2024

RENEW245 - Decarbonising heat in a depot - 220424

This authority is looking to decarbonise a large depot and would be grateful for responses to the following questions.
 
Have you had heat pumps installed in a workshop?
 
Have they worked as well as you were advised?
 
How have you kept the heat in bearing in mind the practical issue of frequent opening the doors?
 
Have you changed behaviour or operational procedures in order to keep the heat in?
 
Are you aware of any funding sources other than the PSDS to decarbonise heat in a depot?

 

RENEW244 - Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement (MMHS) increasing contract costs - 180424

This authority has recently been made aware of the Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement (MMHS) which will standardise HH metering and will involve switching NHH meters to HH settlements. They have been informed of this upcoming change by their contracted MOP/DA/DC, Stark. This will add significant costs to their current contracts and they are wondering if other Local authorities are aware of this or if they could provide any information they have? 

Any relevant information will be gratefully received and all respondents will receive a copy of the responses report.

 

RENEW243 -Business case for sharing climate change resource with another local authority - 210324

This authority is exploring what the logistics of sharing climate change resource with another local authority might be. They are looking to put a business case together for how this might work including benefits, potential issues etc. Both councils have very similar demographics, local geography and political views so they’re keen to explore possible options. Have any other local authorities looked into this or even have experience of doing this? 

They are particularly interested in what sort of structures might be in place for something like this, how it’s managed, how the process started and whether it’s been successful.

 

RENEW242 - Experience of electric vehicles  - 150324

The authority is looking at replacing some of their fleet with electric vehicles over the next few years and they’re interested to hear about which electric vehicles other authorities have trailed and purchased. They are particularly interested in answers to the questions below

1.    What electric vehicles does your authority use? 
2.    Do you have any Transit style electric vehicles?
3.    What style of body is the van flat bed tipper, Cage vehicle or box van etc ?
4.    What sort of range are the vehicles achieving. On a charge compared to manufacturers quoted range? 
5.    Has cold weather had an effect on the vehicle range?

 

RENEW241 - Council-owned hydro – lease/PPA - 130324

This authority is currently exploring the possibility of restoring a decommissioned council-owned Archimedes screw hydro and would be interested in speaking to any councils who have undertaken a similar project, particularly those who have entered into a lease agreement, and/or a Power Purchase Agreement, with a similar type of project.

 

RENEW240 - Green financial support schemes for residents and businesses - 120324

The authority is interested in developing green financial support schemes for residents and businesses in the district. The authority is also exploring creative means of funding ambitious green infrastructure projects in the district. The authority would be particularly interested in hearing from local authorities who have experience in:

•    Loan schemes for private housing or local business retrofit

•    Subscription services for residents’ home upgrades (such as air-source heat pumps)

•    Borrowing from UKIB or Community Investment Bonds to fund ambitious clean energy infrastructure projects (like rooftop or ground-mount solar projects)

 

RENEW239 - Company/Council partnership - offering residents discounted solar PV - 270224

This Council has been approached by a company whose business model is to partner with local authorities and (after they’ve engaged thoroughly and the council has done the necessary “due diligence” checks) to pay them to promote their services to home owners who don’t qualify for ECO or HUG. The company then offer a discount to home owners who approach them through the Council.
 
Has anyone had experience with this method of working to promote solar PV to those that do not qualify for grant funding? If so who did you use and was it successful in ensuring homeowners received a good service and are satisfied with their solar PV asset? Any information about other alternative models would also be gratefully received.

 

RENEW238 - ASHP maintenance - 270224

This authority has installed 120+ ASHPs to date (mainly Ecodan, Daiken & Mitsubishi) in 70+ buildings all being hybrid (ASHP with gas boiler back-up). They are looking at options for a maintenance service contract to cover both heating technologies in schools, leisure centres and council operational buildings. 

One option is to sign a direct contract with the ASHP installer, who will also service the gas boilers, but they would like to procure/ test the wider market on service and cost.

They understand that there are many service providers who will maintain either ASHPs or gas boilers, but not many that will maintain both types.

So they are interested to know, 
1/ have other councils procured a maintenance service for both types and would they be willing to share the spec (service pack) they went to tender with?
2/ can others recommend any service providers that maintain both?

 

RENEW237 - Cost of work and applicant contribution for PSDS funding - 160224

This authority is interested to know the cost of work and applicant contribution for those considering applying for the more recent round of PSDS funding. 
For example, £750,000 for the estimated cost of the work with the Council’s contribution expected to be 20%.
They are also interested in whether this affected their decision on submitting an application or not.
Any other relevant information would be gratefully received.

 

RENEW236 - Emission reduction project scoring - 160224

This authority is interested to find out whether any local authorities have experience in greenhouse gas emission reduction project scoring where projects are ranked based on a number of factors. We are aware of Climate Impact Assessment Tools such as those made by Cornwall, Cheltenham and Ashfield Councils, however, this authority is particularly interested in hearing about tools which include a detailed scoring mechanism on the following factors:

•         Expected reduction in tonnes of Co2 equivalent

•         Embodied carbon

•         Cost (Capital expenditure and resource expenditure).

•         Payback period

•         Community benefit

We would also welcome individual thoughts on this kind of scoring system.

 

RENEW235 - Climate change identified in appraisals - 130224

This authority is looking at behaviour change and would like to know if others have incorporated climate change into their appraisal process and use this as part of a culture/behaviour change programme.

They would be interested in information on any related approaches to incorporating behavior change across the council.

 

RENEW234 - Calculating scope 3 emissions - 130224

This authority is investigating the best approach to take to better understand or estimate the organisation’s total Scope 3 emissions for Climate Change mitigation purposes. 

They’re keen to hear from any councils who have approached estimating/calculating their own total scope 3 emissions and whether they did so by procuring the services of consultants or did it partly/entirely themselves and if so how?

 

RENEW233 - Pool E-Bike system for council staff use - 260124

This authority is interested in hearing from local authorities who have experience in developing a pool e-bike system for council staff to use for travelling between sites within the authority during work hours. The authority is particularly interested in:

•          What Standard Operating Procedure have other councils used for this?
•          Have other councils had success with a Pool Bike System like this?
•          Have any other councils used a booking system for the bikes that they could recommend? 
•          Are any other councils able to recommend any tips for such a project

 

RENEW232 - Planning policy changes for affordable energy efficiency upgrades  -160224

This authority is interested to hear from other Scottish local authorities who have looked into planning policy change, or indeed implemented planning policy change, that would enable affordable energy efficiency systems, with particular regard to changes to windows and doors, in conservation areas?

 

RENEW231 - Options for benefitting from Solar PV - 050124

An authority that is considering its options to increase the level of solar power in its area (i.e. not on the Council’s own estate) is seeking examples from other authorities of:

- communications strategies or other forms of influence to promote the installation of solar PV generally amongst business or community organisations; 
- commissioning a private sector company to work with local businesses to install solar PV on their own properties;
- an offering to support community organisations’ work with regard to solar PV; or
- the Council providing a direct fitting service itself for local businesses or other organisations.

They are keen to speak with officers who have considered or actioned any of the above approaches.

 

RENEW230 - Staff travel strategies - 050124

This authority is interested to hear from others who have done a study to compare what is most efficient, both in terms of cost and energy, for staff travel. They are keen to understand comparisons between having a pool of electric cars, a pool of cars using clean fuel, or using public transport for all travel? 

They are also interested to hear if anyone has done a campaign promoting the use of public transport for work travel?

 

RENEW229 -Travel behaviour change campaign- 050124

This authority is interested to hear from others who have completed a behaviour change campaign focusing on the topic of travel in partnership with other public sector organisations in their area.

They are particularly interested in hearing about:

1.    What went well?
2.    What was a challenge?
3.    Was it successful? If so how did you measure success?