Following extensive consultations with local people, Trafford council has developed a 3 year sustainability strategy focusing on issues such as climate change and fuel poverty.
Over half million tonnes of carbon dioxide is produced from homesin Trafford every year - that's about a quarter of the total emissionsin the borough.
The strategy will promote energy efficiency in existing homes in Trafford's 90,000 homes.
Reducing the council's own energy use and working with schools,leisure centres and housing associations to minimise their own impacton climate change feature in the plan.
The fundamental approach is to help businesses and residents tosave money on their fuel bills and help save the planet at the sametime. A council tax rebate of £70 is being given to people who installenergy efficiency measures such as loft or cavity wall insulation underthe council's scheme (with a financial payback for residents of aroundtwo years and saving at least £100 per household). The council isworking with Action for Sustainable Living to roll out this programmein eleven wards.
The council is working to cut carbon emissions by 25 per cent by 2020 through these measures across the borough.
This includes actions to make the most of wood resources andsupporting businesses to prepare themselves for a low carbonenvironment.
It will also ensure that future planning permission is only given to developments that reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
More details of the new initiatives can be found on the council's Trafford is my planet website
Trafford Council is also funding AfSL to provide services across the borough during 2008/2009.
