Did you know that the electricity, which powers Pembrokeshire’s street lights and public buildings is generated from greener sources than traditional coal or gas?
Or that every leisure centre in the County has a designated energy champion to help reduce the Council’s carbon footprint?
These are just two of the initiatives that Pembrokeshire County Council is taking to preserve our natural environment for future generations.
Now, to mark Wales Sustainability Week (May 17th- 23rd) the Council is highlighting its work in safeguarding our long term future.
“The County Council takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously,” said County Councillor Ken Rowlands, Cabinet Member for Environmental and Regulatory services.
“We strive to ensure that our natural environment is preserved and protected for future generations.
“Our approach is to integrate energy, environmental and sustainability initiatives within the Council’s work.
“As a result our initiatives cut across all council departments from the more obvious divisions such as waste and transport through to building control, youth work and sport.”
Wales Sustainability Week is a Welsh Assembly Government initiative aimed at promoting action to make the country more sustainable.
Sections of the Council are being encouraged to set up a special ‘Green Teams’. These environmental champions will help identify ways in which the Council can save energy and resources both in the short and long term.
Many initiatives have already been put in place with many more in the pipeline.
For instance the Council has already reduced the carbon output from all of its public buildings by 13.11% since 2003 – exceeding WAG targets – while energy use in housing stock has been reduced by 10.59% and carbon dioxide emissions reduced by 7.65%.
Meanwhile it is developing procedures and designs to meet WAG aspirations for zero carbon buildings so that new public buildings will have zero net annual energy use.
The County has been pioneering the use of biomass heating boilers such as those which power Ysgol y Preseli, Haverfordwest Leisure Centre, Pembrokeshire Technium and Crymych Primary School, while Portfield Special School in Haverfordwest was the first in the county to use a micro combined heating and power system.
Spittal School which utilizes biomass fuel, rainwater harvesting and solar hot water panels, was shortlisted for a major environmental award in 2006.
The County is also undertaking a feasibility study to harness water power to generate hydro electricity on the Cleddau weir adjacent to County Hall. If successful the renewable electricity generated will be used as general power in the Council offices and potentially to power electrolysis to make hydrogen fuel for vehicles.
When it comes to waste Pembrokeshire is also leading the way with its orange bag recycling scheme now rolled out to all 56,000 households in the County.
A trade waste recycling scheme has also been piloted as is a new food waste scheme.
On transport the Council encourages people to use public transport where possible and also to cycle and walk.
Along with its partner organizations, the Council provides a coastal bus service using hybrid and bio fuels and is supporting a water bus service along the Milford Haven waterway.
And in order to foster long term thinking on the environment, the Council has created the Sustainable Schools Award Scheme, whereby a younger generation can learn about the benefit of caring for their environment and the wider world around them.
