East Cambridgeshire District Council has achieved bronze accreditation of the Investors in the Environment scheme within a year of signing up.

The Council signed up to the scheme as part of its commitment to reduce the carbon footprint at its main head office in Ely, known as The Grange.

To help achieve its goal it has established an in-house Green Team to set up campaigns and create  action plans to help council staff reduce their carbon footprint and encourage positive climate friendly behaviour change. This has included running a transport to work survey, encouraging staff to recycle more and raising awareness of the need to switch off lights and other power and heat sources when not in use.

It has also carried out retrofit investment such as improved and more consistent double glazing and the installation of low carbon lighting.

To date The Grange has reduced its overall carbon footprint by a staggering 20% , with gas use down a respectable 28%.

In 2023, the Council will be working towards achieving Silver accreditation by further reducing its carbon footprint at The Grange, as well as other properties it is responsible for. It is also looking at ways to help reduce the carbon footprint of the district overall by increasing biodiversity and encouraging sustainable travel.

Cllr Julia Huffer, chair of the Operational Services Committee and Environmental Champion at the Council, said: “I am extremely proud the Council has achieved Bronze Accreditation of the Investors in the Environment Scheme in such a short space of time. This really marks the Council’s commitment to creating a cleaner, greener East Cambridgeshire and puts it on the right path to becoming Net Carbon Zero by 2040.”