|
Welcome to our May newsletter containing all the latest news and updates from across West Sussex.
 Our Capital Projects Delivery team are pleased to say that our very first ‘net zero’ building has been unveiled at Felpham Community College.
The new £1.7m special support centre has been given an A+ Energy Performance Certificate - the highest possible rating.
‘Net zero’ means the carbon dioxide emissions saved by generating renewable energy on-site are estimated to exceed the emissions created by the use of the building.
The new centre has been constructed to minimise heat loss and uses low-energy LED lighting throughout. Two air source heat pumps provide heating and the roof holds 42 solar panels which are expected to generate 16MWh of clean renewable electricity per year, equivalent to the electricity needs of four 3-bedroom houses.
 We would like to hear your views on the proposed locations of several new electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints in Crawley, Horsham, and Mid Sussex.
The proposed locations have been selected because either a member of the public has made a request, or the location has been identified as an area with limited off-road parking and a lack of nearby public chargepoints.
Residents who live in the proposed roads will receive a letter explaining the proposals and giving details of a four-week consultation, which runs from 9.00am Friday 24 May until 11.55pm on Friday 21 June.
The proposals form part of the latest round of installations from the West Sussex Chargepoint Network, a partnership between the county council, our district and borough partners in Adur, Arun, Chichester, Crawley, Horsham, Mid Sussex, and Worthing, and our chargepoint network technology provider Connected Kerb.
So far 215 chargepoints have been installed across West Sussex on the roadside and in district and borough car parks, with many more planned in the coming years.
 If you're interested in discovering the benefits of electric vehicles, a free event is being held this Friday in Horsham. The event will showcase a broad range of electric vehicles with the opportunity to get behind the wheel and go for a test drive. Experts will be on hand to give presentations and answers questions on all aspects of electric motoring including environmental performance, operation costs, charging infrastructure and more.
Date: Friday 24 May 2024
Time: 9.00am to 2.00pm
Venue: Parkside (Horsham District Council offices), Horsham, RH12 1AB.
Your batteries and electrical items could cause a fire if disposed of incorrectly. When we throw hidden or loose batteries in with our general rubbish or recycling, they can get crushed or punctured in our bin lorries. This releases chemicals which, when they come into contact with the air, can start a major fire.
Remember that you can take your old batteries to any of our Recycling Centres. Many shops and supermarkets also have collection points where you can take old batteries to be recycled.
The video above was created in partnership with the National Fire Chiefs Council and features Mark Andrews from our Fire & Rescue Service.
Get involved in Sussex Nature Recovery by taking part in our residents' survey. Tell us what's important to you: your favourite places to experience nature in Sussex, the wildlife you love to see, and whether you’ve noticed any changes (good or bad) to habitats and species locally. You don’t have to be an expert to take part!
Why not sign up for our free webinar on Tuesday 11 June 2024, which will take place from 6.00pm to 7.00pm?
Hear all about:
- What you've told us is important (your responses to our surveys) - from development pressures and litter, to hedgerows, wildlife corridors and your love of Sussex birds, bees and butterflies.
- Key insights from the ecological evidence we've been gathering.
- Inspiring examples of action for nature already taking place in Sussex by community groups, organisations and residents.
Plus, live polls and guest speakers.
We are excited to announce the launch of West Sussex Wastebuster’s Climate Action Planner tool which supports schools across the county in creating and implementing an impactful Climate Action Plan. The tool is the latest development in our Schools' Waste & Climate Action Programme.
The Climate Action Planner guides schools through the process of assessing their current carbon footprint for waste, energy and water, identifying key areas for improvement, and creating action plans. There are lots of useful resources alongside the tool that schools can use to help achieve their goals. The tool is free to access for West Sussex schools.
If you have any queries, want to share or celebrate local climate action, please email us: climatechange@westsussex.gov.uk.
You can also add a new map pin to our Community Climate Action Map - keep them coming!
If you know someone else who will be interested in reading this newsletter, please forward it so they can sign up using the link below.
|
