Sharing Derbyshire’s experiences

We're very grateful to Derbyshire County Council for hosting a peer learning day today (17 September 2015) to share their experiences in tackling climate change with a group of their local authority peers from around the East Midlands. These included securing political commitment last year to the Derbyshire Climate Change Charter, searching out potential sites for large solar PV installations and supporting schools, workplaces and individuals to use more sustainable modes of transport (including scooters at primary schools).

Marches Energy Agency and the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Local Authorities' Energy Partnership are two of the Council's key partners in delivering projects, including visits to events from MEA's 'Fantastic Homes' vehicle which dispenses practical advice to visitors.

The day also featured the innovative Derbyshire Healthy Homes Project which helps vulnerable people to improve their health by improving the energy efficiency of their homes. The project is funded by public health and works with GPs to identify people at risk. Those taking up the service benefit by getting new boilers for instance which are funded by other sources, including energy companies.

One of Derbyshire's biggest climate risks is increased flooding from rivers and streams (it's the hilliest county in the East Midlands) and the day concluded with a presentation from the Council's Flood Risk Manager who explained how they adapt to the challenges, including influencing the design of new developments.

The event was held at the Derbyshire Eco-Centre in Middleton-by-Wirksworth, designed and built by the County Council in 2010 as a green community education building. It boats a number of sustainable features including a huge green roof which is planted with a limestone grassland mix and which weighs well over 100 tonnes. Rainwater is captured from the roof and is used to flush the Centre's toilets. Although the renewable energy features (solar thermal and PV) are modest in size, the building is flexible in its design so that additional panels can be added at a later date. An air source heat pump powers the under-floor heating. 

Participants at the event included staff from councils across the East Midlands, who variously commented: 'Inspiring project', 'great example of being thorough in process', 'really impressed', 'insightful' and 'nice place, nice people'.