Buildings and energy
The target for our estate and street lighting is to reduce CO2 (carbon) emissions by 50% by 2025. Emissions from Council buildings have reduced by 66% since 2009/10. And reduced from 47,764 tonnes to 16,375 tonnes in 2023/24.
Key aims of engagement and policy change
We have developed projects for housing retrofit and local energy generation. We're working with UK Core Cities and the Government to find new ways to finance them. Engaging with housing and building stakeholders helps us to do this.
Key achievements from 2020 to 2024
- We produced a new buildings and energy strategy for our estate.
- We retrofitted 18 of our buildings as part of our estate decarbonisation. A total carbon saving of 3,100 tonnes a year is forecast. And we have secured funding for another eight buildings.
- We produced a Manchester Build Standard and are embedding it in our decision making.
- We installed 55,000 LED street lights. Emissions in 2023/24 were 87% lower (13,709 tonnes of CO2) than in 2009/10.
- We procured direct renewable electricity via a Power Purchase Agreement. This will provide traceable renewable energy. As well as significantly reducing our carbon emissions from Autumn 2025.
- We completed the Manchester Energy Network and connected six buildings.
- We have a local area energy plan for Manchester. It's part of the Greater Manchester Local Energy Market project.
- We supported One Manchester's bid to the Social Housing Decarbonisation Scheme. This will enable retrofit improvements for social housing in Beswick.
- We launched a new housing strategy for Manchester. It sets out low-carbon retrofit plans for homes across the city.
- We built 69 low-carbon homes for social rent at Silk Street in North Manchester. They have solar panels, electric vehicle charging points and ground source heat pumps.