Council launches energy dashboards in its next step to a greener future

North East Lincolnshire Council is publishing its monthly energy usage in its next step to a greener future.

The council declared a Climate Emergency in September 2019. It has taken significant steps, both before and after the declaration was made, to increase energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint.

The council, working with its regeneration partner ENGIE, is currently developing an action plan with the hope of setting an ambitious goal to be Carbon NetZero by 2040, which will be decided later in the year.

In the latest of these measures, the council is publishing its monthly energy usage to help people understand how much energy we use.

The dashboard shows the monthly energy use for the council. Those interested can check the council’s energy use at www.nelincs.gov.uk/keeping-our-area-clean-and-safe/renewnel/energy-and-water-consumption-and-carbon-emissions/.

Cllr Philip Jackson, Leader and portfolio holder for the green agenda, said:

“As a council, we want to set an ambitious target to be Carbon NetZero by 2040. Meeting this target is one of the biggest projects the council has undertaken and is vital in mitigating the damage done by climate change and leading the community by example.

“This move forms part of our Carbon Roadmap journey, where we want to be open and transparent about or carbon emissions and be able to measure and control as part of behaviour change journey in reducing carbon.”

The Smart Energy Dashboard is a product of the Smart Energy Greater Lincolnshire programme, which has upgraded heating, lighting and energy generation in many Council buildings and local businesses. This was part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Why is the council doing this?

We all have our part to play in tackling climate change and that includes North East Lincolnshire Council as a significant consumer of energy.

What is carbon net zero?

Net zero refers to achieving a balance between the amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere.

A gross-zero target would mean reducing all carbon dioxide emissions to zero. This is not realistic, so instead the net-zero target recognises that there will be some emissions but that these need to be fully offset, predominantly through natural carbon sinks such as oceans and forests.

When the amount of carbon emissions produced are cancelled out by the amount removed, we will be a net-zero emitter. The lower the emissions, the easier this becomes.