Hounslow Calls for Incisive Action to Achieve Net Zero

In September 2023 Hounslow Council reported that its carbon footprint had fallen by ten per cent since 2018, including an eight per cent drop in council-controlled operations over the latest year. It declared a climate emergency in 2019, then adopted an action plan in 2020, aiming for net zero in its own operations by 2030 and a 50 per cent cut by 2026.

Achievements listed included nearly 4000kW of renewable generation from solar panels at 48 sites, and retrofits of 32 schools and 29 corporate buildings expected to save 17.5m kilowatts of electricity a year. A further £2.1m had been secured to retrofit six more buildings and schools, around £8m had been spent on the energy efficiency of council housing, and a fleet replacement programme would bring in over 200 electric and hybrid vehicles in its first phase.

Deputy leader Councillor Katherine Dunne said the council was proud of its progress but intended to reach the 50 per cent target. She added that councils cannot solve the climate crisis alone and called on national government for more decisive action and the funding to speed up projects in towns and cities.

Martin Cresswell, executive chair of Lampton Group, described the group's contribution. Its commercial recycling truck had switched from diesel to HVO fuel, cutting carbon by 90 per cent, and its Southall Lane depot ran wholly on renewables. Its greenspace team had planted more than 9,000 trees the previous winter, beyond the borough's target. A new cleaning range was said to deliver a 92 per cent carbon reduction, and the New Road Triangle scheme in Feltham, fitted with air source heat pumps and rooftop solar, was expected to cut emissions by 70 per cent. The council also runs initiatives to help residents and businesses use less energy.

Source: UK Property Forums, original article (8 September 2023)