2005, through a partnership with Northumberland Warm Zone the authority has insulated 14809 loft spaces. It is expected that the rollout of loft insulation will continue at the same rate up to 2020. It is therefore reasonable to calculate that an additional 7854 lofts will be insulated. This would bring the total number of lofts insulated between 2005 and 2020 to 22663.

Double Glazing

7.7 The FENSA records show that between 2005 and 2010 approx 1000 homes were doubled glazed either by the owner occupier or the landlord of tenants. In taking into account FENSA records of installed double glazed units between 2005 and 2010 a conservative estimate assumes that an additional 2000 homes will double glazed either by the owner occupier or the landlord of tenants without direction from the LA by 2020. This would bring the total double glazed units to 3000 by 2020.

Solar Thermal and PV on Domestic Properties

7.8 Solar Thermal has not been developed or promoted by Northumberland County Council to date – the Council will endeavour to install 200 solar thermal units in existing and new build housing. Solar PV has not been promoted by the local authority to date either; however the local authority will pursue installation of 1500 units in homes.

7.9 Housing Services are in discussion with the ALMO re Feed in Tariffs and are exploring the opportunities that these present, following a review of existing and proposed capital programmes, for installation of small scale renewable technology.

Domestic Gas Reduction by new Boiler Installations and Behavioural Change

7.10 The current scenario for carbon reduction does not take into account reductions in domestic gas consumption from either boiler upgrades (from 60%-70% efficiency to 85% plus) or rising fuel costs. It is considered that the boiler upgrade intervention will provide a significant reduction in CO2 from domestic gas consumption. Consequently, the 10% reduction suggested from behavioural change will include (for now) a proportion of savings from upgrading boilers and a small percentage of rising fuel costs. This will be revised accordingly when boiler improvements can be quantified.

Reduction in Domestic Electricity Use

7.11 The 10% reduction from behavioural change in electricity use is based upon the EU DIRECTIVE 2005/32/EC of 6 July 2005 that established a framework for the setting of eco-design requirements for energy-using products. In total, the 12 products identified will save approximately 341TWh of electricity pa by 2020 (equivalent to 12% of electricity based on 2007 levels). The implementation of this directive commenced in December 2008 with the adoption of energy efficient stand-by mode (saving 35TWh pa) through to televisions in July 2009 (saving 43TWh pa). In addition, EU Directive 2009/125/EC of 21 October 2009 extended the scope of the 2005 directive to include all energy-related products (the use of which has an impact on energy consumption) and products which do not necessarily use energy, but have an impact on energy consumption.

7.12 It is therefore considered reasonable to allow for a 10% reduction in electricity use based on the above policy.

Reduction in Commercial Gas Use

7.13 It is believed that a 20% reduction in commercial gas use can be achieved by introduction the CRC, behavioural change and efficiency improvements. The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme is one mechanism that the national government will use to meet the reduction targets set out in the Carbon Budgets Order 2009. This sets a reduction target of at least 34 percent in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 based on 1990 levels - this would equate to an approximate 20% reduction by 2020 on 2005 levels.

7.14 It is anticipated that the CRC cap will be set in line with the carbon budgets outlined above and this combined with the amendments to the EU products policy produces a realistic total gas reduction within the commercial sector of 20%. Any interventions specified that would be included within this total reduction will be removed from the 20% total –this will include any municipal buildings projects.

Reduction in Commercial Electricity Use

7.15 In considering the EU DIRECTIVE 2005/32/EC of 6 July 2005 that established a framework for the setting of eco-design requirements for energy-using products and the implementation of the CRC for large business, it is considered conservative to allow for a 10% reduction in electricity use within the commercial, industrial and public sectors.

Reduction in CO2 Emissions from Electricity in the National Grid

7.16 The national government has a target of produce around 30% of grid electricity from renewable sources by 2020, by substantially increasing the requirement for electricity suppliers to sell renewable electricity. If a conservative approach is taken and the carbon intensity reduction of the grid reached 80% of the anticipated amount by 2020 then the estimated CO2 savings in Northumberland would be in the region of 190000 ktpa.

Transport Measures

Improvements in Vehicle Efficiency

7.17 A study was carried out by Newcastle City Council to estimate the emissions from transport within Tyne and Wear in 2020. This indicative study utilised the traffic flows for all motor vehicles by each LA from 1993 – 2008 and the vehicle licence statistics for 2008. It further assumed that in a typical year 2.1 million new vehicles would be added to the national fleet and 1.9 million would be scraped. This was done to modify the vehicle balance by assuming that over the next 13 years more low emission vehicle are bought and more of the higher emission vehicles are scraped.

7.18 The results showed the average reduction in CO2 emission from vehicles in Tyne and Wear was approximately12% (excluding any electric vehicle use). This Tyne & Wear LTP Methodology can be applied similarly to Northumberland to show a 12% reduction in CO2 emissions through an improvement in vehicle efficiency.

Replacement of Fuels with Bio-Fuels

7.19 EU DIRECTIVE 2009/28/EC of 23 April 2009, the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, sets mandatory national targets for a 20 % share of energy from renewable sources and a 10 % share of energy from renewable sources in transport by 2020. Based on this directive, it is believed that it is possible to replace 10% of fuels with bio-fuels.

Electric Vehicles

7.20 One North East has carried out a study (based upon a Cenex/Arup 2008 study) to forecast the EV (Electric Vehicles) and HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicles) within the North East region by 2020. This study includes a BAU (1%), Mid-Range (3%), High-Range (6%) and Extreme Range (12%) scenarios as a percentage of total vehicle numbers.

7.21 The region has an aspiration to have 10% of vehicles as either EV's or HEV's by 2020, which is between the High-Range and Extreme-Range scenarios.

Budget for Wider Programme of Measures identified in the SEAP

7.22 Initial capital costs associated with set of measures identified in the scenario developed through the VantagePoint model are summarised in the table below. The costs included in this Sustainable Energy Action Plan are the initial indicative costs generated by the Vantage Point software. NCC officers are working closely with the other 11 North East Local Authorities to explore options to drive down costs and develop robust financial models in order to fund the priority measures that will contribute to reducing our emissions by 2020. A significant proportion of the measures in the Sustainable Energy Action Plans have multiple benefits (such as reducing fuel poverty), and improving organisations’ energy efficiency will save money in the medium term.

7.22 It is important to recognise that the indicative costs identified in this exercise would not all fall to the County Council. These are estimates based on the best available information of the total costs of implementing these measures and will be met by the public and private sector as appropriate.

7.23 The UK Government is introducing legislation and potential funding mechanisms, such as the Green Investment Bank, to support this aim. For example, in August 2010 it was confirmed that rules will be changed to allow Local authorities to sell any electricity they generate. It is expected that the Government will publish further proposals in October this year.

Table Showing Measures Introduced with CO2 Savings and Costs

Capital Expenditure Installations CO2 Saving ktpa £k Measure Unit 2010 2020 2010 2020 2010 2020 CHP Biomass MWe 0 0 0 0 0 0 CHP Large Gas MWe 0 0 0 0 0 0 CHP Buildings Gas MWe 0 0 0 0 0 0 Heat from Power Station MWth 0 0 0 0 0 0 PV Domestic Homes 100 1500 0.108 1.618 633.75 8,872.50 PV Non Domestic MWe 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wind Large MWe 0 0.00 0 0 0 0 Wind Medium MWe 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wind Domestic Homes 0 0 0 0 0 0 Solar Thermal Domestic Homes 200 3200 0.081 1.182 800 12,000.00 Biomass Boilers Domestic Homes 200 2200 0.544 5.42 1,440.00 14,400.00 Biomass Boilers Non Domestic MWth 0 0.00 0 0 0 0 Ground Source Heat Pump Domestic Homes 20220.00 0.002-0.026 120 1,200.00 Cavity Wall Insulation Domestic Homes 7629 11675 5.093 7.155 2,899.78 1,537.89 Loft Insulation Domestic Homes 14809 22663 5.751 8.079 4,238.34 2,247.82 Double Glazing Domestic Homes 1,000.00 3,000.00 0.733 2.018 4,000.00 8,000.00 Solid Wall Insulation Domestic Homes 0.00 500.00 0 1.223 0 1,875.00 Energy Efficient Lighting Commercial 000's m2 00.00 00 0 0 Double Glazing Commercial 000's m2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Street Lighting Efficient Lamps Lamps 0 0 0 0 0 0 Domestic gas use reduction by behavioural change % 5 10 25.116 47.029 0 0 Domestic electricity use reduction by behavioural change % 0 10 0 62.059 0 0 Non-domestic gas use reduction by behavioural change % 5 20 20.247 76.563 0 0 Non-domestic electricity use reduction by behavioural change % 0 10 0 34.306 0 0 Transport fuel use reduction by behavioural change % 1 4 7.515 30.961 0 0 Road transport efficiency improvements % 2 12 15.031 93.182 0 0 000's Replace road transport fuels with biofuels litres 5082 25414 6.395 31.978 0 0 000's Replace road transport fuels with electricity litres 0 9412 0 10.032 0 0 Greening of the Grid % 0 24 0 190000 0 0 Total 2096.6 192432.8 16141.9 52153.2 8. Carbon reduction measures being undertaken by the Council

8.1 The Council intends to allocate significant resources from its own budget to implement carbon reduction a measure affecting its own estate and operations – as a first stage, £200,000 was allocated by NCC in June 2010 to establish a revolving investment fund. Proposed carbon reduction measures are defined in some detail in the Council’s Carbon Management Plan which was adopted in April 2010. In the initial phase activity has been particularly focused on energy measures in the Council’s schools estate.

8.2 By late August 2010, thirty schools had been insulated at a cost of £187,559. Most schools have opted to pay through the 5 year ‘Invest to Save’ method but some have paid directly from either Revenue or DFC Capital. Funding for this work was provided by a one off loan of £206,000 from the national SALIX finance programme, administered by the Carbon Trust. The project so far is predicted to save 2,728,668 kwH of heating fuel per annum which is equivalent to 313 tonnes of CO2. The cost saving is predicted to be £58,300 per year so the project should pay for itself in approximately 3 years.

8.3 A further twenty-one schools have recently received quotes for work to be carried out either at weekends or in the coming half term and Christmas breaks. The cost of these projects is likely to be around £91,000 with a cost saving of £53,500 per year and a further 163 tonnes of CO2 saved.

8.4 Phase III of the project for loft insulation only is about to get underway with 86 schools likely to be unsuitable for cavity wall insulation. This will take in the remainder of the suitable schools in the county. Salix finance has recently provided a further grant of £207.394 to carry out Phase III of the loft and cavity wall insulation project. This is further to the initial £350.148 allocated in July 2010, bringing the total One off money for 'Invest to save' projects to £557,542, plus the additional £200,000 allocated by NCC as a revolving fund following Risk Panel in June 2010. The money is repayable in bi-annual instalments starting in March 2011

8.5 The Council’s dedicated Heating Controls officer will visit the newly insulated schools in the Autumn to ensure that controls are reset to account for the greater retention of heat in the buildings.

9 Planned monitoring measures

9.1 The Covenant of Mayors requires that a monitoring process should be developed with an initial report on the implementation of the measures identified in the SEAP and progress towards carbon reduction targets to be submitted two years after adoption of the SEAP. After some uncertainty on when the start date for SEAP implementation across the north east would be taken, the Covenant of Mayors office has indicated that they expect the initial monitoring report to be submitted in February 2012, two years after the submission of the outline SEAPs.

9.2 The Covenant of Mayors office has produced some initial suggestions of indicators that might be used to assess progress but it is due to publish a much more comprehensive guide to monitoring later this year. In practice, because of the integral relationship of the SEAP with other NSP and Council plans and strategies (as described above), monitoring processes will also need to be closely aligned to ensure consistency and to ensure maximum efficiency of effort.

9.3 A detailed programme for monitoring and follow up of the measures identified in the Council’s own Carbon Management Plan (CMP) is being developed as a part of the CMP process. The first CMP was adopted in Spring 2010 and this forms an integral part of delivery of the wider SEAP in terms of activity by the County Council to reduce emissions form its own estate and operations.

9.4 Likewise, the Delivery Plan for the “’Heat Is On’ – the Strategic Framework for Climate Change Planning in Northumberland” will include a programme for monitoring and follow up on the measures that will be taken forward. Future performance monitoring will focus around the six big issues of the Sustainable Community Strategy and so the Northumberland Strategic Partnership will pro-actively shape a performance framework that assesses performance across the Partnership and create accountability to the citizens of the County.

Appendix 1 Key Northumberland Plans and Programmes that contribute to the Sustainable Energy Action Plan

The following paragraphs summarise key features of the other core strategies and plans that together contribute to the Northumberland Sustainable Energy Action Plan. The SEAP should be read in conjunction with those plans and strategies which it does seek to replicate in full.

The Strategic Framework for Climate Change Planning in Northumberland – ‘The Heat is On’ http://www.nsp.org.uk/downloaddoc.asp?id=1480

The Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) was developed in 2007 by Northumberland Strategic Partnership through consultation with thousands of local people and sets out an ambitious vision for Northumberland:

Local people realising their full potential enjoying the best quality of life in a healthy, equal, safe, prosperous and sustainable Northumberland.

The vision will be delivered through a number of linked cross cutting strategies such as ‘The Heat is On’ which was formally adopted by the NSP Board in December 2008 and the Framework for Climate Change planning in Northumberland -. The Framework aims to encourage partners to put in place effective and timely measures at both corporate and community levels to address the causes and implications of climate change in Northumberland.

The Heat is On - Delivery Plan (in preparation – due to be adopted autumn 2010)

This delivery plan takes forward the commitment made by Northumberland Strategic Partnership in ‘The Heat Is On: The Strategic Framework For Climate Change Planning in Northumberland’ (2009) to put activity on climate change at the centre of our service delivery, by developing a portfolio of shared actions which will deliver this commitment.

The delivery plan, like the strategy, recognises the important role that the Northumberland Strategic Partnership can offer in encouraging partners to demonstrate leadership in each and every sector. Northumberland has a wide range of grassroots activity on climate change and many partner organisations have their own climate change activity. This delivery plan recognises the need to support and compliment this activity in very practical ways by addressing activity which needs to happen at a larger scale often bringing one or more organisations into dialogue with each other. This might include:

• Working with communities to identify barriers to activity and negotiate removal with relevant strategic players. • achieving large scale co-ordinated activity or • influencing the regulatory mechanisms which structure how we live our lives

By offering a strong and cohesive voice for Northumberland and by challenging each other to achieve more, this package of activity will contribute to a significant step change in activity, which would not possible by any single organisation in isolation.

In taking forward the vision for what we want to achieve on climate change in Northumberland, ‘The Heat Is On’ brings together a holistic consideration of activity on mitigation - reducing carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions, on adaptation – the need to make ourselves resilient to the effects of climatic changes we are already committed to experience and making the most of any economic opportunities that the changes might present. This is important because many of the initiatives and performance drivers which we have to respond to as a county or as a local authority such as the Covenant of Mayors or National Indicators focus on only a subset of this overall picture. We need to maintain an oversight of how all these come together in the place that is Northumberland and as many of the activities identified in the plan demonstrate, the most exciting opportunities often address both mitigation and adaptation jointly.

As such this delivery plan aims to provide a basket of ambitions that we want to pursue as a county from which a relevant subset can be progressed through the various commitments that we have made at a regional or local authority level. This has the added value of being policy and place driven rather than driven reactively to initiatives or indicators and is also less susceptible to sudden changes in external drivers. The following diagram may be a useful summary:

Northumberland Climate Change Action Plan – Adopted April 2010 http://www3.northumberland.gov.uk/Councillor/Upload/CDocs/6383_M742.doc

Climate Change Policy Statement

This following policy statement, adopted by the Council in April 2010 alongside the Climate Change Action Plan, provides the context for the preparation of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan:

“The County Council, as a unitary authority, reaffirms its commitment to the Nottingham Declaration and has adopted the following policy on climate change: Northumberland County Council acknowledges the threats posed by climate change and our aim is to: ƒ Progressively reduce our carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gas emissions; ƒ Assess the impact climate change will have on our estate and services and seek adaptations to future impacts and opportunities; ƒ Stabilise and progressively reduce our environmental footprint. In doing this we will: ƒ Consider the implications of climate change and environmental sustainability as part of our decision making processes, strategy and plan making and service planning; ƒ Identify ways in which energy use can be reduced both in the Council’s buildings and use of land and staff and business transport; ƒ Examine ways in which renewable sources can meet energy and heating requirements; ƒ Use resources in a prudent way and subject to national and EU purchasing legislation, seek to increase the proportion of goods sourced from certified sustainable sources or locally when there are environment and/or employment benefits; ƒ Ensure that the procuring of services, partnership working and service level agreements reflect the climate change aims of the Council; ƒ Reduce water use, the amount of waste produced and the amount of waste going to landfill; ƒ Adopt sustainable construction and sustainable building standards for new council buildings and refurbishments; ƒ Seek to reduce effects on the natural and built environment including undertaking action to conserve and manage natural and built assets; ƒ Ensure the delivery of effective resilience planning, and emergency response to incidents impacted by climate change such as wildfire or flooding; ƒ Work through the Northumberland Strategic Partnership to develop best practices in meeting the challenges of climate change and to raise the awareness of communities, partners and stakeholders of action that can be taken.”

The actions within the Climate Change Action Plan have been collated under 3 main themes within which objectives have been set:

Addressing Climate Change Estate Management – Service Provider – Adaptation Community Leadership Mitigation and Carbon and Resilience Management ƒ Reduce emissions from ƒ Understand impacts on ƒ Lead work on Council estate services and take action Northumberland wide (Level 2) mitigation ƒ Reduce transport ƒ Understand impacts on ƒ Lead work on emissions services and take action Northumberland wide ƒ Reduce impact of (Level 3) adaptation, resilience and corporate mileage protection ƒ Use renewable energy ƒ Understand impacts on ƒ Educate young people and ƒ Reduce waste from services and take action citizens about climate Council estate (Level 4) change ƒ Assess air quality and ƒ Manage flood and wildfire ƒ Use land wisely and build deliver improvements risk and water resources and sustainably where necessary plan for emergencies ƒ Undertake sustainable procurement

The Council has established the Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Members Working Group whose function is to make recommendations and offer advice to the Executive on matters affecting Northumberland related to climate change and environmental sustainability including adaptation, mitigation, managing the Council estate, service delivery and leadership. In carrying out these terms of reference the Working Group may seek reports and presentations on progress in implementing particular actions and oversee the preparation of an annual progress report covering the whole action plan. A Climate Change Board, an officer group with representation from all Council services has now been established to co-ordinate and champion climate change work within service areas.

The action plan sets out individual actions at a strategic level and will be supported by more detailed actions contained in service plans or prepared by service leads or project groups. An example of the latter is the Northumberland Carbon Management Programme, described in more detail below. A major part of the mitigation and carbon management theme will be delivered through the Carbon Management Plan. The councillor sponsor of the programme is the Executive Member for Corporate Resources and the programme was developed under the auspices of a Programme Board chaired by the Chief Executive. The Climate Change Action Plan recognises the key role played by the Carbon Management Plan but does not seek to duplicate the detail contained in the management plan.

A key strand to the Climate Change Action Plan is community leadership. At this stage the action plan has concentrated on developing working relationships with the Northumberland Strategic Partnership and regional arrangements. This will now be further developed through the Council’s involvement in the Government’s Local Carbon Frameworks pilot project. This and the showcasing of work undertaken by the Council through the Strategic Partnership will seek to increase awareness and provide examples of good practice to other partners and stakeholders.

The Northumberland Carbon Management Plan – adopted April 2010 http://www3.northumberland.gov.uk/Councillor/Upload/CDocs/6385_M742.doc

Background

The Carbon Management Plan (CMP), as part of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan, will take forward the Council’s commitment to delivering the ambitions set out in the ‘SCS’ and the ‘Heat is On’. The CMP was adopted by the Council in April 2010.

The emissions baseline of the former County Council and the six districts is 61,570 tonnes per annum, which includes CO2 emissions from buildings, business miles, street lighting and transport, including the Council’s vehicle fleet. The CMP includes a target of 50% reduction in carbon emissions over the next 5 years. If the Council achieves this 50% target it will result in cumulative savings of £4.3 m over the next 5 years.

Initial work potentially identified 48 projects which are calculated to deliver potential cost savings of £4.3m over the next 5 years and a reduction of 26,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum. This represents 82% of the target CO2 savings. The cost of these projects is projected to be £21m over the next 5 years. The Council has applied for funding of £800k from Salix Finance.

The key projects are boiler replacement, including: fuel, replacing coal/gas fired plant with biomass; the ‘Caring about Carbon’ awareness campaign, targeting behaviour change; and a number of insulation projects including cavity wall and loft insulation.

The plan also identifies a further 25 projects that will enable the Council to achieve the target of 50% CO2 reduction within 5 years. The Council is currently assessing these projects in more detail.

A particular feature of the CMP is the actions the Council intends to take to embed carbon management into the culture of its operations. Behaviour change is a key aspect of the programme. This includes actions to implement an environmental code of conduct for staff and a comprehensive communications strategy and several actions to align policy to include carbon management and the setting up of the Council’s Carbon Crew staff volunteers.

Partnerships will also feature heavily in the Council’s strategy to implement low carbon, carbon mitigation and renewable energy generation within Northumberland.

Measures Included in CMP

The Carbon Management Plan identifies measures to focus the majority of the Council’s carbon reduction activity in several key strategic themes. These are:

• Building Rationalisation – there is a total of 772 buildings in the Council’s portfolio, a 25% reduction is planned over the next 3 years. • Building projects – Electricity and gas consumption in our buildings needs to be reduced by investing in buildings to make them more energy efficient. • Heating projects – there are substantial savings to be made by insulating, improving and replacing heating systems in many of the County Council’s buildings. • Campaigns - changes in behaviour of staff are essential for targets to be achieved. It is estimated that electricity and gas consumption can be reduced by at least 10 and in some cases up to 20% if people change their behaviour regarding energy use. • Policy and corporate – a clear and effective framework of policy, determination and a corporate approach needs to be developed so that everyone in the Council is clear about how they should approach operations with energy as a key consideration. This will involve changing existing policies or procedures, and the creation of new policies to embed carbon management into the day to day operations of all services. This will include relevant policies in Sustainable Construction and Sustainable Procurement. • Renewable energy - there are a significant number of potential low carbon and renewable energy generation projects being investigated which can contribute to the carbon reduction target. • Street lighting – Around 17% (refer to baseline pie chart) of the County Council’s carbon emissions come from street lighting. The County Council’s carbon baseline shows that electricity consumption is a key target as it will give the greatest carbon savings contributing significantly to the carbon emissions target of 50%. • Sharing buildings – with strategic partners and the community.

The Council will build on existing partnerships and develop new ones. The Council has a key partnership with Scottish Power through the Northumberland Warm Zone delivering domestic insulation measures and in addition it will develop new ones with organisations such as Partnerships for Renewables and Salix Finance to deliver carbon emission reductions from its own operations.

In addition there are a number of stakeholders including NPower and British Gas offering support and roll out programmes for monitoring and evaluation, these include smart metering and BMS upgrade.

The funding of the work needed to achieve the targets will be through a combination of allocation of existing budgets such as Strategic Maintenance, Sustainability, Capital programme and Invest to Save and seeking new external fund through organisations such as Salix Finance and potential external partners.

Communicating our progress and the results of the efforts of staff in changing their behaviour is crucial in this programme. The programme will be monitored by the corporate communications team who will ensure that progress will be communicated to the Council’s Strategic Management Team and staff through ‘Carbon Crew’ champions, our carbon webpage and other communication routes at regular intervals through the progress of the Communication Plan.

Targets and objectives

Northumberland will reduce CO2 emissions from Council Operations by 50% by March 2015 from 2008/09 levels.

The carbon baseline has been determined for the carbon emissions from operations in the Council’s buildings, its street lighting provision and in emissions from transport such as the Council’s vehicle fleet, business miles from cars, rail and air travel. It does not include commuting miles to and from the place of work.

By setting this target and committing resources to the projects the Council will show its strong commitment to becoming a low carbon organisation and it will ensure the Council is a visible leader in the local community on climate change and reducing carbon emissions.

The Council aims to reduce the average energy consumption by at least 10% per annum for the next 5 years. Performance against these targets will be monitored on an annual basis in-line with the NI 185 performance indicator.

By the end of Year 2, the Council will be in a position to review activity and improvement, and will consider adopting a 10-year target (or beyond).

The carbon management plan covers the following sectors:

• All Council buildings - Reduce CO2 emissions by 50% by 2015 - Embed energy saving behaviour into staff culture - Adopt 20% renewables target for all new or refurbished Council buildings.

• Business Mileage - Reduce the total number of miles travelled by 50% by 2015 - Encourage the use of more efficient vehicles and flexible working arrangements - Driver training saving 10% fuel consumption - Implementing the Local Transport Plan (LTP) 5% saving

• Waste disposal vehicle energy usage and mileage - Reduce the total number of miles travelled with PFI partner by 50% by 2015 - Introduce more efficient vehicles - Progress will be monitored on a quarterly basis by the Carbon Management Implementation Team.

Housing Sector, Low Carbon Vision

Housing is not included in the 50% target set for the Council’s own Carbon Management Plan. However, in the context of the wider SEAP, it is important to not that detailed proposals for the roll out of further energy efficiency and micro-renewable energy production across the housing sector are in development in the light of emerging national policy. In particular, the Government’s proposed ‘Green Deal’ and other new funding routes, the introduction of Feed in Tariffs (FITs) from April 2010 and the likely introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) from April 2011 will together offer new opportunities. Work on this is being undertaken by the Council’s housing service working with key partners from the public and private housing sectors.

The Homes For Northumberland (HFN) ALMO stock currently stands at 8502 which consists of 6738 properties in the former Blyth Valley area and 1764 in the former Alnwick area.

The housing sector in Northumberland has already achieved average Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) ratings of:

Local authority average SAP 71.5 (average SAP rating in England was 58) Private sector average SAP 53 (average SAP rating in England was 48)

Vision to 2011/2020

Improve the overall energy efficiency and sustainability of the Northumberland domestic housing stock. Increase the number of operational domestic renewable devices. There are 131,400 households in Northumberland with an average house size of 2.3 persons and of these, 29% are single person households. Couples with or without children form the largest household type (49%) and 99% of the population describe themselves as white.

The North East Housing Strategy continues to support the national programme of action outlined in the Government’s Communities Plan - Sustainable Communities: Building for the future - which identified the need for a step change in building maintenance of communities in all the English Regions.

The Northumberland Housing Strategy endorses this vision and objectives and also supports and acknowledges the cross cutting issues identified in the Regional Housing Strategy of:

• Sustainable development and Climate Change; • Design quality; • Innovation; • Cost-effectiveness of housing delivery; and • Community cohesion and respect.

Appendix 2 - Summary of Climate Change Activity affecting Northumberland - Summer 2010 (includes adaptation focused activity as well as mitigation activity)

National Plans and Strategies

Climate Change Act Planning for a Sustainable Future Meeting the Energy Challenge UK Renewable Energy Strategy PPS 1—Delivering Sustainable Development PPS 1 Supplement— Planning and Climate Change

Regional Plans and Strategies

Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) Regional Economic Strategy (RES) Climate Change Action Plan for North East England Covenant of Mayors North East Low Carbon Region EIB Bid Low Carbon Vehicle Initiatives

Northumberland Plans and Strategies

Sustainable Community Strategy Local Carbon Frameworks The Heat is On Local Development Framework Sustainable Energy Action Plan for Northumberland

Other Organisations’ Plans Northumberland County Community and Local and Activities Council Led Plans and Initiatives Activities Low Carbon National Park Transition Tynedale Northumberland Warm Zone Climate Change Action Plan Berwick Low Carbon Initiative Northumberland Carbon Communities Challenge Energy Saving Trust Carbon Management Plan Development Trust Achievement Zones National Indicator Activity Activity NaREC LDF Low Carbon Energy Community Led Projects + others Study + others Local Transport Plan Economic Strategy Low Carbon Blyth Sustainable Schools Activity + others

Regionally Led Initiatives

TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS Covenant of EU Commits signatory ANEC NCC signed in Outline Sustainable Energy Action Plan Mayors Covenant authorities to reduce January 2009 – (SEAP) drafted at end of February open to all community wide CO2 Strategic along with all 2010. local emissions by >20% from Planning and other local Full SEAP produced by end of October authorities 2005 baseline by 2020 and Sustainability authorities in 2010 based closely on existing plans to develop Sustainable Team – North East region and programmes. Energy Action Plans within Planning one year of signing the CoM Strategy North east Bid in Bid for substantial EIB ANEC Initial bid Funding to support delivery of activity ‘Low carbon preparation funding stream to support materials in identified in Covenant of Mayors SEAPs region’ – carbon reduction initiatives. Planning preparation and other carbon reduction initiatives. European (Role of potential EIB Strategy summer 2010. Investment funding to be reviewed in Bank context of emerging national funding bid programmes including ‘Green Deal’) Climate Regional Identifies action across ClimateNE – First Action Plan ClimateNE activity to deliver regional Change Action Plan range of sectors to address the North published April action plan actions is ongoing Action Plan climate change mitigation East Climate 2008 for North and adaptation across the Change East north east Partnership England NSP (Chaired the Partnership in 2007/09) TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS

Planning Strategy North East Regional Detailed study on impacts in ClimateNE – Study published Study results are informing other Climate study region to support regional the North April 2008 regional and local strategies and Change Climate Change Action Plan East Climate actions Adaptation and local activity Change Study Partnership

NSP

Planning Strategy North East Regional Detailed study on emissions ClimateNE – Report published Study results are informing other England study baseline and likely future the North January 2009 regional and local strategies and Greenhouse emissions trajectory to East Climate actions Gas support regional Climate Change Emissions Change Action Plan and Partnership Baselines local activity and NSP Trajectories Study Planning Strategy The Regional Detailed study on the direct ClimateNE – Report due to be Includes an adaptation critique, a report economic study and indirect impacts of the North published Autumn on the impact of mitigation action on the impacts of climate change and their East Climate 2010 economy and the economic climate economic implications to Change assessment of impacts. Study results change – support and inform the Partnership will inform other regional and local North East Regional Climate Change strategies and actions study Action Plan, the Regional Regeneration Strategy and local activity TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS and to inform the Regional Strategy. The work is being incorporated into The Heat is On Delivery Plan and the Economic Strategy. Association Regional Manifesto setting out ANEC ANEC Manifesto issued Manifesto underpins ANEC approach to of North East statement by vision on sustainability, September 2008 a broad range of issues under the broad Councils – local climate change and the Planning headings of ‘Well-being, Health and the Green government environment Strategy Environment’ Manifesto association ‘Well-being, Health and the Environment’ Tyne and Economic Research into low carbon Tyne and Due to be Depth and understanding to inform how Wear City review and economy issues and wear City delivered autumn low carbon economy issues and region research opportunities affecting the Region 2010 opportunities can be addressed at city Economic projects city region. region level. Review Regeneration Low carbon Regional bid Proposals for series of One Initial ‘Plugged in Network of charging points and vehicle for support measures including NorthEast Places’ bid provision of trial vehicles to key partners initiatives for low installation of network of approved including NCC and NNPA carbon electric charging points Highways and February 2010 vehicle across Northumberland Transport infrastructure Low Carbon Ongoing The North East has been One Ongoing The first training centre to specialise in Economic designated the UK's first NorthEast the sustainable manufacturing and area – low Low Carbon Economic Area education in ultra-low carbon vehicles. carbon specialising in ultra-low Regeneration vehicles carbon vehicles. A Research & Development Centre - a focus for research from all the region’s TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS universities and local business.

An open access test track to trial the use of new technologies.

A new business park.

Council/ NSP Led Initiatives

TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS Nottingham UK wide Committed authority to Strategic NCC signed in Original Climate Change Action Plan Declaration declaration produce a Climate Change Planning and December 2005 adopted by former NCC in July 2008. on Climate by local Action Plan within 2 years Sustainability Declaration to be CCAP for new unitary adopted April Change authorities of signing Team – re-signed by new 2010 to act on Planning council autumn climate Strategy 2010 change NCC Climate CCAP to be Overall action plan – Strategic CCAP for whole of CCAP adopted by Executive April 2010 Change formally covering mitigation, Planning and new unitary NCC Action Plan adopted by adaptation and awareness Sustainability follows from NCC – raising Team – commitment under delivers Planning Nottingham NCC Strategy Declaration elements of NSP ‘Heat is on’ Local Carbon New CLG New project – aimed at Strategic Northumberland Revised timetable and target outputs Frameworks initiative – establishing better Planning and announced as one due to be confirmed September 2010 pilot cooperation between Sustainability of nine pilots – authorities national and local Team – January 2010 Output from Local Carbon Framework TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS identified government in delivering Planning Programme pilots will be an input to SEAP target low carbon economy and Strategy and: planning workshop delivery to establish a new Corporate held May 2010. approach for local Policy Team - LCF programme authorities to set targets Policy and reviewed by and put in place plans to Partnerships incoming reduce carbon emissions Government – confirmation that programme to continue given August 2010 ‘The Heat is NSP Overall framework for Corporate Framework Delivery plan due to be adopted by NSP On’ – strategic climate change planning in Policy Team - published January Board - Autumn 2010 Strategic framework the county – to be adopted Policy and 2009 Framework for climate by all NSP partner Partnerships for Climate change organisations. Change planning in Planning in Northumberl Close links to revised Northumberl and Northumberland SCS and NCC Carbon NCC NCC plan for internal Commercial NCC formally CMP adopted April 2010 Management commitment organisational carbon and Property committed to CMP Plan to work with savings. NCC has set Services process in July Annual implementation plans will be Carbon aspirational target to 2009 produced Trust to reduce emissions by 50% produce within 5 years – from CMP adopted April plan in 2008/9 baseline 2010. round seven of Local Authority CMP TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS process Northumberl Partnership Development of a Head of Ongoing A company set up with the scope for and initiative partnership or trading Commercial carbon off-setting through woodland Partnership vehicle for the delivery of and Property creation, energy saving consultancy or Trading carbon management and Services and financing scheme and renewable Vehicle for energy services – the energy supply. Carbon mandatory Carbon Development of business models Management Reduction Commitment currently being progressed and Energy and the Council’s Carbon Services Management Programme National One of 198 Annual emissions and % Strategic Reported annually Standard reporting spreadsheet based Indicator 185 National annual CO2 reduction Planning and based on financial on fixed point and transport / fleet – CO2 Indicators figures. Good Sustainability year – (next emissions from NCC operations reductions associated performance is based on Team – reporting date for from Local with CAA % annual reduction. Planning 2009/10 still not Authority process Strategy confirmed at end of Operations August 2010).

National One of 198 Annual emissions and % Strategic Statistics produced Total end user figures per local Indicator 186 National annual CO2 reduction Planning and annually by Defra. authority (former district level) based on – per capita Indicators figures. Good Sustainability Most recent data standards sector data for domestic, reduction in performance is typified by Team – (2007) was industrial and transport emissions CO2 an increasing year on year Planning published in emissions in % reduction in Co2 per Strategy September 2009. the LA area capita. NI 187 – One of 198 Measure of progress in Housing Annual (financial Local condition survey and SAP survey tackling fuel National tacking fuel poverty year) done as results targeted at households in receipt poverty - % Indicators through the improved desktop exercise of income related benefits. of people associated energy efficiency of following receiving with CAA households inhabited by completion of income process people claiming income TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS based based benefits. Good benefits performance is shown over time by reduction in proportion of households with SAP below 35 and increase in proportion with SAP above 65. NI188 – One of 198 Reporting of level of Strategic Level 1 reported for Targets in LAA: planning to National preparedness reached by Planning and financial year 2009/10 – Level 3 adapt to Indicators local authority and wider Sustainability 2008/9. 2010/11 – Level 4 adapt to associated LSP against 5 level of Team – climate with CAA performance graded 0-4. Planning change process. Strategy, Core supporting indicator in activity in all northumberl service areas and LAA Renewable, Evidence Provides core strategic Local Study to be Study will inform Core Strategy and Low Carbon base study vision and policy Development completed 2010 - associated set of Local Planning Energy and for key framework for spatial Framework Core Strategy due Documents which together form the energy statutory planning across the whole Team – to be adopted Local Development Framework efficiency planning county. Climate change Panning spring/ summer Study for document policy is an integral part of Strategy 2012 Northumberl this arising from and LDF– requirements of PPS 1 Core Supplement = Planning Strategy and Climate Change Northumberl Key Provides overview and LTP team in Due for adoption and Local statutory strategy for development Highways and Spring 2011 Transport transport of all aspects transport Transport Plan – LTP 3 policy policy and delivery for TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS document period TBC. Guidance for third round LTPs emphasise the need for these Plans to take full account of Climate Change issues Northumberl NCC policy Strategic overview to Regeneration Adopted July 2010 Likely to include a cross cutting aim to and statement inform development of develop a low carbon economic future Economic economic activity across thus adding value to the Heat is On by Strategy the county identifying the economic opportunities 2010 -15 associated with the climate change agenda

Warm Zone Ongoing Delivery and promotion of Warm Zone Ongoing activity Increase in domestic home insulation Initiative free and subsidised Northumber- measures across Northumberland insulation improvement land services to domestic properties across Housing Northumberland

Warm Govt Energy companies and Housing and The new local The strategy will be implemented in a Homes, initiative local authorities teaming Strategic partnership three stage plan: Greener announced up to make homes more Planning and approach will take Homes by CLG on energy efficient – with Sustainability over from 2013 - To insulate 6 million homes by the end Strategy 2 March energy companies Team – of 2011 2010 required to help Planning NB - Status not householders become Strategy yet confirmed – - To have insulated all practical lofts more energy efficient. elements may be and cavity walls by 2015 NB – clear ties in to Local superseded by Carbon Framework Pilot emerging ‘Green - To have offered up to 7 million eco project described above Deal’ from new upgrades by 2020; all homes to have TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS Government smart meters. Low Carbon Council Low Carbon Blyth (LCB) is Spatial Key decisions on • Demonstrating strong leadership Blyth initiative a coordinated programme Planning, progressing LCB as a local authority linked to of projects and initiatives Monitoring are now imminent • Positive response to policy South East led by the County Council and Delivery agenda at national, regional and Northumberl that seeks to promote and Team – local levels and Growth position Blyth at the heart Planning • Provide a corporate response to Point of the transition to the low Strategy. policy agenda Partnership carbon economy and low • Providing a bridge between carbon living. To be “global policy agenda” and delivered on actions that can be taken at the the basis of a community level collaborative • Build on current actions across approach the authority to achieve involving synergies several • Build on the positives that Blyth services; key offers in terms of low carbon partners and economy stakeholders; and the local Development of business models now community. being led by Director of Commercial and Property Services

Energy Part of Ongoing programme of NCC and EST Initial report Initial report and recommendations, Savings national support to NCC across submitted to NCC followed by ongoing support as Trust – ‘One programme range of internal and April 2009. required. to one’ local from EST to community focused energy Collaborative work authority support and carbon savings activity with EST ongoing – support activity in – complements support next review programme local given by the Carbon Trust meeting to take authorities on NCC Carbon place later this TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS Management programme month Cheviot ongoing Pioneering multi-agency Environment Ongoing activity Current outputs include: Futures partnership addressing the Agency • tree planting to reduce riverbank need to develop new and erosion and reduce flows during innovative techniques and NSP Policy flood events to trial demonstration and • Wind breaks at the Fenton works that will adapt land Partnerships Centre and businesses to the • Wetland creation changing climate. • Grip blocking • Improvements to the Fenton Centre and Ingram Visitors Centre to promote climate change adaptation measures to local businesses and communities • Low Carbon Project led Proposals for development NSP Policy Work ongoing Initial consultants report produced Northumberl by NSP / of funding streams for and summer 2010 to February 2009 and NCC with investment in low carbon Partnerships determine support technologies and carbon and appropriate Work now being coordinated with other from Natural sequestration in Regeneration accreditation elements of NCC carbon reduction England Northumberland model. business model

Northumberl Ongoing The Northumberland Fire Northwoods Ongoing activity Maintain membership of the and Fire Group is a coming together (RDI) Northumberland Fire Group Group of both the public and private sectors to tackle Northumber- Encourage and assist the completion of the increasing threat of land Fire and fire plans by fire group members large wildfires in the rural Rescue TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS environment of Service Facilitate the dissemination of Northumberland. information, advice and guidance on NSP Policy moorland/forest fire risk and and management Partnerships The production of fire awareness promotional material for locals and visitors emphasising the impacts of wildfire and managed burning on the natural environment and landscape

Deliver both theoretical (class-room based) and practical (Live Wildfire Exercise) wildfire training to organisations operating in rural Northumberland Sustainable In Draft form A strategy outlining how Director of Ongoing This will provide a detailed plan of Schools we are going to Lead Commercial action to ensure that schools are firmly Strategy Schools in Northumberland and Property embedded in this agenda and are used through the Carbon Services as a conduit for promoting positive Management and activity in local communities. Sustainability Agenda, this Director of will include the role of Enterprise, schools in leading local Learning and community schemes, Skills improving the footprint of their operations i.e. buildings, facilities, procurement and outline their role in building sustainability into the TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS curriculum Northumberl Ongoing The Partnership will Northwoods Support being Communities will be encouraged and and improve co-operation (RDI) given to emerging supported in forming active localised Community between partners through Community Flood community flood groups. Communities Flooding enhanced information and Northumber- Groups from Winter at high risk of flooding in Partnership equipment sharing which land Fire and 2009 /10. First Northumberland will be given flood will result in better service Rescue Northumberland planning support and community delivery in response and Service Community Flood focused training on all aspects of flood prevention of flooding. The Fair was held in resilience for before, during and after a activities delivered by the NSP Policy Rothbury in May flood. New approaches to improve Partnership will also and 2010 community resilience to flood events will support and improve Partnerships be developed. Best practice from the community resilience to around the UK and further afield will be flooding. adopted. Community Year 2 The NSP is part funding NSP Policy June 2010 a A better understanding of the interface Responses and co-supervising a PhD and seminar was given between bottom up and top down to Climate student at Newcastle Partnerships by the researcher approaches to climate change to inform Change University to explore to NCC staff on the policy and community engagement. community responses to findings to date and climate change with the how they might intention that this research inform policy and is made available to better community inform policy and engagement community engagement on activity. the subject of both mitigation and adaptation to climate change. South East In progress Natural England has Natural Working draft Develop an integrated response Northumberl selected South East England report April 2010. strategy which will draw on the and Northumberland Character Workshop for LDF templates to develop a list of priority Landscape Area as one of five pilot NSP Policy team and other key adaptation actions which are aimed at TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS Scale areas nationwide to assess and NCC officers held either reducing the vulnerability of the Climate the vulnerability of key Partnerships by June 2010. most valued assets and services in the Change natural assets and Final project report Character Area or delivering benefits for Adaptation ecosystems services to Planning due autumn 2010. multiple asset types and ecosystem Pilot climate change. Strategy (CHECK STATUS services. RM) Newcastle Phase 1 in 35 ha facility nearby for Newcastle Ongoing project See description – specialist R&D test University progress experimental crop trials. University and demonstration facility for the Creel Project further Trial and demonstration of development of renewable energy from phases a novel anaerobic Regeneration land based resources. delayed in digestion (liquid animal developmen wastes combined with t vegetative matter; use of glycerol; gasification of residual solids; use of residual liquor as fertiliser)

Energy First Proposal led by EST Energy Ongoing project A leaner more targeted and embedded Saving Trust proposal re working with NSP and now Saving Trust support service mechanism with the Carbon South East NNPA to develop and pilot potential to replicate nationwide. Achievement Northumberl regionally and nationally a NSP Policy Zones and has new delivery model for the and stalled, EST’s energy reduction Partnerships second and carbon reduction (formerly attempt advice and support service regeneration) under to households and developmen communities. t with NNPA Safe Havens Exploratory A proposal to integrate NSP Policy Ongoing project A series of buildings resilient to the developmen renewable energy and impacts of extreme weather events t and technologies into Partnerships across the county. TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS funding community emergency application recovery buildings as Northwoods Renewable energy distributed stage identified through the Fire generation and rescue Service emergency plans. This will provide a network of self sufficiently powered hubs to support the continuation of emergency service provision in the case of a major event affecting the electricity network whilst providing a source of income for communities on a daily basis.

Local initiatives

TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS National National NaREC is major centre for NaREC Ongoing Increasing focus on deployment of Renewable centre of research and development technology and associated Energy excellence on of wind, tidal and Regeneration opportunities for creation of new Centre - new and photovoltaics businesses and employment (NaREC) renewable opportunities at Blyth energy technologies Low Strategic Programme of activity to Northumber- Action Plan Some residents are not connected to Carbon Action Plan complement existing land National presented to One the electricity or gas networks and thus National for Low national, regional and local Park Authority North East fuel poverty is an issue. The proposed Park – Carbon programmes to deliver a low November 2009 work will make a real life changing TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS Northumbe National Park carbon economy throughout difference for many of these people as rland NP the Northumberland National well as contribute to the regional and Park. national efforts to reduce carbon emissions by 35% by 2020 Links to other specific projects – e.g. Low Carbon Hill Farming Berwick – One of only Project to deliver specific low CORE / LCCC bid In conjunction with the Berwick Housing Low twenty carbon energy solutions to Berwick approved Trust, the funding will be spent on a Carbon projects communities in Berwick Homes December 2009 – retro-fit renewable programme which Communiti nationally to upon Tweed project delivery will see the installation of photovoltaic es be awarded commenced panels installed in 50 houses. Challenge funding under Spring 2010 Revenues would feed into a community project Low Carbon fund to be reinvested for further Communities environmental and social programmes. Challenge The Low Carbon Berwick Programme funding will see the implementation of a local action plan including behavioural change initiatives for domestic householders and wider environmental initiatives. Sustainable Community- Sustainable Allendale aims Sustainable Filming of BBC / One of the key facets of Sustainable Allendale owned to make the Allen Valleys a Allendale Big Lottery Allendale is energy security. The first company to fully sustainable community Group sponsored activity community project is SAFE - improve the looking forward to 2030. over 2010/11. Sustainable Allendale Food and sustainability Ongoing Energy. The proposed components of of programme of SAFE are a market garden for locally communities specific projects grown produce (lower food miles), with in the Allen greenhouses. A combination of a Valleys biomass boiler, solar panels and a wind turbine will provide heat & power not TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS only for the greenhouses but also for adjacent public buildings and the wider community. Green Community Measures to eradicate fuel Glendale Ongoing Radical move towards zero carbon and Glendale led energy poverty and to reduce Community programme zero fuel poverty through measures initiative carbon footprint of Trust ranging from energy efficiency works, communities across behaviour change and individual and Glendale community scale renewable energy installations. Looking to complement and enhance existing proposals in the area to provide an exemplar zero carbon belonging community in Glendale. Belford Community Working in partnership with Belford Ongoing The aim of BEST is to raise awareness Energy led energy the Energy Saving Trust, Energy programme over energy efficiency, reduce the local Saving initiative BEST is working with Saving energy use through demonstrating Together householders and Together pioneering projects such as Energy businesses to cut energy Saving Christmas lighting, energy use and bills, reducing the monitor parties and to work closely with amount of harmful carbon Coastal Grains and other partners to dioxide, which contributes to explore renewable energy generation climate change, that they opportunities for Belford. release into the atmosphere

Holy Island Community Project to establish feasibility Energy Project initiation Final outputs will be a significant and led energy of creating a low carbon Savings Trust activity Spring high profile demonstration project on initiative community on Holy island - 2010 one of Northumberland’s most An idea to demonstrate an NSP Policy important and characteristic tourist innovative energy reduction and icons. NCC Culture and Tourism have and monitoring project on Partnerships also been involved in early discussions Holy Island has been and are keen to assist in profiling the TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS presented and welcomed by AONB results the Holy Island Partnership Coastal Team facilitated by the AONB team. Partners are in the process of progressing this proposal and are in discussions with Scottish Power the electricity supplier about installing monitoring in the supply cable.

Transition Part of Transition Town initiatives Transition Ongoing Grassroots led movement towards zero Towns national include focus on energy, Tynedale programmes carbon and self sufficiency through Transition transport and local food Transition measures ranging from energy Towns production – arising from Alnwick efficiency works, behaviour change and movement twin drivers of climate Transition individual and community scale change and peak oil Berwick renewable energy installations.

Developme Early stages Greater Morpeth Greater Ongoing Renewable energy distributed nt Trust of Planning Development Trust are Morpeth programmes generation Activity and exploring the establishment Development Development of an anaerobic digestion Trust Berwick Demonstration Anaerobic Digestion facility in partnership with a Community facility in Morpeth private sector partner on Development land in Morpeth Trust Alnwick Berwick Community Community Development Trust are Development exploring a community wind Trust turbine to supply the Trust CoRE with a sustainable income TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS

Alnwick Development Trust are also exploring opportunities for renewable generation – wind in partnership with Sanofi Aventis

Northumbe Planning and Northumberland Estates Northumberla On going Renewable energy distributed rland development have been developing nd Estates programme generation Estates stage significant proposals for a (biomass), biomass CHP scheme at the development south end of Alnwick and a stage (micro series of micro hydro hydro) schemes across the north of the County

Energy for complete NSP Renewable Energy Individual Ongoing Demonstration Renewable energy Business Capital Grant Scheme Project leads programme distributed generation funded 14 demonstration for each. renewable energy projects NSP/Regener ation BioCoRE Ongoing CoRE is working in CoRE Ongoing Development of a combined heat and partnership with an NHS Lionhearts programme power system Pathfinder Project, using vegetable oil at Lionhearts, which works with a workshop in Alnwick powered by adults with mental health recycled cooking oil collected from problems. CoRE is restaurants, schools and NHS facilities. researching the viability of untreated recycled vegetable TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS oil for energy generation. The project is being monitored and verified by students from Newcastle University’s Swann Institute – who are using the findings for their Dissertations.

Low Carb Complete Design of the Times Low Design of the This project is Home energy dashboard Lane 2007-2008 Carb Lane team worked with Times team now complete SaverBox – pay as you save scheme the community at Castle National though the Terrace exploring the social Energy Action intention is that and economic situation of the project citizens affected by fuel concepts are poverty. The team then extended through created a way to visualise the Heat Is On energy use using a Delivery Plan that television-based ‘home is under energy dashboard’ which development enables the occupier to summer 2010 understand where energy is used and so control it better. They then developed a ‘pay- as-you-save’ scheme called SaverBox, which removes financial barriers to investing in energy-efficient home improvements. Practical assistance was provided to make energy savings by choosing certain products TITLE STATUS DESCRIPTION LEAD KEY DATES OUTPUTS over others, from low-cost changes (light bulbs, draught excluders, curtains) to larger investments (such as A- rated white goods and boilers).

Tynedale In A range of sites are being CoRE Project initiation Renewable energy distributed hydro development explored for the activity Spring generation schemes development of Archimedes 2010 screws across Tynedale

A plethora Numerous Information is collected and Grassroots Ongoing Small scale embedded renewable of village projects at mapped through the organisations programme energy generation and carbon reduction and small various community forums and area and activity scale stages of partnerships to inform the individuals initiatives planning / development of The Heat Is delivery On Delivery Plan