Council continues to honour carbon pledge with installation of heat pumps

22 February 2023

Cheshire East Council is in the process of installing a total of 14 air source heat pumps in its buildings across the borough, as it continues to honour its carbon neutral by 2025 pledge.

The pumps are being funded by a government decarbonisation scheme grant and have already been installed at Wilmslow Library and at the town hall and the indoor market on Stanley Street in Macclesfield.

Air source heat pumps are the most sensible means of heating large spaces and providing hot water, as electricity displaces the conventional gas boiler. This is better for the environment as it is less carbon intense, resulting in much lower carbon dioxide emissions. Using an air source heat pump could cut conventional carbon dioxide emissions by two thirds – the 14 pumps once all operational will save around 570 tonnes a year.

Where it is possible to do so, the council is installing photovoltaic (PV) panels which will also help generate electricity and reduce costs. The council has already completed 17 PV installations with another two underway. 

Councillor Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council’s environment and communities committee said: “It is really positive to see the roll out of these air source heat pumps happening so swiftly this year. This is an important part of our pledge to be a carbon neutral authority by 2025.

“We recently updated the public at the last meeting of our environment and communities committee on the wider scale of our work towards becoming net zero, and I was delighted to be on site at the council’s composting plant in Leighton Grange, Crewe just a few days ago to launch the construction of a large-scale solar farm. These council-led investments in low carbon technology are really starting to pick up pace, which is very pleasing.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to commend my colleagues in our facilities management team for the way they have taken this forward along with our building services partner, Equans, whose drive and support has been instrumental to a successful delivery. I am really looking forward to seeing what carbon savings the council will make as a result of this latest positive step.”