Board: Sheffield First Environment Partnership board
Date: 12 May 2010
Report Title: Sheffield Carbon Reduction Framework – Performance
Review
Report Author: Andy Nolan
Contact Number:
0114 2053872
Purpose: (please mark ‘X’)
For Decision
Progress Update
For Steer
x
Item (on SFE Agenda)
5
x
Other [state]
Report Summary:
The paper presents, for comment and endorsement, the Board an update on
progress in the delivery of the city’s ambition for carbon reduction.
Recommendations


The Partnership Board notes the report; and
Agrees to the approach set out in the report to further develop the CRF.
Approved by:
Andy Nolan, Director of Sustainable
Development
Page 1 of 18
Sheffield Carbon Reduction Framework – Performance Review
SHEFFIELD FIRST ENVIRONMENT BOARD
MEETING
1.
1.1
1.2
12 May 2010
Purpose of the report
The purpose of this report is to :

Share with Members of the Sheffield First Environment Partnership the
Carbon Reduction Framework (Appendix A) developed and shaped by the
Sheffield First Environment Partnership;

To review progress after 11 months;

To begin to identify the new areas of action and activity needed in the City;

To restate the need for an inclusive partnership approach in developing and
implementing the framework and to invite partners to sign up to the City’s
carbon reduction targets.
The Board is being asked to recognise the progress made on the Carbon
Reduction Framework and its action plan and consider the following questions:




are these the right priority actions?
are there any key gaps or additional areas for action?
are there any barriers to successful delivery? How might partners address
these?
Consider how this framework can become a mainstream part of the business of
every organisation and partnership in the city.
2.
Background
2.1
The Board considered an item on Climate Change: Carbon Reduction and
Adaptation in December 2008. At that time the Board requested that firm actions
be developed, across a range of partners, to ensure delivery of the city’s agreed
targets for carbon reduction. In 2009 the Environment Partnership helped develop
and shape the City’s first Carbon Reduction Framework. This report, almost 12
months on outlines progress to date, areas for development and some proposed
next steps.
3.
The need for carbon reduction and emission monitoring
3.1
The primary cause of recent climate change is the burning of carbon-based fossil
fuels and the emission of other greenhouse gases, such as methane. Carbon
Page 2 of 18
emissions occur from almost everything we do in our daily lives, from heating and
lighting our homes, to what we buy, how we move about, what we eat and how we
dispose of our waste.
Modelling suggests that ‘business as usual’ without specific carbon reduction
measures will lead to Sheffield’s carbon emissions rising rather than falling. We
need to reduce the city’s carbon emissions for two main reasons:

The effects on the environment of carbon emissions include rising global
temperatures, which are likely to have a serious impact on the planet both in
the relatively short term and for future generations. Sheffield is committed to
reducing its emissions of greenhouse gases, notably carbon dioxide.

As a net importer of coal and gas the UK is vulnerable to the volatility and
politics of those countries supplying those fuels. Over time, oil and gas
reserves in politically stable countries will diminish. However, demand for
energy in homes and businesses is increasing and market prices for fossil
fuels are increasingly unpredictable and volatile with prices likely to rise
further. This will make affordable power, warmth (and cooling) more difficult
to achieve without the adoption of renewable and low/zero carbon energy.
Committing to a low carbon economy with greater emphasis on cleaner, low
/zero carbon, renewable forms of energy will ensure Sheffield is well placed
in the short, medium and longer term.
4
Carbon Reduction targets in Sheffield
4.1
The City has challenging targets to reduce the amount of carbon emitted by the
city. These targets are set out in both the local area agreement and in the City
Strategy. These are:





4.2
2% reduction on 2005 levels by 2009
5% reduction on 2005 levels by 2010
10% reduction on 2005 levels by 2011
30% reduction on 2005 levels by 2020
60% reduction on 2005 levels by 2050
LAA Targets
2005-2010
City Strategy
Targets
In September 2009 the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC)
published the estimated carbon baseline for 2007 for Sheffield1. As part of this, the
2005 and 2006 estimates were also revised.
DECC estimates the City’s carbon emissions in 2007 were 3,443,000 tonnes
compared to 3,558,000 tonnes in 2006 and 3,572,000 tonnes in 2005. The
1
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/climate_change/climate_change.aspx
Page 3 of 18
datasets show that between 2005 and 2007, Sheffield’s carbon emissions fell by
129,000 tonnes.
Over the same period per capita emissions have reduced by 300kg/capita from
6.8t/capita to 6.5t/capita. Whilst there has been a marginal increase in the City’s
population over that period (approximately 8,000 (Office of National Statistics)) the
per capita reduction trend follows the absolute reduction trend reported by DECC.
Therefore, it should be noted the City has seen a reduction in per capita carbon
emissions that meet the 2010 target. However, it should be noted that carbon
emissions, as a product of activity, are as likely to go up or down over time,
dependent on the sources of energy used.
Data for Sheffield’s carbon emissions from 2005 - 2007 are set out in Figure 1.
Year
2005
2006
2007
Industry
& Commerce
1,728
1,732
1,675
Domestic
Road transport
Total
1,244
1,239
1,181
600
587
588
3,572
3,558
3,443
Per Capita
Emissions (t)
6.8
6.8
6.5
Figure 1 shows that, overall, carbon emissions have decreased in Sheffield
between 2005 and 2007 by approximately 129,000t CO2. Whilst there were have
been consistent reductions in emissions from industry and commerce and domestic
consumption, emissions from transport are estimated to have increased slightly
from 2006 – 2007 (although there has been a reduction overall between 2005 and
2007).
4.3
It is important to remember that we have a track record of reducing carbon
emissions in Sheffield – since 1990 CO2 emissions have fallen. Total emissions at
that time have been estimated as 4,180,419 tonnes, or 7.88 tonnes per capita.
Over the period 1990 to 2006, the city’s emissions fell by 487,414 tonnes, an
11.7% reduction.
However, the scale of this challenge should not be underestimated:


A 10% reduction on our carbon emissions by 2011 is equivalent to a reduction
of 360,000 tonnes of carbon, or the equivalent of 1.4 billion miles in a standard
family car.
The 30% reduction by 2020 is the equivalent of over 1 million tonnes of carbon
dioxide, far greater than the total emissions of places such as Preston,
Blackpool and Carlisle.
The 60% reduction by 2050 is equivalent to over 2 million tonnes of carbon, or
nearly three times the emissions currently created in Sheffield through the use of
domestic gas.
Page 4 of 18
Therefore, as a city, we all need to take steps to reduce our carbon emissions in
order to combat harmful climate change for future generations. The Sheffield
Carbon Reduction Framework sets out how everyone in Sheffield can take action
to reduce their carbon emissions, whether as individuals, businesses or public
sector and voluntary partners.
5
Comparisons With Core Cities And South Yorkshire Authorities
5.1
Sheffield’s total emissions are the 4th highest of the Core Cities. With the exception
of Manchester, all comparators have seen a decrease over the period 2005 –
2007. The UK average per capita emissions are 8.5t.
Figure 2 – Carbon Emissions Comparison with
English Core Cities and South Yorkshire Authorities
Per capita emissions across the Core Cities and the South Yorkshire authorities
are set out in Figure 3. Whilst it is not straightforward to identify all of the causes of
these changes in performance, there has been significant activity within the city,
alongside national initiatives and policy which will have influenced behaviours and
activities over the period 2005 - 2007.
Page 5 of 18
Figure 3 – Per Capita Emissions in 2005 and 2006
across 8 Core Cities and South Yorkshire Authorities.
For example, in Sheffield, we have raised the profile of climate change and carbon
emissions through a range of activities set out in the Carbon Reduction Framework
and rolled out including the ecoschools programme, affordable warmth programme
and the smart meter loan scheme as well as promoting key messages through a
range of media, through specific events and programmes such as Sheffield is my
Planet.
We have also seen higher standards in planning policy, improvement in vehicle
performance, a continued commitment to Ecoschools, investment in home
insulation and clearer policy around renewable energy generation.
At a citywide level the Sheffield First Environment Partnership has focussed on
understanding the sources of carbon emissions across the city and how these can
be reduced through investment in infrastructure, policy or behavioural change.
We should also recognise the rising cost of road fuels, electricity and gas, the
introduction of national and international fiscal policy and carbon trading schemes
will all have contributed to changes in performance over the period 2005 – 2006.
6
The Sheffield Carbon Reduction Framework
6.1
The Sheffield Carbon Reduction Framework (CRF) was approved by the Council’s
Cabinet on May 27th 2009 and the Framework was referred to Council on June 3 rd
2009. It was further endorsed and supported by the Sheffield First Partnership on
June 10th 2009.
The CRF sets out commitment to reducing carbon emissions across the City
through direct action, and provides a mechanism for other partners in the city to
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make their contribution to the shared city-wide commitments to tackle climate
change.
The CRF sets out the three critical areas where the City needs to focus attention:
housing, transport and business.
Underpinning these is a commitment to effectively engage and communicate with
local people and businesses to take simple steps to reduce their carbon emissions
and help save them money. The framework sets out the support and help that the
Council, with a wide range of partners, is putting in place to enable local people to
make these simple changes.
The CRF also recognises that the challenges of climate change, peak oil and
carbon reduction, presents a great opportunity to show ambition and clear support
for the development of a low carbon economy. The CRF promotes and supports
the development of environmental technologies and services businesses in the City
that will provide new growth opportunities and support the City’s own ambitions for
carbon reduction.
The framework also sets out the vital leadership role that the Sheffield First
Partnership needs to play in the city on carbon reduction, and highlights the key
actions that the Partnership will take to reduce carbon emissions, and to fully
embed our guiding principle of environmental sustainability. Finally it sets out the
areas where we need Government to take more action if we are to achieve our
ambitions for carbon reduction in Sheffield. Taken as a whole, this framework
provides a route map to achieve our target of 30% reduction in carbon emissions in
the city by 2020.
6.2
Sheffield’s carbon reduction targets are both challenging and are countered by
trends in increasing carbon emissions locally, nationally and internationally. Whilst
it is important to see action in the short term, it is important that the City retains a
longer term focus backed up with early action in key areas.
In responding to this challenge, the Council has made a clear commitment to
reducing carbon emissions in ‘A City of Opportunity 2010 – 2013’ and through the
development of the Carbon Reduction Framework we have seen the continued
commitment of partners across the City.
The CRF identifies three critical areas where we need to focus attention: housing,
transport and business. The framework sets these out in more detail and highlights
for each a number of both short term actions and longer term aspirations.
We know that one of the most important ways of tackling climate change is for local
people and businesses to take simple steps to reduce their carbon emissions and
help save them money. The framework sets out the support and help that the
Council is putting in place to enable local people to make these simple changes.
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The framework also sets out the vital leadership role that the Council needs to play
in the city on carbon reduction, and highlights the key actions that we will take to
reduce our own carbon emissions, and to fully embed our guiding principle of
environmental sustainability.
Finally it sets out the areas where we need Government to take more action if we
are to achieve our ambitions for carbon reduction in Sheffield. Taken as a whole,
this framework provides a route map to achieve our target of 30% reduction in
carbon emissions in the city by 2020.
The Carbon Reduction Framework – Progress
7
The action plan produced as part of the CRF is appended (see Appendix 1).
Progress against the specific actions is detailed within this table.
7.1
In addition, there are a number of other activities that are underway that directly
support and deliver against the CRF.
Low Carbon Vehicles
7.2
The City Council, with the support of the Sheffield First Partnership, has led the
development of low carbon vehicle infrastructure in the City. This includes the
commissioning of a study (through the Local Transport Plan) that will set out a
strategic implementation plan for the deployment of gas (biomethane and
compressed natural gas) and electric vehicles.
Strategically, it has been important to demonstrate the value and benefits of these
vehicles and the City Council has undertaken a demonstration project of of two
Smart electric cars in partnership with Cenex and The University of Sheffield. The
Council has now taken 9 gas vans into its fleet for a minimum 6 month trial,
working in partnership with Volswagen and Mercedes.
Government has undertaken consultation on its Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles
Programme2 having announced up to £30m funding under the Plugged in Places
framework. This is intended to help a number of lead cities or regions in the UK to
establish themselves as front-runners in the trialling and adoption of electric vehicle
re-charging infrastructure, as announced in July 2009.
In January 2010, Sheffield City Council led the submission of a funding application
to the Government’s Plugged in Places funding programme (circa £30m over 3
years) on behalf of the South Yorkshire Partnership with a view to taking a City
Region approach to installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure. In response
to the feedback from the Office of Low Emission Vehicles and through ongoing
dialogue with key stakeholders, the development of a funding bid will seek to
2
http://www.dft.gov.uk/adobepdf/163944/ulcc.pdf
Page 8 of 18
achieve the following:

To provide a strategic electric transport hub facilitating electric vehicle travel
between the North East, the North West, the Midlands and the South of
England by establishing the Region as a key hub in the new national
infrastructure and becoming a ‘leading light’ in 21st century low carbon transport
options.

A City Region Approach – following support from the City Region Chief
Executives at their March 2010 meeting. To place electric and biomethane
vehicles alongside other conventional choices, as viable travel options when
appropriate and the creation of a refueling/recharging infrastructure across the
region that will ensure that vehicles can be used where and when it is sensible
to do so.

Commitment to developing a collaborative approach with the Leeds City Region
(supported by £50,000 funding from Yorkshire Forward). Note, Future Transport
Systems have been commissioned to undertake this work, building on the
existing contract they have to develop the implementation plan.

A wider and deeper uptake of electric charging infrastructure across all local
authority areas through the development of policies and through a procurement
commitment in fleet management.

The creation of an entity to actively increase the awareness and knowledge of
low carbon transport options across the Region so that people begin to change
their approach to travel.

Procurement of a strategic partner for the City Region who will maintain, cofund and expand the recharging network across the City Region. Soft market
testing is already underway.
Whilst the initial bid was dependent on a significant number of public parking sites
we have approached a number of private sector parties to install charge points on
their sites including NCP and QPark. It will be essential, as a minimum that South
Yorkshire Partners are able to identify parking spaces in their own management
that can be added to the bid.
A large number of parties have also signed up to support the bid and these include
vehicle manufacturers, electricity suppliers, the distribution network operator,
several major retailers and other businesses active in the region.
Following a heightened profile and detailed discussions with an increasing number
of stakeholders, commitment to adopting and supporting electric and biomethane
vehicles is increasing and this work will continue to be driven by an expanding
group of project ambassadors.
Whilst uptake is being promoted at an
organisational level, key regional projects such as the Dearne Valley Eco Vision,
Waverley and the Advanced Manufacturing Park and the Hatfield Power Park are
being investigated as opportunities for pioneering low carbon transport projects.
The submission to Plugged in Places was positively received by Central
Government’s Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) who recognised the
Page 9 of 18
strength of the proposition and the opportunity that South Yorkshire afforded in
terms of the wider, national picture. OLEV have encouraged the final submission to
be further developed for submission in September 2010.
The Council has established gas refuelling infrastructure at its Staniforth Rd depot
working with local company, Chesterfield Cylinders (based in Brightside) to supply
this. Further bids to the alternative fuel infrastructure grant to establish additional
gas refuelling sites in the City are in train.
7.3
EcoStars
The Council has taken a lead role in the development of EcoStars to promote clean
and efficient fleet management practices. 3,500 vehicles have now been through
this accreditation process, including the City Council’s Transport Services. The
ECO Stars Fleet Recognition Scheme is free, voluntary scheme designed to
provide recognition, guidance and advice to operators of goods vehicles, buses
and coaches across South Yorkshire. ECO Stars rates individual vehicles and the
fleet’s overall road transport operation using star rating criteria, to recognise levels
of operational and environmental performance.
7.4
Home Insulation Programme
The Sheffield City Council Free Insulation scheme was launched at the beginning
of April 2009. The scheme offers completely free cavity wall and loft insulation in a
phased roll out through the city's wards, as well through a city-wide targeted
approach to those aged over 70 or on a means tested benefit.
The scheme has a high profile as it is currently only one of two schemes nationally
that provides a completely free service.
The scheme has been successfully referring people visited to other linked scheme
covering free fire safety checks, benefit and pension credit take up advice, housing
support and to grant schemes that fund heating and boiler improvements.
Additional flexibility has been built into the scheme to maximise take up such as
through fitting free loft hatches and other small repair measures that would
otherwise mean insulation couldn't be achieved.
Key outputs at twelve months were:
 10,986 households signed up
 5 Wards have had visits, with 3 further declared
 41, 046 households contacted so far, with the expectation that more will
sign up as some of these haven't yet been visited
 5,625 lofts insulated or booked in for this work
 1,843 cavity walls insulated or booked in for this work
 301 households referred for free central heating (excluding Warm Front
referrals not yet collated)
 3,485 fire safety referrals
Page 10 of 18



1,076 referred for Pension Credit and/or Benefits advice
4,202 to receive free low energy light bulbs (NB This is now
discontinued)
1,040 referred for advice on 'eco-driving' techniques
The promotion team who sign-up households has now been increased from 6 to 9
officers, with 15 technical surveyors and at least 15 insulation teams employed by
the insulation contractor to carry out the work.
With over 1,300 households now being signed up every 4 weeks, the target of
23,000 measures being completed by March 2011 should be achieved.
7.5
Sustainable Development & Design Panel
Sheffield City Council has invited leading professionals in the fields of urban
design, architecture, sustainable development, renewable energy, investment and
development to apply to join its new Sustainable Development & Design Panel.
The voluntary panel offers independent, expert advice to the City to ensure that
developments throughout the city reach the highest level of sustainability and
design; and as such will provide a real opportunity to contribute to the future
development of Sheffield. The panel includes a wide range of local expertise which
will help deliver sustainable development in the city. Specifically, we have recruited
expertise in low carbon design and renewable energy which will support the
delivery of the planning policies set out in the Sheffield Development Framework.
7.6
City-wide Utilities Infrastructure Study
The primary purpose of this study is to examine and identify the strategic utility
issues and constraints to the delivery of the Economic Master plan and City Centre
Master Plan and recommend solutions as to how they can be overcome. The
smallest scale detail required is at project level for the individual CCMP projects.
For the larger areas noted in the Economic Masterplan e.g. Lower Don Valley, the
consultant is establishing the wider strategic utility issues affecting the area as a
whole. The study will identify what the potential carbon impact of
growth/regeneration in the City will have in terms of carbon emissions. The specific
utilities being reviewed include, gas, electricity, water but also cover
telecommunications. The benefit of this work will help us establish the best solution
for delivering low carbon growth and avoiding unnecessary costs. It will help us
develop an energy masterplan for key regeneration areas across the city. The
findings of the study are to be formally reported in May 2010.
7.7
Community Power for Sheffield
Community Power for Sheffield is an Area Based Grant funded project to catalyse
the development of community scale renewable energy schemes in Sheffield by
tapping into new sources of low cost capital (i.e. grants, soft loans and local social
Page 11 of 18
investment). This project aims to incubate a promising start-up social enterprise,
accelerate early stage delivery and lay foundation for scale up, maximise cobenefits with regards to opportunities for outreach, communications and awareness
raising and contribute to delivery of LAA targets on per capita CO2 emission
reduction and awareness raising/action on climate change.
The objectives are to start up and accelerate early stage delivery of the social
enterprise. Funding-linked objectives are as follows:




Identify, develop and fund one community scale renewable energy
installation
Establish expanded organisation structure and capabilities.
Demonstrate/prove business model.
Identify, prioritise and develop future schemes (i.e. Establish a development
pipeline).
Strengthen supporter networks and local engagement. Inspire, educate and
enthuse local people about our projects (and utilise these networks and
relationships to engender pro-environment attitudes and behaviours).
A separate report to the Sheffield First Environment Partnership has been prepared
by the Sheffield Renewables. See www.sheffieldrenewables.org.uk for more
information.
7.8
Sheffield Is My Planet
A city wide communication programme – ‘Sheffield Is My Planet’ has been under
development and was (re)launched in December 2009. The campaign brings
together activities from across the city in both the public, private and voluntary,
community and faith sectors to help provide a one-stop shop or portal for
information and accessing services and support for individuals, households,
communities and businesses. It includes the development of the Sheffield Climate
Change Community Champions. A separate report to the Sheffield First
Environment Partnership has been prepared by the lead partner, Groundwork
Sheffield.
7.9
Climate Change Fund
In 2009 the Council introduced the Climate Change Fund (CCF) - established to
fund community projects which aim to counter climate change. The Fund is
accessed through, and managed by, the City’s seven Community Assemblies.
There was £50,000 of capital available for each Community Assembly (CA) in
2009/10. Funding has been outlined for the next 3 years at £40k per Community
Assembly per year. A detailed report of the scheme is being prepared for the
Council’s Culture, Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny Board and is due to report
in June 2010.
Page 12 of 18
8.0
Partnership Action
We know that many organisations are committed to reducing their carbon
emissions and this report captures some of these and the actions being taken
across the City. Many have undertaken detailed assessments of their carbon
emissions, working in partnership with the Carbon Trust, including NHS Sheffield,
Sheffield City Council and The University of Sheffield. Others, including Sheffield
Hallam University, have produced plans in 2009/10.
Organisations in the City are setting themselves carbon reduction targets for their
business operations. Whilst these vary in scope, scale and ambition, we recognise
these initial commitments are essential for delivering long term ambitions. For
example, NHS Sheffield is committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 10% by
2011 (based on a 2007/08 baseline) and that the Council is committed to a carbon
reduction target of 30% by 2012 (based on a 2005 baseline). The University of
Sheffield is committed to a target of a 20% reduction (based on 2005/06 baseline)
by 2016/17.
Partners have set out how they will deliver these carbon emissions through a range
of actions around procurement, buildings and energy, transport and travel and
engaging and communicating with their customers, staff and stakeholders. This
report summarises examples of the action already underway across the City by key
partners.
8.1
Partner Action on Procurement
Corporate level procurement policies are committed to encouraging energy
efficiency, particularly in areas of major expenditure. Clear commitments to this
have been developed in the carbon reduction strategies of the University of
Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, the Environment Agency and Sheffield City
Council.
For example, all of our public sector partners are committed to sustainable
procurement and reducing the environmental impacts of goods and services.
The Buy 4 Sheffield programme will promote the shortening of supply chains and
promote contracting between businesses in Sheffield with the City’s major public
sector partners, including Sheffield City Council, The University of Sheffield ,
Sheffield Hallam University , South Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Fire &
Rescue, Sheffield NHS and the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive.
8.2
Partner Action on Travel and Transport
Many of our major organisations have developed travel plans. The University of
Sheffield has introduced discounted public transport tickets to promote sustainable
travel and developed a car share programme. The South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue
Service is committed to increasing the number of employees cycling, walking,
Page 13 of 18
sharing cars and using public transport as key components of their travel plan.
The Council is committed to increasing the number of people cycling by 50%
(based on 2001 figures) by providing free cycle training to any resident who wants
it, completing the cycle network to the city centre and within the city centre and
increasing the availability of cycle parking and will ensure all transport schemes
over £50,000 take account of the needs of cyclists. This commitment will help our
partners more effectively promote cycling as a safe, healthy and sustainable mode
of transport in their travel plans.
Reducing the environmental impact of the school run is a key commitment from the
Council and a strategy for this is being developed. Through the Healthy Schools
and EcoSchool programme we will encourage healthy and sustainable travel to
school.
South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, South Yorkshire Police and the City Council are
committed to procuring cleaner, low emission vehicles. The Council is trialling an
innovative electric Smart car to test the feasibility of low emission vehicles within
the City.
To promote, cleaner, low emission vehicles, the Council has committed to
reviewing its parking policies and set parking charges in our car parks to benefit
people who choose low carbon vehicles. The South Yorkshire Eco-Stars scheme
has been launched in 2009 to promote best practice fleet management by
recognising the commitments and achievements of businesses across the subregion.
Many organisations are committed to promoting eco-driving. Both Sheffield Homes
and the City Council have distributed eco-driving guides to all staff across the
organisation as part of their commitment to reducing carbon emissions and
improving air quality.
8.3
Partner Action on Buildings & Energy
The Council has committed to developing the City’s district heating network and will
look at the potential of establishing a city-wide energy services company to deliver
locally generated, low carbon energy across the City.
The City’s planning policies actively promote low carbon design and renewable
energy generation. The Council is particularly keen to explore the opportunities to
generate energy from organic waste and is committed to putting in place the
conditions for the development of a large scale anaerobic digestion facility,
including identifying suitable sites across the City.
We will seek to extend eligibility for boiler replacement to more of the city’s
population over the next three years and will develop plans to allow for quick and
imaginative responses to new solid wall insulation funding opportunities from
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Central Government, Energy companies etc to ensure that we are better able to
tackle insulation in all homes across the City.
The University of Sheffield is committed to developing an environmental
management system, ensuring energy saving features are integrated into all new
build developments with an aim of achieving a Building Research Establishment
Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) rating of ‘excellent’ in all new build
projects and major refurbishments.
The University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University and NHS Sheffield are are
connected to the City Centre District Heating Network which enable the supply of
lower carbon heat and hot water to over 140 buildings across the City, including the
Arts Tower, the former Jessop Hospital, the Town Hall, the Crucible Theatre,
Sheffield Hallam University’s Owen Building and a range of hospital buildings. The
Council is committed to supporting the development of this network and the Carbon
Reduction Framework commits the Council and its partners to the ongoing
development of this asset.
The South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service is working with the Carbon Trust to
meet high energy efficiency standards across its estate.
A range of projects to improve the energy efficiency of buildings through improved
insulation are set out in the carbon reduction plans of the Council, The University of
Sheffield and Sheffield Homes.
Sheffield Homes, in partnership with the City Council, are building and installing a
number of biomass community scale heating schemes, including the installation of
a 1MW boiler in Greenland, Sheffield in 2009/10.
We know there has been real commitment across all our partners and the
challenge is to enable our partners to be prosperous and successful in their own
right. We know that we need to decouple growth from carbon emissions if we are to
deliver the City’s economic and environmental ambitions. It is, therefore,
encouraging that our partners are showing real leadership and delivering carbon
reductions whilst thriving as organisations. As an example, Hallam University has,
during the period, 1996/7 to 2007/08 successfully decreased its carbon emissions
from fuels and water by 13.5% despite an increase in the size and customer base
of the university.
8.4
Partner Action on Communication & Engagement
Carbon reduction can often feel dull and uninspiring. Our challenge is to make it
fun, enjoyable and easy for people across the City to make positive choices that
will help them reduce their carbon emissions.
Partners have already committed to a city-wide carbon reduction communications
campaign, funded through Area Based Grant, that will focus on the key areas of
Page 15 of 18
carbon reduction, home insulation and energy efficiency, sustainable travel and
waste and recycling. The campaign will effectively engage with children and young
people, through the national Green Day events in June and through the City-wide
EcoSchools programme. There is a clear commitment within the Carbon Reduction
Strategy to promote this through the international campaigns European Mobility
Week (September) and World Environment Day (June).
Our partner organisations recognise that engaging effectively with their customers,
staff and all their stakeholders is essential if we are to deliver this carbon reduction
objective.
The University of Sheffield is committed to working with the Union of Students to
raise awareness amongst staff and students and encourage participation in
environmental projects and a number of organisations, including the Council and
our universities have ‘eco-champion’ networks that support staff doing their bit in
the workplace. As an example, Sheffield Homes has recognised the importance of
internal communications and has launched its ‘Switch it Off!’ campaign to staff and
regularly communicates on energy efficiency issues with its customers through the
InTouch newsletter.
To promote energy efficiency in the home, the Council has made 300 smart meters
available through libraries to help households better understand their energy
consumption and advise them on the simple steps they can take to reduce their
energy use.
Business efficiency and productivity is equally a high priority and The Sheffield
EcoBusiness Programme is designed to effectively help businesses improve their
environmental performance and reduce costs. Launched in early 2009, the
programme will support all businesses across the City with support and guidance
provided by leading experts within the City. The programme will be promoted citywide with the Chamber of Commerce’s support and will be available to businesses
through the First Point for Business Service at the Town Hall.
The framework sets these out in more detail and highlights for each a number of
both short term actions and longer term aspirations.
We know that one of the most important ways of tackling climate change is to
ensure everybody feels empowered to make a difference. One of the key ways of
helping people make these changes is to enthuse them about tackling climate
change, and therefore the framework includes a number of exciting and
imaginative activities, including events and competitions.
8.5
Monitoring and Programme Management
The Carbon Reduction Framework sets out how the City can achieve its carbon
reduction targets. There is a need for all partners to commit to, and deliver carbon
reductions across their operations and, by working in partnership, identify
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opportunities for deeper carbon cuts.
The Council has put in place robust programme management processes to ensure
the elements it is responsible for are monitored and evaluated carefully. The
governance of the Council’s actions on carbon reduction are monitored through its
Protecting & Enhancing the Environment Programme Board and Carbon Reduction
Sub-Programme Board. We anticipate similar arrangements to be put in place for
those actions committed to by partners across the City.
A key issue for the Partnership remains the need to establish methodologies for the
consistent and replicable modelling and reporting of carbon emissions across a
range of activities. Simply, there remains a fundamental need to establish a
methology that is reliable, accurate and transferable. We recognise this is an
emerging field of expertise and, in time, this will be commonplace but equally we
recognise the need to measure the impacts of our actions as an essential part of
our long term strategy.
The Sheffield First Partnership is the Partnership’s lead board for NI 186, as set out
in the Sheffield First Agreement, and to that end, will be responsible for monitoring
this Framework and ensuring it delivers on the short, medium and longer term
targets set for the City.
8.6
Developing the Carbon Reduction Framework
The Carbon Reduction Framework is intended to take a long term view in tackling
the emissions of green house gases. As a Partnership Board, we have maintained
throughout that the challenge of tackling carbon emissions is a long term strategy
but that tactically we will identify short term objectives and activities to establish
and maintain momentum.
The CRF was published with a commitment from Sheffield City Council to an initial
two year funded programme of activity. As we approach 12 months of
implementation, it is important to ensure the actions in the CRF are the most
effective and to identify those new actions that will enable us to maintain and
increase momentum.
This report sets out the activity undertaken to date and recognises good progress
has been made. However, the scale of the challenge means, as a City, we must
increase our commitment to this agenda in both the short and medium term.
In the next six months the CRF will be refreshed and new activity identified. It is not
prposed to radically overhaul the CRF and it is proposed to retain its focus on the
three key areas of activity (Housing, Transport and Business) underpinned by a
strong communication programme.
However, two key areas have emerged as priorities for the City – low carbon
energy generation and finance. To that end, we will develop an energy strategy for
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the City that incorporates the findings of the utilities masterplan study and will set
out how the City can develop decentralised, low and zero energy within the City
and the City region.
To enable much of what is needed to happen, the City will need to identify new
financial models and ways in which investment in critical infrastructure can be
afforded. We are not alone in that challenge and we will work with our Core Cities
colleagues to identify potential solutions to this. Government’s policies emanating
from the Climate Change Act, such as the carbon reduction and energy efficiency
scheme, are beginning to have an impact, along with incentives such as the feed in
tariff and the forthcoming renewable heat incentive.
A review of activity and consultation on new actions will be undertaken with the
SFE Partnership over the next 6 months.
8.7
Conclusions
The Sheffield Carbon Reduction Framework has provided a significant step in
achieving the city’s commitments to reduce its carbon emissions, by providing a
comprehensive strategic approach to the issue, alongside a suite of short term,
easily implementable actions and a set of longer term aspirations. Taken together,
these actions and aspirations should enable the city to achieve its target of a 30%
reduction in carbon emissions on 1990 levels by 2020.
The framework also provides a mechanism for partners to focus their actions on
carbon reduction, and clarity over how those actions contribute to the city’s overall
efforts.
9
9.1
Recommendations


The Partnership Board notes the report; and
Agrees to the approach set out in the report to further develop the CRF.
Contact Officer: Andy Nolan, Director of Sustainable Development, Sheffield City Council
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