 With support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) Low Carbon Project, Barkers Furniture, a cherished family-run store in Sheffield since 1915, is taking significant steps towards sustainability. A comprehensive energy survey at their Fitzwilliam Street location highlighted high energy usage due to temperature regulation of the large premises. As a result, the Low Carbon Project awarded Barkers Furniture with a grant to install solar panels and ceiling insulation, significantly reducing their carbon footprint.
Alexia Barker, Director of Barkers Furniture, expressed enthusiasm about the improvements: “We can already feel the difference in our showroom, in terms of the insulation, and we know that the solar panels are going to create a massive difference.” The store anticipates lower electricity bills and a substantial positive environmental impact.
“We could not have been more grateful for the support from Sheffield Council and Business Sheffield,” Alexia added. This initiative not only underscores Barkers Furniture's commitment to sustainability but also serves as an inspiring model for other local businesses.
Following a change to eligibility criteria for the Home Upgrade Grant, more privately owned or privately rented households in Sheffield will now have the opportunity to apply for grant worth up to £38,000 for energy efficiency measures in their homes.
Households with an annual income of £36,000 or less (up from the previous threshold of £31,000) that don't use a gas boiler as the main heating system can apply to receive free energy-saving upgrades to reduce the cost of heating their homes. These include insulation, air source heat pumps, solar panels and more. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, so residents are encouraged to act quickly and apply for these free energy efficiency measures before November 2024.
 The first set of public hearings on the Sheffield’s Local Plan took place in June. The Local Plan will guide the future of the city and sets out how and where development will take place up to 2039, focusing on measures such as:
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Climate – Improving standards for new development to help realise our 2030 net zero ambitions.
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Green spaces– Protecting Green Belt land and valuable green spaces.
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Transport – Creating calmer, people-friendly neighbourhoods, reducing congestion where possible, improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions via increased active travel.
Further hearings will take place in September and November, and are open to the public to attend.
Learn more about Sheffield’s Local Plan or find out about forthcoming hearings
 A wildfire has the potential to destroy everything in its path, from birds and insects to plants. They can burn through the peat layer and release carbon into the atmosphere, adding to climate change and harm our resilience to climate change and its effects, including flooding and droughts. Putting out a wildfire can endanger the lives of fire officers and rangers who are tasked with extinguishing them. You can do your bit to help reduce accident wildfire by:
If you spot a suspected wildfire call 999 immediately; do not assume someone else has reported it.
 Work to replace the old, inefficient lighting in the Town Hall with new, energy efficient LED is due to start this August. Once complete, we will see a reduction of 186,013.55 kWh in electrical use, equating to a carbon reduction of 38.52 tonnes CO2e, and energy cost savings of around £60,000 per year. It will also save the council a significant amount of money having to replace and dispose of old tubes/bulbs when they fail and greatly reduce the need for maintenance staff to have to work at height. This will help us provide a safer, more pleasant experience for our staff and visitors to Town Hall.
 Sheffield Walking Festival returns with another fabulous programme of enjoyable walks to suit a range of abilities. From urban city strolls to more challenging routes into the Peak District, there's something for everybody with plenty to see and discover along the way.
The programme kicks off on Friday 6 September, with 33 FREE guided walks over 10 days - spaces must be reserved in advance.
CycleBoost electric bike loan scheme
Electric bike loans for a month or more are available with the CycleBoost scheme. For a £75 charge per month, people can hire an electric bike, with charger, helmet, lock and pannier, and any repairs needed included in the cost.
Upgrade your community building with up to £25k grant
Calling all community and cultural organisations in Sheffield!
You could be eligible for a grant of up to £25k to enhance your premises via funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Grants are available for energy-efficient upgrades including lighting, heating, insulation, boilers, and more.
The upgrades will not only save you money on utility bills but can also contribute to a more sustainable future.
Registering your interest is easy, and you'll receive support every step of the way.
Have you got the BetterPoints app?
BetterPoints is a free app which allows you to turn your steps, cycle rides, bus trips and more, into shopping vouchers or donations to local charities. The BetterPoints Sheffield scheme aims to encourage residents across the city to choose active travel to get around wherever and whenever possible, taking cars off the road in the city, reducing congestion and emissions, while helping to promote a healthier lifestyle.
To join in, download the free BetterPoints app and use it to record journeys made on foot, by bike, in a wheelchair, or by bus, tram or train.
Get home energy advice and grants
Warm Homes Sheffield home energy advice and grants are continuing to help local people to reduce energy costs and keep their homes and families warm and well. Depending on individual circumstances, Warm Homes Sheffield can help with funding towards insulation, solar panels, air source heat pumps and much more.
To find out more information about the energy schemes, get advice about reducing your energy costs and more, visit the website.
 Making food sustainable and fair in Sheffield
When it comes to food and the climate crisis, many of us think about the action we can take in terms of eating less meat, recycling packaging and paying attention to our food miles.
These are all positive and important steps, but not enough to meet the challenges we are facing. Globally, one third of all food produced is still wasted, and the food system is the second largest cause of climate change. In turn, climate change threatens the availability of the food on our plates as crop fail, pollinators struggle and our quick-fix supply chains teeter. In this context, thinking about ourselves as consumers limits us to making change via our wallets - and we are all capable of so much more.
How could it speed up our response to climate change if we treated ourselves not as consumers, but as citizens - food citizens?
We already know that reducing food waste can cut up to 10 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, and that the UK’s urban green spaces can help provide up to 40 per cent of the UK’s fresh fruit and veg needs. This feels hopeful - and tells us that we can start to tackle these challenges, collaboratively across the whole food system - from farm to fork.
Food Works is inviting everyone in Sheffield to do just that, to help build a movement for fairer, more sustainable food for Sheffield.
You may have spotted a Food Works farm, cafe or pop up market somewhere in the city - or you may already be one of the 400-plus Food Works volunteers that are already gathering locally grown and surplus food to provide people with healthy, affordable food, through pay-as-you-can cafes and environmentally-friendly ready meals. Together, they save 500 tonnes of food from being wasted every year across the city, and turn this into more than 40,000 delicious, healthy meals.
So the message is clear - when citizens come together to work with purpose and creativity, change happens. Just imagine how resilient and flourishing Sheffield could be if everyone started working with neighbours to grow more food locally, if we invited our friends to the city’s many social eating spaces or gave time to help distribute food more fairly across the city. There is so much more we can do to look after ourselves, today and in the future, if we start to think about food outside of our weekly shop, and start to collaborate together.
That sounds like a bold vision - but there are first steps we can all take. You can start by signing up to join the Food Works community to get a simple, weekly email with the inside track on what they’re up to, and how to get involved. Or, if you want to dive right in, ask them about volunteering.
Do you want to showcase your work in the Sustainability and Climate Change Newsletter?
Following this month's piece by ShefFood, we want to regularly share the great stories and experiences of Sheffield organisations and local people that are taking action to tackle climate change in the city.
We are inviting those interested to write a short blog post about the practical action they or their community or organisation are involved in, to reduce carbon emissions, tackle climate change and help the city become a green and resilient city.
This could involve reducing food waste, increasing access to sustainable food for communities, reducing business emissions, retrofitting a home on a street or setting up a bike buddy scheme, just to name a few.
We will aim to publish one article in each of our bimonthly newsletters, so if you are interested, please get in touch via sustainability@sheffield.gov.uk, letting us know who you are (and your organisation, if relevant) and what you would like to write about. A member of the team will get and touch and let you know what to do next if you have been successful.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Sustainability Netwalking events
Meet new people, build relationships and expand your network whilst exploring the city and nature through the Sustainability Netwalking event.
This is a great space for collaboration and support taking in fresh air and getting some exercise, where you can discuss sustainable business ideas and opportunities, wellbeing and ethical practices all while exploring Sheffield. You can also go along to hear about the Sheffield Sustainability Network and the Sheffield Social Enterprise Network, and how you can get involved with both.
The next monthly Sustainability Netwalking event will take place on Wednesday 21 August, exploring Victoria Quays, followed by Thursday 19 September at Meersbrook Park..
We would love to hear about your experience to improve our newsletter. Click on the button below to send us an email.
Subscribe for news
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