Reducing Conference Carbon Footprints

An innovative energy scheme, designed to drastically cut carbon emissions from many of the city’s most famous buildings will be launched at The International Convention Centre, Birmingham this Thursday (15th November).

The launch event will see Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council Paul Tilsley unveiling a giant ‘Carbon Calculator’, which will keep a running total of the amount of CO2 being saved by the Broad Street City Centre Energy Network’s Combined Heat and Power generator.

Housed at The ICC, the fuel-efficient generator will provide chilled water for air conditioning, electricity, and hot water for heating to major buildings in and around Broad Street and Victoria Square.

Unlike traditional forms of energy production which are typically only 30% efficient the CHP scheme will achieve an efficiency rating closer to 80%. This will both dramatically reduce carbon emissions by 2800 tonnes in its first year and provide significant savings in energy bills for buildings connected to the network.

Geoff Fenlon, General Manager, The ICC, said: “As one of the UK’s premier conference venues, The ICC is always careful to consider its environmental responsibilities. As such, we are extremely pleased at having been invited to participate in this scheme and particularly that our venue was selected to house the generator.

“I am proud that The ICC is taking such a prominent role in this scheme and we will continue to work on this and other initiatives to help The ICC, The NEC Group and the city of Birmingham reduce their carbon emissions, and highlight the city and its businesses as being environmentally conscious. In addition we can also work with clients to create additional ways to neutralise the carbon impact of their event”

Cllr Tilsley said: “While lots of cities are quick to talk the talk about climate change, in Birmingham we actually deliver on our promises and are actively implementing ground breaking initiatives which are among the most forward thinking in the UK.”

“The figures on the improved energy efficiency of CHP schemes speak for themselves, that’s why I’m delighted that so many major civic and privately owned buildings are now connected to the network. With our partner, Utilicom we are already planning more schemes of this type for The Eastside area.”

“This event is just one of the ways we are highlighting Birmingham as a leading Science City, and we are proud to be the host of the 4th National Science Cities Summit at the ICC (15-16 November). We have invited both public and private sector organisations from the other five Science Cities to share their innovative working practices, and see for themselves Birmingham as an exciting working Science City.”

CHP projects are a nationally recognised way of cutting CO2 emissions, and provide a key element of the council’s plans to reduce carbon emissions from key city centre buildings by 20% over the next four years.

Buildings connected to the Broad Street Network include The ICC, The NIA, Council House, Town Hall, Rep Theatre, Paradise Circus and Hyatt Regency Hotel.