Islington Council today (Monday 20 November) demonstrated its committment to reducing carbon emissions and pioneering renewable energy by announcing plans to install wind turbines on council land across the borough.
If planners give the green light, the first turbine will be installed at Islington Ecology Centre, already a low energy building fitted with sun pipes, a windcatcher, and solar hot water panels. The wind turbine will make the building entirely self sufficient for its electricity needs.
As the ecology centre in Drayton Park, N7, is near the railway line, the turbine will be seen by people entering King's Cross - changing London's landscape with a symbol of committment to combat climate change.
The council applied for planning permission to install the wind-turbine on the ecolology centre today. This will be followed by planning applications for turbines on other council land, including the Municipal Offices in Upper Street, where the energy will be used to power the council's fleet of electric vehicles.
Leader of Islington Council, Cllr James Kempton, made the announcement as he signed the Nottingham Declaration, a public committment to carbon reduction, at Islington Ecology Centre this morning.
Cllr Kempton said: " Islington Council is leading the way with pioneering plans to help protect the environment for future generations.
"Wind-turbines are a visible demonstration of our efforts to cut carbon emissions across the borough. But they need to be backed up by many other actions. By signing the Nottingham Declaration today I am committing us to working in partnership to achieve that.
"Islington is already a leader in this field. The council has just adopted new planning guidance which means that all major developments have to incorporate renewable energy on site, reducing their carbon emissions by 20 per cent. That means we will be seeing lots more renewable energy across the borough, from solar panels to wind turbines, to biomass boilers and ground source heat pumps.
"So this is just a first step for us in a comprehensive programme to significantly reduce the borough's carbon footprint and make Islington a greener borough."
If planners grant permission for the wind-turbine on Islington Ecdology Centre, it should be installed by February 2007.
Cllr Kempton was joined at the ecology centre by pupils from Ambler Primary school, who were making a whole farm of minature wind-turbines during a workshop run by Groundwork. Pictures available on request.
ENDS
For more information on this news release or to interview Cllr Kempton please contact Islington Media Office on 020 7527 2307.
Notes to Editors
Islington Council is already a leader in reducing carbon emissions and last year (2005) won a Carbon Trust award for its plans to manage carbon dioxide emissions from its estate.
The council has applied for planning permission to install a six kilowatt turbine at Islington Ecology Centre. At normal wind speeds, a six kilowatt turbine delivers 11-12,000 kwh per annum. This is equivalent to powering about three homes. The turbine will make the building entirely self-sufficient for its electricity needs.
The council will shortly be applying to install wind turbines on other council buildings, including the Municipal Offices, and the Tennis Centre close to Market Road. A turbine at the Municipal offices would be used to power the council's electric fleet, while one at the Tennis Centre would significantly reduce energy consumption at the centre.
All turbines are subject to planning permission being granted, and the public will be consulted in the normal way as part of the planning process. Subject to planning permission being granted Islington Council hopes to install a turbine on the ecology centre around February 2007.
Islington Ecology Centre is a visitors and education centre set in the urban oasis Gillespie Park Nature Reserve, Drayton Park, N7. It is the base for the team who manage the borough's nature reserves, and it provides an invaluable education service to schools, colleges, play schemes and community groups. The centre was built in 1990 as an example of good environmental building with solar panels and recycled water feeding into the ponds. An eco-refit in spring 2006 used new technological advances to turn the centre into a very low energy building. Sun pipes let in and magnify natural light; a natural windcatcher ensures the centre does not overheat; solar panels prooduce the hot water, and grey water recycling filters dish water through reed bends into the ponds.
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008