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Low Carbon Economy Exploring Low Carbon projects throughout the region
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The NWDA has installed a 25 metre high wind turbine at its headquarters which will power the baseload the power requirements of the building.
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Introduction DELIVERING A LOW CARBON ECONOMY IS A MAJOR PRIORITY FOR THE NORTHWEST REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (NWDA). IT IS A GOAL WHICH UNDERPINS THE AGENCY’S VISION TO DELIVER SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – AS LAID OUT IN THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC STRATEGY (RES). A low carbon economy not only addresses the implications of climate change leading to an economy less reliant on carbon emissions, it also supports a better quality of life for everyone, actively contributing towards local businesses becoming more efficient, less wasteful and more cost effective. A low carbon economy needs clear commitment, from supporting research and the development of low carbon technologies, profile-raising to change behaviour, supporting modes of sustainable transport and working with businesses and communities to address the impact of carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption on climate change. The NWDA is truly committed to delivering a low carbon economy for the region, exemplified by the Northwest Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP). Developed by the region and led by the NWDA, the CCAP aims to stimulate and measure the progress of the region towards a low carbon economy, preparing it for the challenges of a changing climate and future energy demands, while protecting and enhancing our quality of life and rich environment. In line with the objectives of the CCAP, this publication explores the NWDA’s support for low carbon projects across the region. Featuring projects large and small, it highlights some of our contributions and assistance for industries looking to secure a brighter future not only for themselves, but for the entire region, through the innovative application of more energy efficient practices, processes and technology. It aims to demonstrate how cutting carbon output and environmental thinking is both practical and effective for business and society, and focuses on a wide range of industry sectors where valuable progress has been made. Key issues highlighted include an assessment of the region’s progress towards meeting sustainable transport targets, and several projects which aim to increase the Northwest’s capacity for using, and generating, more renewable energy, in line with new Government guidelines. Significant progress has been made in technology industries, where the NWDA is helping to change popular opinion that technological advancement equals negative environmental impact, by supporting programmes which develop exciting new products and initiatives that achieve carbon reduction. At a community level, there are examples of pioneering projects which demonstrate the power of communities to work towards a greener, more sustainable future. By engaging with a variety of industries, projects and technologies, the NWDA is playing a vital role in demonstrating the importance of direct action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the part that business and consumers can play in changing attitudes and habits to reduce the negative impact of our economy - and our society - on the environment. Working in partnership, we will ensure the region continues to be a leader in sustainable development.
Steven Broomhead Chief Executive, NWDA
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Supporting Sustainable Transport THE MOBILITY OF PEOPLE AND GOODS IS A KEY ELEMENT OF SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS AND OF SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITIES, BUT TRANSPORT CAN ALSO OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS AND COSTS. The Northwest has an excellent transport infrastructure and evidence shows that improvements to transport systems, as well as giving people more sustainable transport alternatives, is key to lowering the region’s carbon footprint. The NWDA is committed to ensuring continuous improvements to the region’s public transport are made where appropriate. In addition, it is encouraging walking and cycling as alternative means of transport, to lower carbon emissions, reduce road congestion and improve public health.
On track for MediaCityUK MediaCityUK, based on Salford Quays’ waterfront, is the region’s most exciting development within the digital and creative industries. And thanks to £8 million of NWDA funding, it will be supported by an effective, reliable transport infrastructure that protects the environment and helps control carbon emissions. To improve access to this key area, Salford City Council, on behalf of Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company, is channelling a total of £19.75 million into enhancing the current Metrolink service between the Cornbrook interchange and Salford Quays.
These developments will include three new lines, 17 new stops and doubling the current service to ten trains per hour at peak times. By providing a reliable and efficient alternative, the developments will promote the use of public transport and support sustainable commuting, while also bringing significant benefits to neighbouring Ordsall Waterfront and Pomona. Each train has the capacity to carry up to 200 passengers. The new lines are expected to take approximately five million car journeys off the roads every year and increase the number of tram trips from 55,000 to 90,000 a day. Moreover, the enhancement will
help to ease traffic levels and congestion around MediaCityUK and surrounding areas. Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, said: “the Salford Quays Metrolink project will help to support the continued economic growth of the Manchester city-region in a sustainable manner, and complements other major investments by the public and private sectors in Greater Manchester.”
Direct Rail Services’ collaboration with Tesco to transport goods by rail has saved around 6,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
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Get walking in Windermere The NWDA is helping to raise the quality of Windermere’s environment by reducing the impact of traffic on the natural beauty of the area. Supported by £1 million in NWDA funding, the Windermere Enhancement project is a public space, signage and traffic management improvement scheme for the village of Windermere and surrounding areas.
New signage will be produced using locally and regionally sourced materials, reducing the distance materials need to travel from their source, minimising the project’s carbon footprint even further.
By choosing materials from sustainably managed sources, the impact on the region’s natural resources, such as slate and iron, will also be reduced.
By improving traffic management and creating a more pedestrian-friendly town centre, the project aims to encourage visitors to explore the town and its shops on foot, and support local businesses. In doing so, the project will significantly reduce the number of vehicles on the road, helping to cut carbon emissions.
Let the train take the strain Public transport plays a crucial role in the sustainable future of travel. But getting drivers out of their cars and onto public transport has never been easy. Now, thanks to a £650,000 NWDAsupported improvement project at Warrington Bank Quay station, catching the train will soon be a much more attractive and practical prospect. The station is undergoing a significant facelift, with a major upgrade of the waiting and entrance areas. New windows, a brighter
concourse and extra space are helping to transform the station into an airy, open and more appealing facility. To encourage drivers to leave their cars and take the train, Virgin Trains will be increasing the number of parking spaces at the station from 80 to 193. Space is also provided for cycle storage. In addition to this the NWDA sponsors the bus service between the train station and the town centre to encourage the use of public transport. An enhanced, slick and speedy service will run to London, taking just
over one and a half hours at peak times. A more efficient service will also operate between Birmingham and Scotland every hour, reaching Edinburgh in just under three hours.
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Raising Awareness & Supporting Communities THE NWDA WORKS WITH A RANGE OF PARTNERS TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE IN PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES, TO HELP THEM IMPROVE THEIR ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND RAISE AWARENESS THROUGHOUT THE REGION OF THE NEED TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS. As the following examples illustrate, it is partly about providing information and guidance, and partly about offering incentives to encourage people and organisations to change their behaviour and start reducing their carbon emissions.
Putting our faith in communities The NWDA is supporting a project seeking to support and deliver environmental initiatives within the local community. Faiths4Change is based on the highly successful Merseyside project Operation EDEN, which encouraged volunteers from faith communities to collaborate with local residents on environmental projects, including community food growing, a recycling service for housebound people and cleaning up a section of local canal. Faiths4Change will provide similar support over the next three years across the region, enabling people to work together to develop low carbon communities, transform their neighbourhoods and enhance their own skills at the same time. With funding that includes £1 million from the NWDA, Faiths4Change draws on the core belief of caring for creation, shared by most of the world’s faith communities. The group is working with a range of partners encompassing health, education, employment and the environment. For example Faiths4Change offers a free, six-hour vocational training programme ‘Sustainability Audit - the
MOT for your building’ to all faith communities, their members and local residents. The programme offers practical support to enable people to reduce their buildings' carbon and financial costs, reduce water use and waste and encourage the uptake of ecologically sensitive practices. As Director Annie Merry explains, “Caring for the earth is a concern that many people, of faith or otherwise, share and believe is necessary. Faiths4Change enables people to put that common concern into practice in a responsive way, to meet the communities’ needs in their local area.”
For the Northwest to be compliant with the national carbon dioxide emissions reduction targets, it needs to reduce emissions by around 9 million tonnes by 2020.
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Manchester is my Planet Since 2005, the NWDA has invested £50,000 per year into Manchester is my Planet, a programme that works in partnership with local authorities, universities, businesses and over 20,000 individuals towards a low carbon future. The objective is to help the UK to meet the Government target of reducing CO2 emissions by up to 32% before 2020 and 80% before 2050. Manchester is my Planet identifies and assists in the delivery of projects such as reducing the carbon footprint of town halls and key public buildings by developing sustainable energy strategies, researching the potential for installing wind turbines on urban or industrial sites, and identifying funding opportunities for sustainable energy projects in Greater Manchester.
New eco homes in East Manchester New East Manchester Ltd (NEM) is a partnership initiative between Manchester City Council, English Partnerships the NWDA and the communities of East Manchester. By leading the physical regeneration of the area NEM are in the process of constructing 400 eco-friendly homes next to the Ashton Canal in Clayton, East Manchester. The scheme will consist of 211 two, three and four bedroom houses and 196 two and three bedroom apartments. All the homes are designed to meet high environmental standards and will be modern, energy efficient and cost effective. The centrepiece of the development will be an eco park, including an area of woodland and a wildflower meadow. This will provide a substantial wildlife habitat, which will not only ensure that the biodiversity of the area is improved, but will also
allow for a larger range of species to be introduced. The apartment blocks are next to pedestrian and cycle routes, which will eventually connect the development with the city centre. Designated cycle paths make cycling safer and encourage people to get on a bike instead of depending on their cars, bringing benefits both for their health and the environment. Damien Bourke, Policy and Partnerships Manager for the NWDA, said, “The construction of the ecofriendly, high quality new homes will significantly improve the quality and diversity of the local housing stock while the wider plans to include an eco park and modify the canal area will enhance the area for the benefit of local residents. All this will contribute to making East Manchester an attractive place for people and families to come and live.”
Advice where it is most needed
In addition, members of the public are encouraged to make a pledge on the Manchester is my Planet website to play their part in reducing Greater Manchester's greenhouse gas emissions. To date, 20,472 pledges have been made, resulting in a potential 45,038 tonnes of CO2 saved per year.
The Energy Saving Trust (EST) is a government-funded advice service. It helps homeowners and businesses to save money and cut carbon dioxide emissions through smarter energy use and consumption. EST is investing £6million in the region over the next 3 years. The Trust has been awarded funds by the NWDA to accelerate the creation of three new advice centres - Merseyside and Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Cumbria/Lancashire – which will help to make the region one of the first in the UK to offer this service to the public. The aim of the advice service is to provide people – and communities with the information and advice they
need to make more sustainable decisions around energy use, such as installing loft or cavity wall insulation. In addition to working directly with households and communities, the advice centres will also work with local government and businesses to encourage leadership in sustainable energy and identify success stories to promote across the region. Mark Atherton, NWDA’s Head of Environmental Sustainability, said, “Making a low carbon economy a reality requires everyone to make small changes in their lives. This project provides support to make these changes easier.”
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Working with Business BUSINESSES ARE UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE TO REDUCE THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT AND IMPROVE THEIR GREEN CREDENTIALS. IMPLEMENTING CHANGES CAN OFTEN RESULT IN INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND SAVINGS FOR BUSINESSES. HOWEVER, COST CAN BE AN INITIAL BARRIER TO IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY OR INVESTING IN NEW WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. The NWDA supports a number of programmes which offer advice and financial incentives to businesses to lower their carbon emissions, improve their resource efficiency and waste management, and reduce environmental risk.
Helping food producers connect with consumers As part of its wider Cumbria Rural Regeneration Programme, the NWDA has contributed over £3 million towards a project helping to connect rural producers more directly with their markets, giving the sub-region’s rural economy a much needed sustainable boost. The Distinctly Cumbrian initiative aims to make the local and regional distribution network more efficient by undertaking detailed and thorough mapping of distribution routes for local produce and goods. From this, the team identified key areas for improvement within the distribution network, offering valuable opportunities for collaboration on distribution and helping local business to operate in a more environmentally friendly and costeffective way.
Alongside the Distinctly Cumbrian project, the Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food (SSFF) is a nationwide initiative helping rural communities and food manufacturers connect with their customers effectively, respect the rural environment, and reduce carbon emissions by cutting down on unnecessary food miles. The Northwest SSFF strategy is based around four key principles: to develop a more effective food chain, to build healthy communities, to manage the environment and to invest in the future. The NWDA has committed almost £190,000 towards implementing this strategy, appointing a public sector procurement manager to oversee its delivery.
Manchester Rusk Company has reduced its fuel costs by 50%, by adopting more efficient transport and vehicle usage policies. According to the Governmentcommissioned ‘Stern Review’ in 2006, failing to tackle climate change now could result in economic costs of $2.5 trillion every year. The NWDA has invested £23.5 million over three years to implement the Climate Change Action Plan for the Northwest.
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BREWing up a green future The three-year National Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) programme was set up in 2005 by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The programme helped businesses move towards resource efficiency by providing advice and support, removing barriers, and supporting the development and use of innovative technologies. NWDA received funding of £3.5 million from Defra to co-ordinate and
communicate the programme at a regional level, in partnership with key regional and national stakeholders. In addition to the environmental benefits of helping businesses reduce their CO2 emissions and become more energy efficient, an independent assessment showed that BREW delivered £15 million of cost savings to the Northwest over the three years. Every £1 invested in the BREW Northwest programme resulted in an impressive saving of £4.21 for the Northwest economy.
£6 million contract for environmental business support The NWDA has awarded a further £6 million investment to ENWORKS, an environmental business support organisation, to deliver resource efficiency savings to businesses in the Northwest. Since 2001, ENWORKS has helped businesses in the region increase their competitiveness through environmental improvements. It provides advice, training and support designed to boost profitability by increasing business efficiency in areas such as energy use, fuel consumption, water efficiency and the use of materials. Todd Holden, programme director of ENWORKS, said that, “Companies in the Northwest are now saving over £14 million every year as a result of ENWORKS’ assistance. The NWDA’s continued support will ensure that thousands more companies can reap
the benefits of resource efficiency savings. This is great news for the environment and for the competitiveness of the region.” This new programme has been initiated following the successful completion of ENWORKS’ £1.4 million Northwest Waste Minimisation Project. This achieved significant results, with a total of over £23 million in cost savings. In total, the project saved around 40,000 tonnes of CO2, with a further 72,000 annual savings in the pipeline, and 20,500 tonnes of waste were diverted from landfill. In 2007, the project won the Regeneration and Renewal Awards in the category of Economic Development Project of the Year. Mark Hughes, Executive Director of Economic Development at the NWDA, said, “By working with ENWORKS, Northwest companies
can improve their competitiveness and productivity and at the same time reduce CO2 emissions and divert waste from landfill. ENWORKS has a tremendous record of improving the productivity of businesses, large and small, throughout our region and the new contract ensures that it is able to continue to develop this service.”
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Working with Business Less waste, more business
69% of businesses in the Northwest believe that climate change will impact on them.
The UK currently invests £1 billion a year in new waste management and recycling infrastructures in the areas of municipal, commercial and industrial, construction and demolition and hazardous wastes. To help recyclers and reprocessors across the region secure a substantial share of this growth market, Envirolink Northwest offers a business support programme, free of charge. The Northwest Waste Technology Virtual Centre of Excellence, partfunded with a £2.7 million NWDA investment, aims to help all organisations in the sector in the Northwest to grow their business, and make the region the premier business hub for recycling and waste-related operations in the UK.
Since 2006, the programme has been directly responsible for diverting over one million tonnes of waste from landfill, creating 82 jobs, safeguarding 235 jobs, assisting 792 businesses and creating one new business, adding £48 million to the value of the sector. One of its objectives is to increase the collection of recyclable materials from commercial and industrial premises and make it more accessible to reprocessors. There is certainly a plentiful supply. The region has more plastics and wood manufacturers than anywhere else in the UK, a busy paper reprocessing sector and three glass reprocessors. At present around 26.5% of commercial and industrial waste is sent to landfill. By helping to reduce this figure, Envirolink is supporting the region’s collection and reprocessing industry while helping to protect the future of the planet.
A report by the Carbon Trust found that tackling climate change could create opportunities for a company to increase its value by up to 80%, if it is well positioned and proactive. A project that has recently received support from Envirolink Northwest under the auspices of the Northwest Waste Technology Virtual Centre of Excellence is the construction of a new £1.9 million household Waste Recycling Centre in Winsford, in partnership with Cheshire County Council. The project resulted in 10,853 tonnes of waste material being diverted from landfill via the procurement of recycled content products, saving 147 tonnes of CO2.
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Low Carbon Technologies THE NORTHWEST HAS A WORLD-CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES SECTOR, WITH AN ESTIMATED 1,500 COMPANIES PROVIDING JOBS FOR OVER 53,000 PEOPLE AND PRODUCING AN ANNUAL TURNOVER OF MORE THAN £2.8 BILLION. The NWDA is committed to encouraging business innovation, supporting the adoption of low carbon products and services, and continuing to develop a skilled workforce within the sector.
An engine of sustainability The boom in budget airline travel means that without targeted action, pollution from aircraft is set to rise rapidly over the next 25 years. There is therefore a critical need to address noise and air pollution from aircraft engines if the industry is to become more sustainable. With this in mind, aviation industry group the Advisory Council for Aeronautical Research in Europe (ACARE), in cooperation with the UK and European aviation industries, has established a series of goals to cut carbon emissions by 50% per passenger kilometre, reduce nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions by 80% and reduce noise emissions by 50% per passenger by 2020. To attain the goals set out by ACARE, Rolls Royce is leading a project to develop a new Environmentally
Not too cold for comfort Friendly Engine (EFE), as part of the National Aerospace Technology Strategy, supported by £2 million of NWDA funding. The project aims to support and develop innovative new technology in aerodynamic and mechanical designs, novel and high temperature materials, low emissions combustion, and advanced control systems. One of the programme’s key sites in the Northwest is the Smith’s Aerospace Components factory in Burnley. By reducing the emission of CO2, NOx and noise, the EFE will help to create a cleaner environment and a better quality of life. The project is an important step towards developing more sustainable, resource efficient and environmentally friendly engines to power the world’s aircrafts.
Domestic refrigeration company World of Comforts is a perfect example of how a progressive business can make a tangible difference to carbon emissions by investing in innovation. Domestic refrigeration technology currently relies on a system of gases to achieve and maintain its temperature. These gases are harmful to the environment, and within the next five years the Government is expected to introduce legislation for their removal. The NWDA has pledged £7,500 to support World of Comforts in developing a ground-breaking domestic refrigeration system based on a gas-free cooling technology called ‘Peltier’. Installing a Peltier arrangement within the fridge, along with a series of mechanical valves, could significantly improve efficiency in terms of both power consumption and manufacturing. The NWDA’s support will enable World of Comforts to create a lowcost prototype. As it will use no harmful gases and consumes low levels of electricity, the prototype could deliver massive advantages over all other refrigerator systems on the market, cutting harmful emissions and helping to protect the environment.
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Low Carbon Energy Generation Harnessing wave and tidal power The Government has set the ambitious target that at least 10% of all UK energy must come from renewable sources by 2010. Tidal power, using the natural ebb and flow of coastal waters to generate energy, offers a potential way to achieve this. With high wave power levels and a large tidal range, the Northwest benefits from some of the most favourable conditions in the world for capturing tidal power. Chaired by Joe Flanagan, NWDA sector leader for Energy and Environmental Technologies, the Northwest Tidal Energy Group (NWTEG) is committed to developing techniques to harness this power.
It will also assess the extent to which these initiatives contribute to economic and sustainable energy generation, while respecting the coastal environment.
Preliminary studies estimate that 170 MW of power could be extracted from the Solway generated by the ebb tide, with minimal damage to the environment.
A second initiative is the Solway Energy Gateway project, promoted by Cumbrian social enterprise consultancy NB21C, in collaboration with NWDA. The project proposes to build a two-kilometre barrage across the Solway Firth, between northern Cumbria and Scotland.
By extracting power at this key point, this exemplar project would place ecological impact at its heart. It addresses several key issues, including the supply of renewable energy, stimulating economic regeneration and enhancing energy security.
NWDA to develop a wall-mounted microchip unit. It will provide customers with increased energy efficiency, reduced installation price and running costs, and significant savings on electricity bills.
it is needed, there is no need for a hot water storage tank.
Tidal power is the subject of a major study initiated by development company Peel Holdings Group, in collaboration with the NWDA. Commencing in 2009, the study will assess new initiatives and technologies to harness natural tidal power along the Mersey Estuary.
More efficient domestic energy Micro combined heat and power appliances (microCHP) are the next generation in domestic heating. Like a conventional boiler, they generate heat. But unlike a conventional boiler, they also produce electricity, reduce carbon emissions and are much more energy efficient. Genlec, part of the Energetix Group which develops new energy products, has been awarded a ÂŁ200,000 development grant by the
The Genlec microCHP is installed and operates like a standard domestic boiler. However while heating your home and water, the microCHP also generates electricity. Because it only heats the water when
Available from autumn 2008, the microCHP is estimated to have huge benefits for both its customers and the environment. A trial demonstrated energy efficiency savings of up to 95 per cent, saving homeowners up to ÂŁ200 a year on their electricity bills, and enabling them to cut their carbon emissions by around 1.5 tonnes each year.
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Pilot waste plant opens in Merseyside A £13 million pilot waste treatment and recycling plant, designed to divert significant volumes of household waste from landfill, opened in June 2008 at Huyton Business Park in Knowsley, Merseyside. The first of its kind in the UK, the facility uses a low temperature technology known as mechanical heat treatment to convert household and commercial waste into refined renewable biomass fuel products and recovered mixed recyclable materials. This fuel can then be used as a sustainable alternative to expensive
and diminishing reserves of fossil fuels in order to generate power and heat in various types of combustion plants elsewhere. The plant is capable of diverting up to 40,000 tonnes of waste a year from landfill. The NWDA invested £2.1 million of funding into the project, as part of a team that includes the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority, Northwestbased engineering company Orchid Environmental (which will operate the plant), Envirolink Northwest and Defra. Mark Atherton, NWDA’s Head of Environmental Sustainability, said, “It is estimated that the waste management and recycling industry
contributes 23,500 jobs and £700 million of GVA to the region’s economy, so disposing of waste to landfill is a missed economic opportunity. We need to minimise the waste produced in the region and find ways of utilising the remainder as an economically valuable commodity.” “This initiative demonstrates new technology conceived and built in the Northwest. The project will demonstrate a much more sustainable approach to waste management on Merseyside, supporting innovation in the environmental technologies sector.”
More eco-friendly fuel Supported by £28,000 of NWDA investment, biofuel company BIP Organics is developing a novel, biowaste recycling process, converting waste into a re-usable form. The manufacture of biodiesel produces methanol and glycerol. By recycling and purifying this solvent and chemical waste, BIP Organics is making a valuable contribution towards the drive for cleaner, greener and more efficient alternatives to fossil fuels. Less toxic than table salt, with better biodegradability than fossil fuels, biodiesel is much safer for the environment. Life cycle emissions of
greenhouse gases are 55% less compared to fossil fuel and it emits 40% less poisonous carbon monoxide than standard diesel. BIP Organics is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities both to its customers and to the environment, as managing director Mike Bennett explains: “Responsibility plays a key role in our business philosophy.” This philosophy lies at the heart of all company activity, helping BIP Organics to provide products of outstanding quality, in addition to a rigorous programme of environmental care and attention.
The Northwest’s recycling sector alone is worth more than £1 billion a year.
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Energy Efficient Infrastructure MANY PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATIONS AND HIGH-ENERGY BUSINESSES NOW HAVE CARBON REDUCTION MANAGEMENT PLANS IN PLACE, WHILST PUBLICLYFUNDED DEVELOPMENTS ARE SETTING NEW STANDARDS IN ENERGY EFFICIENT DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND USE. The NWDA is committed to supporting and advising businesses in their attempts to become more energy efficient, as well as funding initiatives to encourage domestic users to take action to reduce their carbon emissions.
Liverpool builds for the future Low carbon is a major focus of the Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool (ACC), a £164 million flagship project on the city’s Kings Waterfront. Supported by £15 million of NWDA funding, the complex houses the
10,600 seat state-of-the-art Echo Arena, 18 meeting rooms, two hotels and a multi-storey car park with space for 1,600 vehicles. It is easily accessible using public transport, being only a 15-minute walk or a short bus ride away from Liverpool Lime Street railway station.
The building pioneers green principles, and includes several innovative energy saving features. In fact, ACC’s environmental credentials have been measured by BREEAM, the most often used industry environmental assessment, which rated the building as ‘very good.’
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The building design, along with its advanced air control and insulation system, makes the ACC Liverpool very energy efficient. Innovative and eco friendly, the complex uses an impressive 20% less electricity and produces half the CO2 emissions of a standard build. Low noise wind turbines generate approximately 10% of the ACC’s electricity and all additional electricity comes from energy supplier E-on’s green portfolio, generated by either wind or hydroelectric power. Around 40% of the water used for flushing toilets is rainwater, collected from the roof of the building. In addition, all lighting within the complex is motion sensitive,
switching off when it detects there is no one in the room. To keep food miles at a minimum, Northwest based firm Heathcotes has been appointed to cater for all ACC Liverpool events and functions. Like the ACC, Heathcotes is committed to environmental issues, using fresh, local produce to reduce transportation. A comprehensive waste disposal policy has also been put in place incorporating, paper, glass, metal and green waste recycling - including food. ACC Liverpool’s green credentials have attracted a number of high profile organisations to hold their conferences at the venue, including the Liberal Democrats’ Spring Conference in March 2008.
86% of people in the region believe the climate of the Northwest is changing, 56% are concerned about it and 69% are doing something to address it, but are aware they could do more. ‘Climate Change Perceptions’ study 2007
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Energy Efficiency Infrastructure Towards a sustainable campus The built environment – largely buildings and infrastructure - is responsible for a significant amount of the total energy used in the UK. It is therefore a key target for improving the use and development of renewable energy sources – and the Northwest is leading the way.
also required to provide shade from the sun, semi-transparent film was used to diffuse the light through the array, making it effectively selfdimming. This is the first example of semi-transparent film being used within an integrated building design in the UK.
The new Astronomy, Maths, Physics and Photon Science building (AMPPS) at Manchester University is an exemplar of sustainability and energy efficient construction. Instead of simply ‘bolting on’ environmental features at the end of a project, sustainability is a core objective at AMPPS, which has been part-funded by the NWDA.
The team also looked at new ways to maximise the value of PV after installation and increase the benefits using energy generated to run laboratory and office facilities on the site. AMPPS is the first major development to use renewable energy in this way.
One of the major innovations at the AMPPS building is its innovative use of Photo Voltaic Cells (PV), a solar cell used to convert solar energy into electricity. Because the PV array was
An estimated £50 billion is wasted by UK business through poor waste and resource management. Research suggests that climate change will be a £30 billion opportunity for British business over the next ten years. The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) calculates the Northwest’s carbon dioxide emissions to be 61 million tonnes. This figure will increase by four million tonnes every year without action being taken.
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Northwest Regional Development Agency Environmental Policy Our aim is to contribute towards the delivery of sustainable economic development in the region and ensure that environmental objectives are integrated into business objectives of the NWDA, our partners and suppliers. We are committed to reducing our environmental footprint, with an emphasis on reducing our contribution to climate change, through the ongoing measurement and continual improvement of our environmental performance. We will conduct our own activities and operations to reflect best environmental practice. Specifically we will: -
Comply with all relevant UK, European and International environmental legislative regulatory and other requirements To prevent avoidable pollution or nuisance that may be caused by our activities;
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Demonstrate a high-level commitment to environmental best practice under the guidance of the Board Environment Sub Committee
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Ensure through our policies, programmes, projects and key stake holders, the Agency influences environmental sustainability across the economic agenda;
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Quantify the NWDA’s environmental impact in relation to energy usage and waste production and establish annual reduction targets & publicise our environmental performance annually;
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Implement continuous improvement through an environmental action plan
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Ensure that all projects and programmes we fund incorporate environmental aspects in their development and are appraised for their environmental impacts through sustainable development appraisal;
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Develop and implement a sustainable procurement policy;
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Promote environmental awareness amongst employees through specific induction training, topic specific training and in house media;
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Review and revise this policy statement on an annual basis;
For further information: www.nwda.co.uk www.climatechangenw.co.uk www.neweastmanchester.com/introduction www.centralsalford.com www.energysavingtrust.org.uk www.distinctlycumbrian.co.uk www.defra.gov.uk www.enworks.com www.envirolinknorthwest.co.uk www.manchesterismyplanet.com
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The Northwest Regional Development Agency PO Box 37 Renaissance House Centre Park Warrington WA1 1XB Tel: +44 (0)1925 400 100 Fax: +44 (0)1925 400 400
www.nwda.co.uk www.englandsnorthwest.com www.visitenglandsnorthwest.com
Nov 2008 NWDA i10-18