Energy efficiency projects at two District Council buildings – our Agricultural Business Centre (ABC) in Bakewell and Matlock Town Hall - are going ahead this summer.
We have secured funding of £1.1m to enable these projects to take place, with £562,515 funded via the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and the remainder provided direct by the Council.
The scheme is initiated by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix Finance.Leisure Energy, the contractor which previously carried out installations at our leisure facilities across the district will also be our partner for these equipment installations.
Work at the ABC has already started and includes the installation of 355 solar photovoltaic panels on the roof to provide electricity to run the facility. Old gas panel heaters will be replaced with new infrared electric units in the rings and concourse.
Matlock Town Hall will benefit from an upgrade to the heating system by the removal of the existing gas boilers and a subsequent installation of three heat pumps. New, more energy efficient windows will also be fitted in part of the building. The offices have already had new LED lighting installed.
The shift to more efficient electric heating should reduce running costs as well as carbon emissions as the inefficient gas heating is being replaced.
These energy installations will result in an approximate saving of 83 tonnes of carbon per annum.
Joanna Hill, Climate Change Officer at Derbyshire Dales District Council said:
“The Council was pleased to be successful in another application to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme following our project at Ashbourne Leisure Centre.
“The decarbonisation works are key to our journey to becoming net zero by 2030, as well as providing much needed investment in these two public buildings.”
Neil Bland, Managing Director at Leisure Energy said:
“Leisure Energy are delighted to be working again with Derbyshire Dales District Council on the decarbonisation of their buildings. Resulting from these installations Matlock Town Hall and the Agricultural Business Centre will be significant reductions in their carbon footprint which will assist in council targets towards net zero.”
Programme Director at Salix Finance Ian Rodger said:
“We look forward to working with Derbyshire Dales District Council on the next part of their net zero journey. The council has ambitious targets to reduce its carbon footprint and this funding to decarbonise these buildings should play a significant role in helping them reach this goal.
“As delivery partner we cannot wait to support this project. The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding will have a significant impact.”
