Nottingham City Council has been announced as a finalist in two categories for this year’s Nottingham Post Environmental Awards.

• Public Sector Environmental Initiative of the Year Award
The Schools Collaboration on Resource Efficiency (SCoRE Project), The Energy Team
• The Environmental Innovation Award
Harvey Hadden Solar Carport, Energy Infrastructure Team / Major Programmes

The SCoRE project offers all schools and community groups across Nottingham the opportunity to receive expert support, advice and finance to deliver behavioural change and energy efficiency measures. The team has visited 31 schools engaging with 9,050 pupils and 850 members of staff to help them become more eco-friendly, sustainable, cut energy usage, associated costs and emissions.

The Solar Carport at Harvey Hadden is the UK’s first public solar carport. As well as a free source of green electricity for the sports centre, a total 493 tons of CO2 emissions will be saved per year, the equivalent of emissions from 225 cars per year. The City Council’s Major Programmes and Energy Infrastructure teams led on this initiative, working in partnership with EvoEnergy.

The winners will be announced on Thursday 22nd October.

Councillor Alan Clark, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Energy and Sustainability, said: “The SCoRE programme is a great opportunity to inform, educate and equip our next generation of decision makers about energy, sustainability and climate change. It’s really important that our young people understand the impact they can have on the environment. The team does a fantastic job working with the schools to bring about technical changes such as new heating systems and energy efficient lighting as well as engaging with both pupils and staff to inspire positive behaviour change.

“The solar panel car port at Harvey Hadden puts the car park space to very good use – creating a free green energy supply for the leisure centre. Our leisure centres are used by thousands of citizens and so consume a lot of electricity, so the solar panels at Harvey Hadden will save a huge amount of CO2 emissions each year. As well as saving the leisure centre money on their electricity bills, the council can sell any excess power to the grid, providing vital funds to the council which are used to protect front line services. This scheme shows how you can look after the environment and save money at the same time.”

For further information please contact Ruth Stallwood, Nottingham City Council Communications Team, on 0115 876 2900or by email at ruth.stallwood@nottinghamcity.gov.uk