One Planet Living's Year Of Achievement In Middlesbrough

MIDDLESROUGH has been building on its credentials as one of the region's leaders in helping local people live more sustainable lifestyles and save money.

The town last year became one of only a handful in the UK to have its credentials formally recognised when Middlesbrough Council was endorsed as a One Planet Living authority.

The accolade, from sustainability champions BioRegional, marks Middlesbrough's delivery of the ten principles of One Planet Living.

Under the initiative the Council and its key partners pledge to improve the local environment, tackle climate change and improve the well being of local residents.

The aim is to improve local lifestyles and make Middlesbrough a greener and healthier place for all.

This week sees the publication of Middlesbrough's One Planet Living Review 2012 which highlights some of the achievements of the last year.

These include:

• A commitment to use 100% recycled paper, saving the felling of 2,400 trees, more than three million gallons of water and more than 650,000KWh of electricity on paper production costs.
• Measures put in place in 2011/12 will result in a reduction of carbon emissions of several thousand tonnes over the next 10 years (a family size car emits two tonnes of carbon every year on average)
• Installation of solar panels at the Rainbow and Neptune Leisure Centres and Beresford Buildings, saving ten tonnes of carbon and generating 19Kwh of electricity per year.
• Planning permission was granted for the installation of wind turbines at Newham Grange Leisure Farm and Sandy Flatts, generating electricity worth an estimated £16,000 per year and resulting in an annual carbon saving of 12 tonnes per turbine.
• Installation of 10 electric car charging points around Middlesbrough for public use.
• Support for 14 new community food growing groups, from Middlesbrough Environment City to promote the buying and selling of local fruit and vegetables.
• Planting 1,000 trees alongside Ormesby Beck
• Retention of the national Green Flag excellence award for parks at six Council sites: Albert Park, Pallister Park, Fairy Dell, Hemlington Lake, Linthorpe Cemetery and the newly restored Stewart Park.
• Completion of the £9 million Healthy Town programme which included 42 innovative projects to make more people more active and eat more healthily.
• Middlesbrough Cycle Circuit, enhanced green spaces and play areas and new allotments are examples of the programme's lasting legacy.

Local communities have been leading the way, with the innovative Eco Easterside project a showcase for the benefits and savings practical actions can deliver at grassroots level.

The pioneering initiative, funded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change and delivered by Middlesbrough Council in partnership with Middlesbrough Environment City and Fabrick Housing Group,
has seen community and domestic renewable energy measures installed across the estate.

State of the art energy-saving technology – including solar panels and solar hot water and air-to-air heat pumps – was installed in 20 homes, alongside energy saving training, the creation of two community allotment sites and safe cycle training to promote sustainable travel.

Easterside resident Patricia Wadrop said: "Since having the solar panels installed my electricity bills have halved.

"I also have a monitor which shows how much we are using with different appliances like hair dryers and washing machines.

"My smart meter from British Gas also shows me how much I have spent in the last 28 days, making me more aware and conscious of what I am using."

Other on-going initiatives - including community volunteering, composting food leftovers and using rainwater butts for garden watering - are all contributing to financial, social and environmental benefits.

Middlesbrough Deputy Mayor Councillor David Budd said: "While the principles of One Planet Living inform how we deliver our services, individuals and households have a vital role to play in developing Middlesbrough as a One Planet town.

"This can only be achieved in partnership with local people who strive to adopt greener, leaner and healthier lifestyles.

"I am pleased to see that some residents are helping to reduce their impact on the Earth's limited resources, and contribute to building a greener, safer and healthier town."