Hillingdon Council reaches milestone moment in decarbonisation project
Wednesday 31 July, 2024: Significant works to improve the energy efficiency of some of Hillingdon Council's buildings were well underway today (Wednesday 31 July) after the authority secured the largest government grant in London for their decarbonisation.
The installation was overseen by the council's project team, who were joined on Wednesday by representatives from Ameresco, which is delivering the project on behalf of the council.
Hillingdon Council has received £13.75 million from the government's Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme towards the decarbonisation programme. The scheme is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix.
The installation contributes to the council's ambitious decarbonisation project, which will substantially reduce carbon emissions across several of its largest buildings and help towards the authority's ambition for its operations to be carbon neutral by 2030.
The works, which include measures such as the installation of air source heat pumps and solar panels, are projected to lead to £190,000 of energy savings per year, 1,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide savings annually and the generation of 17 kilowatts of power.
Some of those heat pumps are 'Supanova' models, among the largest in the country and around the same size as a shipping container. Hillingdon Council is the first to be installing these as part of its carbon reduction programme.
Works are already well underway at the Civic Centre in Uxbridge and at Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex - also in Uxbridge and where the Supernovas are being installed.
Further works are taking place at Highgrove Pool and Fitness Centre, in Ruislip, where the improvements also include installation of secondary glazing, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, improved ventilation and LED lighting.
Modifications to the Winston Churchill Theatre in Ruislip were completed earlier this year and the building is now currently running at net carbon zero.
Works at the two leisure centres are expected to be complete by October, where work at the Civic Centre, the council's flagship building is expected to complete by November.
At the Civic Centre, a total of 30 air source heat pumps - which absorb heat from the outside and then warm it by compression - are being installed across the site, and the four main gas-powered boilers are being removed to allow for more efficient temperature control throughout the building.
Cllr Jonathan Bianco, Hillingdon Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport, said: "We're committed to creating a green and sustainable borough.
"Receiving the largest government grant in London for our decarbonisation project sets down a marker that we're delivering on this pledge and our ambition for the council's operations to be carbon neutral by 2030.
"This project is an essential, short-term spend but will result in long-term net savings, both financially and environmentally for the council and our residents."
The council has contributed £5 million towards the project with a further £7 million funded though developers' carbon credit contributions.
Salix Director of Programmes, Ian Rodger, said: "This is an ambitious project and we are looking forward to supporting the council to deliver carbon savings and seeing the improvements to the buildings and the local community benefits."
A separate project to make carbon reductions at Botwell Green Leisure Centre in Hayes, is being part-funded by Sport England. The works here include adding better insulation to the roof and the installation of solar panels, which will be completed by December.
