Neath Port Talbot Joins WWF’S Earth Hour 2017

Neath Port Talbot Council has announced its support once again for Earth Hour—the annual, global celebration of the planet. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

At 8.30pm on Saturday 25 March 2017, Neath Port Talbot Council will be joining forces with landmarks across the globe like the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and New York’s Times Square by switching off the lights at its headquarters. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In 2017, Earth Hour marks its 10th year, and by taking part, Neath Port Talbot Council is showing its commitment to taking action to tackle climate change. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Around half a million people in Wales participate in Earth Hour every year, and by taking part, they’re showing that they want to see action being taken to tackle climate change now. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council routinely switches off non-essential lights in its buildings, with Earth Hour symbolising a year-round effort, spearheaded by the Council’s Energy Team, to enhance energy efficiency and performance in all of its operational properties – including schools, community centres and office buildings. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Last year the team successfully applied to the Department of Business Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) – Heat Networks Funding Stream for £40,000 and a further £36,000 of funding from the Welsh Government to investigate further measures the Authority can take to reduce its energy and carbon footprint. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The funding will be used to undertake an analysis of smart technology developments and how they can be used to further reduce the energy consumption of local authority buildings and further reduce CO2 emissions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ali Thomas OBE, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, said: “Neath Port Talbot Council is very proud to support WWF’s Earth Hour once again this year. Local authorities like ours have a big role to play in tackling climate change, so we’re looking forward to turning off the lights at our headquarters at 8.30pm on Saturday 25 March to show our support.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Council is working to improve and ensure the energy efficiency of both our current portfolio and new buildings such as the schools improvement programme projects at YGG Ystalyfera and Ysgol Bae Baglan, which have incorporated integrated low carbon technologies into their construction. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our Energy Team will continue to implement money, energy and water saving measures and explore other innovative ways of reducing the amount of energy and water we consume.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anne Meikle, Head of WWF Cymru, added: “We’re delighted that Neath Port Talbot Council is supporting WWF’s Earth Hour again this year. Climate change will have a massive effect on people’s lives here in Wales and around the world. So it’s great that Wales’ local authorities are throwing their weight behind the call for action to tackle it. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Everyone – from individuals and community groups, to schools and businesses – can sign up to Earth Hour by visiting www.wwf.org.uk/earthhourwales and then switching off their lights at 8.30pm on Saturday 25 March 2017.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​