Carbon reduction

Carbon reduction

Greenhouse gas emissions

In 2008 the Climate Change Act was passed as a legally binding framework for how the UK would approach reducing and managing its carbon emissions. This also included setting the ambitious target of cutting greenhouse gasses by 80% by 2050, from 1990 levels. 

The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF) is dedicated to helping the country meet this ambitious target and has developed a Carbon Management Plan detailing how we plan to measure, monitor and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from its buildings, operations and wider activities.

We began measuring our emissions under the government’s National Indicator 185 in 2008/09, we emitted 24,443 tonnes at an approximate cost of £5 million. With energy prices due to increase its imperative we continue measuring, monitoring and reducing our consumption.

The current Government continues to drive both Public and Private sectors to report their Carbon emissions through the mandatory CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme which requires the reporting of carbon from gas and electricity usage, LBHF is a full participant of this scheme.

We have also decided to continue our commitment to reducing emissions through reporting our wider Greenhouse Gas emissions through the informal voluntary Greenhouse Gas Reporting in line with Defra’s requirements. This measures CO2e from a wider range of Council buildings and operations and activities. 

In summer 2011 we worked with Aquila Green to collate and verify the greenhouse gas emissions from:

Scope 1

• Gas & oil from Council owned & operationally controlled buildings (including schools)
• Council owned transport

Scope 2

• Purchased electricity from Council owned & operationally controlled buildings (including schools)

Scope 3

• Business travel (including fuels from leased vehicles, Children Services & employees), paper brought, waste and recycling (NB: waste was only included in 2010-11)  

In 2009/10 LBHF emitted 25,803 tonnes of CO2e of which 10,674 tonnes came from schools mainly in purchased electricity. 

In 2010/11 LBHF made the decision to analyse the emissions from their waste and recycling. This increased our overall emissions considerably and in 2010/11 LBHF emitted 32,980 tonnes of CO2e. Of this 9,244 tonnes came from waste and recycling and 8,919 tonnes from schools. 

However if we compare like for like emissions between 2009/10 and 2010/11 (i.e. removing waste) LBHF actually made a reduction in emissions of over 2,000 tonnes.

» Click here for the full greenhouse gas emissions report (pdf)

Further information on projects and initiatives that we have done and are planning:

» LBHF carbon reduction projects (pdf)

» London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham Carbon Management Plan (pdf)

» The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (opens in new window)

» Defra's Greenhouse Gas Emissions (opens in new window) 

» www.lbhf.gov.uk/greenschools

» Heat Mapping Study (pdf)