Climate Works: climate change consultancy in Bristol

Projects & Clients

• GreenTalk

A selection of some of our recent projects

Bristol City Council – raising the environmental standards of new buildings

In its Core Strategy Bristol City Council has set out its ambition to be a ‘a leader in mitigating and adapting to climate change, implementing low-carbon approaches to development’.

As part of the process of developing this new strategy the council wanted to look at the options for setting environmental standards for new domestic and non-domestic buildings in Central Bristol which exceeded the minimum defined by Building Regulations.

CWL were asked to assist the council in formulating the policy options for raising the environmental standards for new buildings, and assess the evidence to support higher standards.

The project included a review of national and local evidence for and against higher standards, an assessment of the environmental and economic impacts of raising standards, and facilitation of a workshop for stakeholders.

It concluded with three options for implementation in Central Bristol which will now go forward for public consultation.

GreenTalk – short talks, big ideas

GreenTalk was developed by CWL in collaboration with Bristol’s Green Capital Partnership. Inspired by TED, the idea was to give leading thinkers and practitioners on climate change, energy security, food security and the natural world the space to share their ideas about the responses and solutions to these issues with a local and global audience.

GreenTalk took place in Bristol on 14th June 2011 and brought together 11 speakers to deliver a series of riveting talks from 5 to 12 minutes in length encompassing economics, zero carbon housing and development, food, climate refugees, the role of the individual and society in responding to climate change and the protection of native butterflies; plus a green poet.

Variously described as ‘inspirational’, and ‘brilliant’ the talks were filmed before a live audience at the Arnolfini and will be made available on-line at www.green-talk.info

The Methodist Church – cutting energy costs & emissions

The Methodist Church is working to cut both the cost of energy and emissions from the churches, manses and other buildings which make up ‘the Connexion’.

Having looked at the options for reducing the cost of energy through a central purchasing arrangement CWL was approached to assist with the development of  such an approach in churches across Britain.

As part of this work we also developed new options for incentives for churches to cut emissions whilst reducing their energy costs.

Tobacco Factory Arts Trust

Renewable energy feasibility study for the Tobacco Factory Arts Trust in south Bristol asked CWL to look at the feasibility of installing a roof mounted PV system to provide renewable electricity for the Tobacco Factory Theatre and improve long-term security against rising energy prices and levies on emissions.

Following an evaluation of the technical and financial factors, including the proposed introduction of feed-in tariffs, we recommended a 22.5kW peak PV system, and made a successful application for funding from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme. The system is due to be installed in the first half of 2010.

Flourish Homes low carbon heating

Flourish Homes (previously Mendip Housing) wanted to use renewable energy in place of oil and electricity heating systems in their residential properties. To do this they needed to know which systems would provide the lowest running costs and emissions for their tenants, under real conditions.

We produced a software model of a typical home and used this to simulate a variety of conventional and renewable heating systems, and the impact on the annual running costs and emissions.

After consultation with tenants this information was used to draw-up criteria for the selection of heating systems as part of a planned maintenance programme.

South Bristol Community Energy Croft

Working on behalf of the Southville Community Development Association with funding from the EDF Green Fund, CWL looked at the feasibility of developing a community
renewables project based on the use of small scale wind turbines, to form ‘community energy crofts’.

The study found that on sites with a suitable annual average windspeed, small scale wind can produce a very good return on investment. But the announcement of the Feed-in Tariff made during the course of the project has significantly increased interest in small scale wind and competition for sites. So with this in mind the scope of the study was broadened to see how communities and individuals can have a greater stake in renewable energy projects using the Feed-in Tariff and other technologies such as PV.

The study concluded with recommendations for a new initiative to install PV systems, cut emissions, and energy costs, and retain the benefits of such schemes within the local community.

Planning for zero carbon development – North Warwickshire Borough Council

CWL delivered a two day version of our Planning for Zero Carbon Development course to Planning Policy and Development Control officers in North Warwickshire BC and some of the surrounding authorities. Combining presentations, practical and planning for real exercises the course examined the planning tools and levers available to local authorities, the technical and financial viability of building to low and zero carbons standards, the use of the Codes for Sustainable Homes and ‘Merton’ style renewable energy targets in planning policy, the implications of PPS1, the role of district heating and CHP and adapting buildings to climate change. The course has now been delivered to six local authorities and described as ‘Really excellent…very useful….easy to understand with good practical examples…..made some very difficult and complex issues easy to understand’.

Facilitation of stakeholder workshop on the Private Rented Sector

The Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes (EEPH) asked CWL to facilitate a workshop on energy efficiency in the Private Rented Sector for industry and government stakeholders. The workshop took place in March 2010 and was opened by Joan Ruddock MP, Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change. We prepared a briefing paper for delegates, arranged the speakers, designed and facilitated the workshops and prepared a report with recommendations for government and the industry.