Reducing Carbon Emissions Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

1. Why are there two separate figures for emissions?
2. What is the difference between greenhouse gas emissions and CO₂ emissions?
3. What is the Carbon Management Plan? 
4. Is Worcestershire County Council signed up to the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme?
5. Do you monitor CO₂ emissions for the whole of Worcestershire or just Worcestershire County Council?
6. Do you offer advice to residents and businesses on reducing their own CO₂ emissions?

Answers

1. Q. Why are there two separate figures for emissions?
   A. Worcestershire County Council has been working with the Carbon Trust to produce a plan to reduce CO₂ emissions from our own activity (buildings, street lighting etc.). Prior to 2010, local authorities reported to Central Government on CO₂ emissions from their activity via the national Indicator set.
   
   The coalition Government reviewed all the indicators and requested that Local Authorities report on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using previous guidance issued to businesses.
   
   All Local Authorities have to publish an annual report on their website which details their GHG emissions.
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2. Q. What is the difference between greenhouse gas emissions and CO₂ emissions?
   A. CO₂ emissions are carbon dioxide emissions alone, where as greenhouse gas emissions include CO₂ but also incorporate other gases which are also harmful to the atmosphere. In our GHG reports we have included emissions associated with carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), nitrous oxide (N₂O), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆). GHG emissions are measured in CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e).
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3. Q. What is the Carbon Management Plan? 
   A. The Carbon Management Plan sets out actions to reduce CO₂ emissions from Worcestershire County Council activities and operations by 30% over the next 5 years, from April 2011 to March 2016. We have a number of projects in place to reduce CO₂ emissions from our own buildings (including schools), street lighting, vehicle fleet and staff mileage.
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4. Q. Is Worcestershire County Council signed up to the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme?
   A. Yes, Worcestershire County Council is signed up to the CRC.  The CRC requires large energy users to report on energy use and pay for the carbon they emit. Currently this price is set to £12 per tonne of CO₂ but this could rise making it even more vital that we reduce energy use and associated CO₂ emissions. Organisations will start to pay the Government for the amount of CO₂ they emit from the end of 2011/2012 financial year onwards.   
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5. Q. Do you monitor CO₂ emissions for the whole of Worcestershire or just Worcestershire County Council?
   A. The Department for Energy and Climate Change publish CO₂ emission figures nationally broken down by Local Authority area.  This is published on their web site at a two year time lag. These figures are reported via the Worcestershire State of Environment report.
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6. Q. Do you offer advice to residents and businesses on reducing their own CO₂ emissions?
   A. Worcestershire County Council provides information to residents via the web site.  The Worcestershire Green Directory offers advice on living a more sustainable lifestyle.  The Green Directory covers topics such as energy, waste, community and more.
   
   The Warmer Worcestershire web site offers further advice and tips on home energy efficiency and keeping warm and well during the winter.  The web site also includes a thermal map (from the winter of 2008/09) which gives and indication of the heat being lost from the roof of properties and this can be reduced.
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