Pilot Energy Action Areas are the future for London's new developments, says Mayor
1-11-2005
The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone today (Monday 31st October 2005) called on developers to use more sustainable energy technology in new developments.
The London Energy Partnership with the support of the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers today has held a series of workshops at City Hall for developers, local authorities and representatives from the finance sector to increase the use of renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency measures and community heating in new developments. It also detailed innovative finance packages and effective partnerships, which are key for taking these new developments forward.
Representatives running the pilot Energy Action Areas outlined how the schemes aim to cut carbon emissions and demonstrate that sustainable energy can be cost efficient and easy to install.
The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: 'Today's event is about getting together the people who can really drive forward a change in the energy we use in our homes and buildings - the developers, planners and the finance sector. The powering of London's buildings and appliances is responsible for a staggering 70 per cent of our carbon dioxide emissions. Using more sustainable energy technologies and being more energy efficient will have a very real impact on reducing London's emissions and will play a key role in establishing London as a world-class city, recognised globally as a leader in exemplary sustainable energy developments.'
Malcolm Wicks, Minister for Energy said: "It is vital that London takes a lead in reducing the level of carbon emissions and the Mayor's Energy Action Areas have an important role to play in that objective.
"As well as incorporating green technologies into new schools, businesses and residences we also need every Londoner to do their bit at home too. Domestic energy consumption alone currently accounts for 45% of all emissions in London. If people added micro-wind turbines or solar panels to their homes and coupled them with energy efficiency measures they could make a real difference to efforts to combat climate change, not to mention savings on fuel bills."
David Green, Chair of the London Energy Partnership said: 'These four energy action areas are all about learning by doing and they represent real action on the ground. Today the key partners have entered in to real commitments to take forward low carbon developments - I am confident their leadership will inspire others to follow"
The four pilot Energy Action Areas are in New Wembley, Barking Town Centre, Merton, and the Southwark pilot which includes Elephant & Castle regeneration and the Southwark Concerto community. They will use sustainable energy technologies to power developments, improve energy efficiency and become low carbon communities.
The Mayor's Energy Strategy called for Energy Action Areas in London to showcase the future for energy use in London. The Mayor tasked the London Energy Partnership with developing and implementing the Energy Action Areas as a priority project. The London Energy Partnership is working on the ground with developers and local authorities to use renewable technologies in these areas to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide.
Elephant and Castle Regeneration
The regeneration of Elephant and Castle town centre is providing the opportunity for a more sustainable approach to energy. The project includes 5,300 new homes, refurbishment of existing housing, rebuilding the shopping centre, creating a new civic square and introducing major changes to the transport infrastructure.
Southwark Concerto
This project commences in late 2005 and aims to reduce carbon emissions by 75 per cent by using a wide range of innovative technologies including wind turbines, biofuels, and combined heat and power (CHP). The development will retrofit existing housing and develop new homes, office space and a zero-emission environmental education centre. The project will also provide a solar package to six schools that will benefit from solar installations, energy efficiency measures and educational packages.
Merton
This pilot focuses on the creation of a district heat and power scheme and will also look at sustainable transport options, energy efficiency and communications strategies in Mitcham town centre. The scheme will eventually be rolled out across the whole borough.
Barking Town Centre
This pilot energy action area is in the Thames Gateway shows how a local authority can influence the carbon impact of a new development by working closely with developers early in the process to set targets for carbon reduction. The development includes 4000 new homes as well as a library and business and retail premises.
New Wembley
This covers an area of brownfield land being developed to contain over 3,700 new homes, as well as hotel, leisure, retail office and community space. The developer is committed to sustainable energy and is working to include all aspects of it in the development including transport.
Notes to Editors
1. The London Energy Partnership was launched by the Mayor on Monday 26 January 2004 to ensure that London takes a leading role in reducing energy consumption in the UK and works to minimize its impact on global warming by transforming London into a world class city for sustainable energy.
2. PricewaterhouseCoopers is a leading advisor to the public and private setcors on regeneration, public private partnerships and PFI, renewable energy, sustainability and climate change.
PricewaterhouseCoopers provides both strategic and practical advice to local authorities and central government on policy, planning and delivery of sustainable communities and has experience of working with both public and private sector organisations to examine how community and environmental benefits can be maximised within the current UK and legislative environment to achieve effective sustainable procurement.
For further details, please contact Richard Gledhill on 020 7804 5026 or richard.gledhill@uk.pwc.com
3. For information about Southwark's pilot Energy Action Areas please contact Nancy Lynn 7665, for Barking and Dagenham Nina Romain on 020 8227 5335, for Wembley -Andrea Deuchrass on 020 89375321, for Merton -Matt Rickard on 020 8545 3327
4. Energy Action Areas were defined in the Mayor's Energy Strategy in February 2004 as a way of showcasing work that takes forward the objectives of the energy strategy. EAA are neighbourhoods or regeneratrion areas that offer the potential to show what can be done in the urban environment. These pilot projects are expected to deliver carbon savings of between 40-75 per cent. They need to meet a number of criteria including:
5. The Mayor's Energy Strategy commits London to reducing its emissions of carbon dioxide by 20 per cent, relative to the 1990 level, by 2010. The Mayor's Energy Strategy can be found at www.london.gov.uk
6. The London Energy Partnership has received funding to implement the Energy Action Areas from the Greater London Authority (GLA), the London Development Agency (LDA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
7. For media enquiries please call Nicola Dillon in the Mayor's Press Office on 020 7983 4755.
For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000.
For non-media enquiries please call the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.