The University of Edinburgh announces an £11 million investment to build a new Combined Heat and Power centre; Aberdeen City Council celebrates the first anniversary of its Hydrogen Bus Project; South Ayrshire Council has applied to Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) for funding to build a £1 million hydro installation; Edinburgh City Council announces that an Edinburgh care home has become the first in Scotland to win Soil Association’s Silver Food for Life Catering Mark.
University of Edinburgh – New CHP Centre
The University of Edinburgh recently announced that it is to invest £11 million in a new Combined Heat and Power system at its Easter Bush campus. As one of the UK’s biggest CHP producers, the University has already invested more than £20 million in low-carbon energy to provide the majority of its campuses’ electricity needs. This has reduced CO2 emissions by almost 10,000 tonnes annually.
The Easter Bush Energy Centre will reduce emissions by an additional 2,000 tonnes annually. It is due to be completed in Spring 2017.
Aberdeen City Council – Hydrogen Bus Project First Anniversary
The Aberdeen Hydrogen Bus Project celebrated its first anniversary on 11 March. The Bus Project is Europe's largest fuel cell bus fleet. The project has also seen the creation of the UK's first hydrogen production and bus refuelling station, along with a purpose-built maintenance facility. The buses, which produce no harmful emissions and produce only water vapour at the tailpipe, have proven to be almost four times more fuel efficient than their diesel equivalents. The project, which has backing from Europe, the UK Government and the Scottish Government, as well as a broad range of private sector partners, is the most high-profile of a range of projects designed to create a hydrogen economy in the city.
South Ayrshire Council Bids for SEEP Funding
South Ayrshire Council has applied for Scotland's Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) funding to build a new £1 million hydro installation on the north bank of the River Ayr. The proposals would see two turbines built, generating 320 megawatt hours per year, enough to power 320,000 homes. The Scottish Government’s SEEP fund is designed to help local authorities pilot new approaches to energy efficiency with community groups and businesses, helping to reduce costs and improving warmth in businesses and homes. The application for SEEP funding also includes an additional £1.1 million which would pay for an energy efficiency programme for Ayrshire College, and additional work to improve external wall insulation for properties in Ayr Town Centre and Wallacetoun.
City of Edinburgh Care Home Achieves Silver Food for Life Catering Mark
The City of Edinburgh Council announced on 31 March that its Inchview Care Home has become the first in Scotland to achieve the Soil Association Silver Food for Life Catering Mark. Residents worked with senior cook Shirley Kennedy to create meals using local, organic ingredients. The care home now makes at least 95% of all meals from scratch. Home-grown ingredients are also set to be used, with the establishment of a polytunnel at the home. There is additionally a vegetarian day once a week, and staff and residents have visited a local farm to learn about organic produce.
SOURCE: Keep Scotland Beautiful
Supporting Scotland's Towns