Tuesday 8 September 2020

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service pledges to reduce carbon footprint by 25% in three years

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service pledges to reduce carbon footprint by 25% in three years

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) has committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 25% in the next three years.

The new Carbon Reduction Plan for the service includes making changes across all departments for both operational firefighters and corporate staff.

By the end of this month, a programme of LED installations across all sites will be completed while the service will be working with the Carbon Trust to undertake energy audits on its facilities to identify the most suitable alternative power supplies, including solar panels.

SWFRS has also committed to completing a programme of smart meter installation for all of its sites by March 2021.

It will also explore the use of electric vehicles (EVs) for the service light vehicle fleet and provide EV charging points where possible on its sites.

It will also promote car-sharing opportunities and develop workplace travel plans to include home working and remote working.

According to the latest measurement of the carbon footprint, the fleet is the largest contributor to SWFRS emissions creating 2,655 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, with energy the second-largest source, generating 1,848 tonnes.

SWFRS's electricity consumption has been reduced during the last few years by 20% and gas consumption has been cut by 25%, thanks to LED lighting being installed and boiler systems being replaced with newer and more efficient models.

This includes solar panels fitted at fire stations, implementing sensor-driven kit-drying rooms as part of new refurbishments and replacing the use of hand towels and paper towels by opting for more efficient hand drying units, reducing waste streams.

Geraint Thomas, Head of Finance, Procurement and Property for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We all have a shared responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint and I cannot stress enough how important the contribution of staff has been to us in developing this plan, helping us to identify where we need to change our behaviours and how we can do this."

Written by

Bruna Pinhoni

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