Dorset Council declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency in 2020 and aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

In response to climate concerns regarding the 1.5-degree temperature increase posed by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Dorset Council released a 71-page document in July 2020, outlining their emergency approach to combat human-induced climate change.

In Dorset, citizens have an average individual carbon footprint of 4.6 tCO2 (tonnes of Carbon Dioxide), which is marginally lower than the average footprint of a UK resident which is 5.3 tCO2. Dorset residents may have a smaller footprint however, there is still so much more we need to do to reduce our emissions.

 

The Current Energy Problems

 

• Dorset buildings account for approximately 60% of the carbon footprint of the county. 
• Dorset Council (in relation to the council-owned buildings) produces around 40,000 – 45,000 ktCO2e (kilo-tonne Carbon Dioxide equivalent) a year – as estimated between 2019 – 2020.
• Approximately 1 million tonnes of CO2e (Carbon Dioxide equivalent) is emitted as a result of heating and powering commercial, residential and public sector buildings.
• Predictions estimate that a further 18,000 homes will be required in Dorset over the next decade to house our growing population and thus the expenditure of energy and carbon footprint could increase.

 

The Emergency Approach to Energy

 

Dorset Council is undertaking an integrated approach to their climate emergency. They will tackle areas such as: waste, water, transport, buildings and energy using direct and indirect approaches.

Since the climate emergency document is so large to cover adequately in a single blog, I will be focusing entirely on their energy plans.

The report stated that under the greenest scenario, Dorset Council will require a whopping 4 billion kWh/yr (kiloWatt hours/per year) or renewable energy to supply Dorset’s’ energy demands…

To achieve this, the county will need to operate 4GW of solar (which would cover around 19,000 acres of land) or 2GW of wind turbines (which equates to around 700 turbines). However, the council addresses that they could utilize a mix of these two renewable energy generation systems. 

They also state that the Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch Councils would have to produce even more energy than stated above to satisfy their towns’ higher demands!

 

Current and Future Actions for Renewable Energy

 

At present, the Council is running a ‘Low Carbon Dorset Scheme’ which is offering grants to commercial businesses to install renewable energy. (For more information regarding this, please see our blog on the Low Carbon Dorset Scheme.  

Moreover, in Bridport, the Dorset Community Energy (DCE) scheme has so far led to the installation of Solar PV that provides 665kW of energy for the community. 

As for the councils’ future plans, they aim to:

• Maximise renewable energy and increase the use of heat pumps, solar PV and biomass in residential and commercial buildings. 
• Create a planning policy which maximises the use of renewables in all new developments
• Review fuel-poverty schemes to facilitate the installation of low-carbon heating systems instead of gas
• Assist the expansion of community led energy schemes (such as the example in Bridport)

 

What Can You Do To Reduce Your Energy Carbon Footprint?

 

There are numerous options we can undertake to reduce our energy carbon footprint. 

Firstly, households can install renewable energy generation systems such as solar (PV or Thermal) and biomass. 

In light of Solar PV, a 12 x 320W solar panel array could produce around 3200kWh of energy (depending on orientation, shading and pitch of your roof). This would cover nearly all of the homes yearly energy consumption. Thus, not only reducing your reliance on fossil fuels but also reducing your yearly energy bills! 

Secondly, homeowners can ensure their homes are well insulated to reduce heat loss from our homes. Improving insulation means that you will waste less energy heating your home.

Thirdly, households can install double or triple glazing to mitigate heat loss from the home. Again, this method will reduce the need to heat the building so rapidly as the home will be able to maintain the heat for longer. 

 

Moreover, there are other ways in which households can reduce their energy footprint. You can:

• Install a smart metre to monitor your energy usage
• Ensure you turn off all electrical appliances and lights when they are not in use
• Buy your energy from ‘Green’ suppliers such as ‘Octopus Energy’ which only supplies energy generated from renewable sources
• Reduce your reliance on heating – wrap up in more layers
• Spend less time in front of your TV, laptop or gaming console and get outside or undertake less power intensive activities. 

 

Would you like a quote for solar PV? If so please contact us

 

About Us:

Based in Dorchester, Dorset, Wessex Eco Energy are an award-winning eco-build, solar, battery, and electric vehicle charger installer with a great deal of experience in the domestic and commercial markets. We help our clients to reduce their impact on the environment and save money in the process. 

If you are interested in generating your own solar energy contact Wessex ECOEnergy on:  01305 250429

Or, send us an email at: info@wessexecoenergy.com

 

To read Dorset Councils Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy please click the link HERE.