Meeting documents

The Executive
Tuesday, 19 April 2005

Division(s): N/A

ITEM EX11 - ANNEX 1

EXECUTIVE – 19 APRIL 2005

COUNTY COUNCIL ENERGY MANAGEMENT POLICY

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL ENERGY & WATER POLICY (BUILDINGS)

 

This policy relates to energy & water use in County Council buildings and is part of a wider County Council Energy Policy. The County Council’s environmental strategy deals with wider aspects of energy efficiency in the county.

  1. DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT:

    1. Oxfordshire County Council is committed to responsible energy and water management and will promote efficient use of energy and water and a reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions throughout all its premises and operations.

  2. STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES:

    1. To reduce the amount of pollution due to energy use in buildings directly under the control of the County Council and to encourage a similar reduction in those buildings which have a delegated responsibility for energy use and costs;

    2. To maintain the significant achievements to date in reducing water use and to continue to manage water consumption and eliminate waste;

    3. To purchase energy and water at the most economical rates;

    4. To continue to improve the energy and water performance of new buildings;

    5. To install on-site renewable energy generation at Council establishments;

    6. To promote, encourage and facilitate good energy management practice by occupants of Council buildings;

    7. To act as an exemplar of good energy management and encourage other organisations to do likewise; and

    8. To maintain a safe, healthy and comfortable environment in our buildings.

  3. TARGETS:

    1. To achieve a 40% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions due to energy use in buildings between 1990 and 2010;

    2. To reduce energy use across the County Council’s buildings by 10% between 2005 and 2010.

    3. To purchase renewable-source electricity for all contracted supplies;

    4. To obtain 3% of the Council’s total energy use from on-site renewable-source generation by 2010;

    5. To work towards the development of an establishment with ‘zero’ net carbon emissions by 2010.

  4. ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE OBJECTIVES:

    1. Involvement of Building Users – To encourage and educate managers and users of County Council premises to be economical in their use of energy and water by:

      2. 4.1 a) Increasing awareness of energy efficiency and water management among all staff and building users;

      4.1 b) Making available to building managers the analysis of energy and water use and cost information and advising them on suitable procedures to use for on-site monitoring;

      4.1 c) Setting or agreeing targets for future energy and water use; and

      4.1 d) Training building managers and those staff involved in the control and operation of energy- and water-using systems, e.g. heating, lighting, computer networks.

    2. Purchase of Fuels – To regularly review the type of fuels being used in buildings to:

      3. 4.2 a) Ensure that energy is bought at the lowest possible price whilst ensuring a good quality service and high environmental standards from suppliers;

      4.2 b) Consider the environmental implications of the type of fuel in use and to implement projects using locally-sourced and on-site renewable energy; and

      4.2 c) Actively seek supply contracts providing renewable-source electricity along with other measures and support to reduce environmental impact.

    3. Financial Resources – Subject to annual review, to provide a budget equating to at least 7% of the Council’s annual energy and water costs, for measures that will reduce energy and water use and environmental impact of existing as well as new properties. This budget will be spent on:

      4. 4.3 a) Measures that give a ‘simple payback’ within eight years, with preference being given to schemes which give a shorter payback and generate greatest reductions in environmental emissions;

      4.3 b) ‘Payback free’ measures, i.e. those where it would be impractical to identify specific financial savings or where the payback would be in excess of eight years (Limited to no more than 30% of the budget); and

      4.3 c) On-site renewable energy generation.

    4. Monitoring & Targeting – To monitor energy and water costs for all County Council buildings and investigate and rectify identified waste.

    5. Review of Assets – To maintain occupied building space sufficient to deliver Council services and to reduce total occupied space by sharing assets where possible and reducing under-occupied space.

    6. Building Environmental Standards - To adopt a set of Building Environmental Standards which will include energy and water performance targets for all new buildings, extensions and refurbishment projects. The Standards will be reviewed over time to reflect improving design and technical capabilities.

    7. Maintenance – To ensure that when maintenance works are undertaken on buildings and engineering services, every opportunity is taken (within the limited finances available) to minimise future energy use. Repair and maintenance work which will reduce future energy use is to be given priority.

  5. REPORTING AND STRUCTURE:

    1. Annual Energy Report – An annual energy report, which will review the Council’s energy performance and outline the programme for the following year, will be submitted to the Council’s Executive.

    2. Energy Management Structure – A designated energy manager, with financial resources to purchase an energy management service from the Council’s property management consultants, will be retained within the Corporate Property Group.

  6. POLICY REVIEW:

    1. This policy will be reviewed and updated on an annual basis.

(Notes accompanying the policy - download as .doc file)


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