Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Carmarthen Leisure Centre has reduced its carbon footprint and saved more than 400 tonnes of carbon. The centre cut back on its electricity use by five per cent and gas consumption by three and a half per cent in 2012 on the previous year despite colder than average winter temperatures. Carbon Trust Wales carried out a survey of the building and decided training staff in energy saving measures would help to reduce consumption. As part of the remodelling work a combined heat and power unit has been installed as a more energy efficient way to generate electricity and maintain the heat of the pool using heat by-product generated in the process. Staff training included optimum usage of this unit in addition to other awareness raising exercises. The council’s Principal Energy Officer, Andrew Morris, said: “Given that swimming pool complexes are very energy intensive it is important leisure centre staff are able to identify ways they can minimise the carbon footprint. The training was ...

Nearly 50 groups have signed up to Carmarthenshire Community Challenge since its launch last September. From fruit and vegetable allotments, eco gardens, river clean ups to composting toilets are some of the inspiring projects taken on by green fingered county residents. The aim is to help reduce impact on the planet, shrink your carbon footprint and improve the place you live. Anything that is helping the environment in some way such as saving energy, creating community gardens/shops, allotments, reducing and reusing resources, helping biodiversity, tackling climate change or finding environmentally friendly ways to travel can create real benefits in your community. If you have a spare few hours, or can assemble a new group to help make a difference in your community then contact the Carmarthenshire Community Challenge team. The team can give you advice and support on the way forward and link you up with similar projects. Executive board member for sustainability, Cllr Pam Palmer sai...

A huge drive is underway at Carmarthenshire leisure centres to go green. Council bosses are spearheading moves to cut the county’s carbon footprint and use less energy leading to cash savings. Hi-tech voltage optimisation hardware has been installed at Carmarthen and Llanelli leisure centres. The kit works by lowering the amount of voltage supplied to equipment and has led to a drop in carbon emissions by 2.55 per cent this year. Figures show it will lead to nearly £11,000 of savings every year which can be re-invested into the centres, and a huge 68 tonnes of carbon will be reduced during that time. During the lifetime of the equipment around £200,000 of savings will be generated and carbon will be reduced by 1,286 tonnes. The council’s Corporate Energy Officer Neil Evans said: “We have undertaken a lot of work over the past year to reduce our energy consumption. We have identified key areas where we can reduce our energy use, and work is underway to make all our buildings mor...