Westmorland and Furness Council have been confirmed as finalists in three categories at this year’s UK Green Business Awards for major projects and strategies associated with their approach to decarbonisation for the area.
This year's awards received nearly 500 entries, including submissions from many of the UK's most successful and high-profile businesses. Finalists were selected based on their commitment to sustainability and innovation in the green economy. This evidences the council’s status as an organisation that is acknowledged as crossing over from the public to private sector in terms of innovation and recognition.
The council has been shortlisted for three awards; ‘Renewable Energy Project of the Year’ for the 2MW solar farm at Sandscale Park in Barrow, which is expected to save around 507 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually, ‘Green Building Project of the Year’ for the retrofit of Voreda House, the UK’s first council office building to achieve Passivhaus EnerPHit accreditation and ‘Net Zero Strategy of the Year’ for the progress made during 2024, the first year in the council’s five year plan to become net zero by 2037. Having already won a national Green Energy Award earlier this year for their net zero strategy and plans, the council are hopeful for further success on the 11 June, when the winners will be announced.
Cllr Giles Archibald, Cabinet Member for Climate, Biodiversity and Environmental Services, said:
“Our teams have achieved so much during the first year of our carbon management strategy and plans, delivering some major projects to get us started in our journey to net zero.”
“To be shortlisted for these and several other national awards, not to mention the Green Energy Award win, is testament to the planning and delivery of our decarbonisation programme to date and supports our aspiration to be a leader in the drive in reducing emissions.”