In 2019 the Council recognised the gravity of climate change and, as part of its Climate Change Emergency - Statement of Intent, pledged to go Net Zero Carbon by 2030. This an important step in reaching this target.
Working in partnership with energy providers Total Gas and Power, the Council’s Street Lighting team have taken the opportunity to go ‘Pure Green’ using a tariff which supply electricity generated by wind, solar and wave power. This move completely eliminates street lighting’s 1,500 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.
The Council has a history of reducing the energy usage and carbon emissions associated with the 29,000 street lights, illuminated signs and illuminated bollards on roads. Since 2014/15, investment in LED technology has seen annual energy usage almost halve from 12 million kWh and associated carbon emissions fall from 6,500 tonnes.
Councillor Ken Hawkins, Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways said:
“I am pleased that the Street Lighting team has managed to deliver this change to our infrastructure. As a Council we have an important role to play in reducing our carbon emissions and we will continue to look at practical ways we can achieve this.”
Councillor Andrew Mackiewicz, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Planning and Housing said:
“In 2019 the council pledged to minimise the environmental impacts of its activities and to contribute to the improvement of the wider environment, by taking local action as part of Greener Solihull for Success.
“The move to a ‘Pure Green’ tariff is one way in which we are delivering on this promise. We can now look to see how else we can meet regional and national carbon reduction targets as laid out in our Climate Change Prospectus.”