Reducing the carbon footprint of our vehicles and buildings

Edition: Summer 2021

One of the priorities of our 2019-2023 Corporate Plan is to reduce our carbon emissions. As a Council we are already making good progress. Here we share just some of the projects we are working on to help become carbon neutral by 2030.

A close-up of the Waste and Recycling fleet

Using remoulded tyres

Our Recycling and Waste team are now using remoulded tyres on their vehicles.

The process of remoulding tyres saves 80% of the materials required to manufacture a new tyre, so significantly reducing the impact on the environment. In addition, remoulding tyres reduces scrapping, exportation and incineration of worn-out tyres which can collectively release thousands of tonnes of carbon into the air.

By using remoulded tyres over the last year, the Council has saved 92 large tyres worth of rubber compound, saving some 56 barrels of oil and 22 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the manufacturing process.

These tyres are also more cost-effective than new tyres, costing around 70% of the price of a brand-new tyre, so reducing running costs for the service. It’s a win-win.

St Peter's Hall on the Needles Estate in Horsham

Grant funds to boost energy efficiency for community facilities

The Council was recently awarded grant funding to fully refurbish two community buildings on the Needles Estate in Horsham - St Peter’s Hall and the Royal Air Forces Association Club (RAFA). This will deliver significant energy efficiencies and reduce carbon emissions.

The buildings will be remodelled to create a more modern, flexible and energy efficient space including the installation of a new air source heat pump heating system and improved insulation amongst other improvements.

When completed the hall will include a separate meeting room on the first floor with lift access, new kitchen and toilet facilities, storage areas and a car park.

The refurbishment is set to be completed in September 2021.

Trialling vegetable oil as fuel

A large proportion of the Council’s carbon footprint comes from the fuel used in its vehicles.

We started using HVO in all of the Council-owned vehicles in April 2021 instead of using diesel. Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is a clean burning bio-based liquid fuel. It is significantly better for the environment than regular diesel or bio-diesel.

We are working with one of the UK’s largest suppliers Certas Energy who have calculated that the switch to HVO should reduce our carbon emissions by up to 90% (119 tonnes per month).

If you have any queries about our carbon emissions work, please email helen.peacock@horsham.gov.uk, or visit our Carbon Reduction webpages.

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