Partnership project at Kent council is targeting 20% reduction in carbon emissions across public buildings

A partnership project between SSE Energy Solutions and Medway council in Kent is set to slash carbon emissions by 20% across 11 of the council's major public buildings.

The retrofits at the buildings, worth an estimated £3.2 million, are a significant step towards Medway Council’s ambitions of achieving net zero by 2050 as its operational buildings (heating and electricity) currently account for 60% of total emissions.

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Libraries, theatres and leisure centres have seen a range of energy-reducing measures including the installation of rooftop solar, energy storage systems, air-source heat pumps, demand controlled ventilation, and LED lighting.

Based on 2019 rates, the work will deliver cost-savings of 35% for the local authority.

Cllr Simon Curry, the council's portfolio holder for climate change, said: "We are committed to achieving net zero carbon in Medway by 2050 and this important project will help us reach this goal.

"We are working hard to make significant carbon savings and this second phase of the project will help us to achieve this. I am pleased to be working alongside SSE and we will work with all our local suppliers and contractors to support local businesses and achieve net zero together."

Tunde Olaoye, smart energy systems sector lead at SSE Energy Solutions, added: "Projects like those undertaken across Medway Council are an exemplar of SSE’s ‘Whole System Approach’ and how this can help businesses and organisations to fully decarbonise.

"By combining a range of energy reducing measures and renewable technologies with SSE’s experience in delivering investment and controlling localised flexible energy assets, we can transform the sustainability of community assets and public spaces up and down the country vital to our everyday lives."

The buildings upgraded as part of the programme will form the basis of Medway council’s smart city project.

Nine of the 11 buildings will be fitted with smart building upgrades, equipped with an Internet-of-Things embedded controller and a server platform, which delivers integrated control and supervision capabilities.

The accompanying building management system will monitor all heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) services, ensuring the building operates at maximum efficiency.

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