To cut down on energy use in buildings is a challenge nationwide. To achieve net zero emissions will need new ways of working together across all levels of government, businesses and communities.
Hosted in Dean Clough and online, we shared the ground-breaking work in Calderdale to advance net zero targets. The event brought together stakeholders, partners and decision-makers from West Yorkshire and beyond. It aimed to address the challenges of reducing carbon emissions and updating historic buildings to be more energy efficient.
What the conference covered
Local Area Energy Planning
Results of the Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP), a pilot project for West Yorkshire.
The LAEP outlines how we can reduce carbon emissions from energy in the area. It highlights different options, key projects and expected costs. It also features a new digital model of Calderdale that shows detailed visual maps of local buildings. The model highlights potential ways to reach net zero.
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the North East & Yorkshire Net Zero Hub support this project.
From motivation to momentum: Calderdale's retrofit challenge
Calderdale's pre-1920s stone-built homes shape its unique landscape, but they also pose big challenges to meet net zero.
These make up over one third of homes in the area and they often lack proper insulation. This makes upgrades difficult and costly. At the event, we shared our research on improving the experience for homeowners who look to make these upgrades.
Innovate UK supports this project. It is carried out with Todmorden Learning Centre and Community Hub and Carbon Co-op.
From Insight to Action Conference: LAEP Session Summary
Calderdale's LAEP has lots of information about the energy we use across the borough. This session covered how we could reduce carbon emissions from our buildings to achieve local net zero targets.
We explored the innovative digital twin technology which helps to show us where and how we could do this.
We explored specific projects from the LAEP and discussed how we can enable action.
Powering change: making local net zero a reality
Like many UK councils, we aim to reach net zero by 2038.
Calderdale's Climate Action Partnership worked with UK100 to identify the challenges of cutting emissions locally. Calderdale Council and UK100 discussed what needs to be done at the regional level. They also addressed the actions needed at the national level to tackle these challenges. UK100 shared their latest research on how to make net zero a central part of devolution.
Watch videos from the conference
To view the videos, visit our playlist (YouTube).
Video transcript
You may have noticed in the last decade that flooding in Calderdale has been worse than ever before. This is a pattern seen across the world as extreme weather events are on the rise. Perhaps your family and friends in other countries have experienced heatwaves or forest fires. All of this is a direct result of climate change.
The main cause of climate change is carbon dioxide. It is released when we burn fossil fuels (petrol, diesel, gas and coal) and causes the atmosphere to get warmer. This increases our risk of extreme weather. Climate change is a global issue, but we all have a role to play to protect our planet.
In Calderdale, we have pledged to become net zero by 2038. To do this we must cut our carbon emissions to an amount that trees and moorlands can absorb. Reducing the energy we use at home and using our cars less often are great first steps. There are other things we can do together to make a difference, which include:
- Reduce the amount of meat and dairy food we eat.
- Work to restore nature.
- Insulate our homes.
- Switch to clean and renewable energy.
People from all walks of life are stepping up to tackle climate change and now we need your help.
Visit: Climate Action Plan.