Project to cut Westminster City Council’s C02 emissions

Westminster City Council has awarded Vital Energi a £13million grant to fit energy conservation measures in up to 70 public sector buildings.

The first phase of the partnership, which is being delivered through the Retrofit Accelerator Framework, will see efficiency measures installed in schools, leisure centres, libraries and commercial premises. The improvements are expected to save around 1,700 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

In 2019, the City Council declared a climate emergency, committing itself to becoming carbon neutral by 2030, and for the whole city to follow suit by 2040. This contract with Vital Energi represents a practical step to meet this target.

The work has involved a comprehensive energy audit on the council’s property portfolio and has identified a range of energy conservation and energy generating measures which will, not only reduce emissions, but also deliver a future reduced carbon footprint for the Council.

The works will deliver energy efficient upgrades to the lighting, heating, ventilation and BMS systems within Westminster City Council buildings as well as harnessing the latest renewable technologies such as solar PV and air source heat pumps.

Councillor Paul Swaddle, cabinet member for finance and smart city at Westminster City Council commented: “We are committed to tackling the climate emergency and ensuring we create a sustainable economy for the future of Westminster.

“Large cities like London are among the biggest emitters of carbon, and Westminster’s location at the centre of the capital means we can play a significant role in cutting emissions. Around 86% of Westminster’s total emissions comes from buildings. That’s why we are proud to work with our partners, Vital Energi, to modernise and decarbonise the council’s offices, leisure centres and libraries using the latest technology.
“By working together, we can build a greener and cleaner Westminster for everyone who visits, works and lives in our city.”

Scott Lutton, Vital Energi’s operations director, said: “Westminster City Council have declared a climate emergency and are committed to becoming a carbon neutral council by 2030 and this project will make a strong contribution towards meeting this target. By applying our experience of helping clients to decarbonise though harnessing the latest technology, our in-house team of design and energy modelling experts can develop and deliver a scheme which maximises carbon and energy savings.

Energy Project Set to Cut Westminster City Council’s C02 Emissions “We specialise in taking responsibility for our clients’ complete property portfolio, regardless of the number of buildings, or size of properties, to deliver the maximum decarbonisation possible. On this project the largest property is over 8,000m² and the smallest is around 80m², which is a great illustration of the range of opportunities public organisations have for decarbonisation across their entire estate.”

In February 2021, Westminster City Council was awarded a £13million grant via the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. This project represents the largest Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme grant made to a London Local Authority.