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The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service has secured £927,845 from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) to significantly reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy efficiency.
Building on a previous successful grant bid in 2023 and with additional support from the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority (RBFA), the service plans to invest £1.77m in sustainability improvements over the next two years for five energy-inefficient buildings.
The two-year programme, funded by the PSDS and delivered by Salix Finance on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, will introduce sustainability features at selected properties, including Newbury Fire Station, Whitley Wood Fire Station, Wokingham Road Fire Station, Langley Fire Station, and Caversham Road Fire Station (accommodation building).
Upgrades will include LED lighting, solar panels, air-sourced heat pump systems, and improved insulation, resulting in annual savings of 132 tonnes of carbon emissions and substantial cost reductions.
Mark Arkwell, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, emphasised the service’s commitment to environmental responsibility, acknowledging the grant as a significant boost to their ambition of improving the estate.
Councillor Jeff Brooks, Chair of RBFA, highlighted ongoing environmental sustainability initiatives in major rebuild projects, such as the Slough Fire Station refurbishment and the upcoming Training Centre. He expressed delight at matching the PSDS grant with an RBFA contribution of £736,777 to make sites more environmentally friendly.
Ian Rodger, Director of Programmes at Salix, emphasised the importance of the PSDS grant in future-proofing the buildings and expressed eagerness to collaborate with the service on their decarbonisation journey to achieve vital net-zero goals.
For additional information on the sustainability commitment, please refer to the Strategic Asset Investment Framework.
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