By the Energy Reduction Manager (Michael Potter), RBWM.

The Energy Reduction Manager referred Members to pages 19-28 of the agenda and explained that the report provided an update and gave the Panel an overview of the progress being made to deliver the Panel’s energy reduction strategy. 

The key areas covered were noted as follows:

·         Energy Performance Target

·         Building LED project

·         Collective Energy Switching

·         Town Hall Solar Display

·         Street lighting LED project

·         Work planned over the next period

In the ensuing discussion, the following points were noted:  

Energy Performance target

·         A 5.1% reduction in energy consumption was currently being achieved in the 2015/16 financial year and an 8.8% reduction over the whole year compared to the baseline was expected. 

·         Leisure buildings, schools and street lighting were not included in the energy consumption figures. 

·         The two buildings located opposite the Town Hall that had since been demolished were no longer included in the energy consumption figures. 

Building LED project

·         That the Building LED project was progressing and Hines Meadow Car Park was now almost complete.

·         The car park was currently showing a 59% reduction on last year’senergy consumption – the further shortfall was being investigated and if possible would be rectified.  It was noted that a possibility of an overlap on circuits could be to blame.

·         Windsor Library, Guildhall, the Coach Park and the Maidenhead Projects Centre were now all completed.

·         Although the scheme was currently two / three weeks behind schedule the contractors were still seeking to complete the project on time.

Collective Energy Switching

·         The Procurement and Communications teams had provided feedback on the scheme and had advised that the implementation of a scheme locally would be viable.

·         That further media advertising could be carried out via the staff bulletin, website, twitter, Facebook, Advantage Card and the Around the Royal Borough newsletter.

·         It had also been suggested that parish councils be asked to further publicise the scheme within their parish areas.

·         That further media advertising at a cost to the Council was not looking to be pursued other than possibility of sending out a flier with the Around the Royal Borough newsletter which was estimated could cost between £4.5k - £6k depending on the nature of the flyer.

·         That agreeing a partner for the scheme would be the next stage of the project. Once contracts have been singed then branding etc would be agreed with the Sustainability Panel.

Town Hall Solar Display

·         That a review of the solar panel public displays market had been carried out and there were two different display types currently available.

·         The Chairman stated that he did not like either of the display screen options in the report and requested further options be made available to the Panel. 

Street lighting LED project

·         That the Council was embarking on a LED replacement programme of the street lighting estate.  It was noted that the street lighting project had now gone out to tender with a view to completing the exercise by the end of the current financial year. 

·         That the project installation programme, scheduled to start mid 2016, would be presented to the Panel.

·         That work planned over the next period included:

•  Ensuring the LED lighting project was delivered to programme.

•  Arranging site visits for Adopt a building.

•  Creating a water consumption baseline.

The Panel requested the following:

v  An update on Collective Energy Switching be given at a future meeting.

v  A case study (Collective Energy Switching) be provided and an explanation of what the targets for success were felt to be.

v  That the display screen in Reception should show multiple savings (car park usage savings, solar panel savings, etc) and be a permanent display.

v  That rolling slides that could be updated on a weekly basis could be an option for the display screen in Reception.

v  That the display screen in Reception should show the savings made in monetary terms too.

v  That further display screen options were to be provided to the Panel.

v  That the people who monitored street lights be invited to a future meeting to explain the amount of light (duration) being used and the cost being charged to the Council.

UNANIMOUSLY AGREED;

·      The panel noted the progress made to date and commented on the proposed work plan over the next period as detailed in paragraph 17.13.

·      The proposal to advertise the energy switching scheme in the Around the Royal borough using fliers be approved.

The Chairman congratulated the Energy Reduction Manager on the work he had done with regard to LED lighting.