Press Release - Making Bath fit for the future
Low Carbon Bath, a joint project of Bath Preservation Trust and Bristol’s Centre for Sustainable Energy, was launched today.
The project, supported by Bath and North East Somerset Council, aims to develop guidance for local people and council officers about how the buildings of Bath can be transformed to radically reduce their carbon emissions.
Half of Britain’s carbon emissions come from buildings. Reducing these emissions – both to minimise the severity of climate change and to prepare for a future of rising fossil fuel prices – is especially challenging in a city that is famous for the quality of its heritage buildings. Yet this challenge must be faced. Bath may have exceptional architecture but the city is not exempt from the national goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. Locally, Bath and North East Somerset Council has made tackling climate change the cross cutting objective of its new planning framework.
Low Carbon Bath brings together the heritage expertise of the Bath Preservation Trust with the low carbon know-how of the Centre for Sustainable Energy. However the project also aims to draw on the knowledge, experience and ideas of the people of Bath through a series of consultation events starting this month (September 2010). These events offer anyone with an interest in the future of Bath an opportunity to contribute to the development of guidance for the city.
Caroline Kay, Chief Executive of the Bath Preservation Trust, was keen to point out the importance of the project: “The people of Bath are rightly proud of its remarkable architectural heritage. But, as we strive to protect this heritage, we cannot turn a blind eye to the changing world around us – a world in which climate change is an unavoidable reality. This project is a great opportunity to confront this reality and identify how we can reduce carbon emissions without sacrificing the qualities of the city that we love.”
If you are interested in attending one of the events, email the Bath Preservation Trust on .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). An open public event will be held on Wednesday October 27th at 6.30pm in the Building of Bath Collection on The Paragon.
Notes to editors
1 The Bath Preservation Trust has been campaigning since 1934 to preserve and enhance the unique architecture of Bath and its environs. Its purpose is to encourage and support the conservation, evolution and enhancement of Bath and its environs within a framework appropriate both to its historic setting and its sustainable future, and to provide educational resources that focus on the architectural and historic importance of the city.
For Further information
Caroline Kay, Chief Executive
Bath Preservation Trust Tel: 01225 338 727 (personal mobile 07947 027 308)
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Visit our website at www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk