06/07/2010

Sustainable Construction iNet Backs Northamptonshire County Council

A regional organisation charged with raising awareness and funding innovation within the construction sector has added its backing to Northamptonshire County Council’s initiative to reduce carbon emissions.

The Sustainable Construction iNet, which is based at the University of Northampton, is encouraging county construction firms and their supply chain to get involved in the council’s commitment to reduce its energy bills.

Charles Meynell, Senior Innovation Advisor at the Sustainable Construction iNet, which is funded by East Midlands Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund, and his team are urging businesses to propose ways in which their products and services could reduce Northamptonshire County Council’s carbon footprint and also secure a share of the £300,000 made available by the authority.

“One of the aims of the Sustainable Construction iNet is to raise awareness of the need to reduce carbon emissions and encourage businesses to become more sustainable, especially those active in the construction industry,” says Charles. “As such we’ve awarded several grants to Northamptonshire companies to help them bring their innovative products and services to market. Some of these companies may well be able to help Northamptonshire County Council reduce its energy use and we’re encouraging them to make contact.”

As well providing innovation support through Innovation, Advice and Guidance and Collaborative Research and Development, the Sustainable Construction iNet has also reinforced the importance of the low carbon economy as part of its events programme.

“In the last twelve months we’ve staged over 30 business events and we’re hoping that many of the people who attended these will consider talking to Northamptonshire County Council about its initiative,” added Charles.

Northamptonshire County Council is offering contracts of up to £10,000 per site (excluding VAT) to successful bids that put energy saving solutions into action.

To be successful, the ideas proposed must reduce carbon emissions, save money, payback in five years and be easily implemented. Through the competition Northamptonshire County Council is seeking to encourage local companies to identify specific opportunities for energy and carbon savings in council properties, to ‘sell the benefits’ of their proposals to the site/budget manager and be rewarded with a contract to undertake the works.

Cllr Ben Smith, county council cabinet member for environment and growth, said: “We’ve launched the low carbon mission competition to enlist our local businesses in helping us determine what the next steps are in our low carbon mission. If the ideas that come back are feasible, we’ve got contracts ready and waiting for the winners.

“We’re really hoping local businesses engage with this opportunity to shape our infrastructure.

“We’re looking to save energy and money, so as the result of these contracts, energy costs, and therefore council expenditure on running costs, should decrease.

“The competition will also give us the opportunity to forge closer relationships with local business, supporting our valuable traders. We’re glad to be able to offer work during tough economic times, and will be able to showcase the work that results from this competition.”

The county council has recently been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard in recognition of its work in reducing its carbon footprint and the council is committed to continuing to reduce the carbon emissions from its own property estate.

The competition is due to run until September 30, 2010 when initial concepts are due. For more information and all the details needed to apply, visit www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/lowcarbon

Source: Sustainable Construction iNet

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