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28
May
More than 200 solar panels installed at Ripon leisure centre
More than 200 solar panels have been installed at Ripon’s leisure centre to help drive renewable energy at the facility.
North Yorkshire Council commissioned plans to install nearly 1,000 panels at its leisure sites in Ripon, Thirsk and Whitby last year.
A total of 265 solar panels have been installed at Active North Yorkshire Ripon – The Jack Laugher Centre, with a further 149 now in place at Thirsk and Sowerby Leisure and Wellbeing Hub.
Meanwhile, more than 400 panels have also been added at Whitby Leisure Centre, which is currently operated by Everyone Active and is set to become part of Active North Yorkshire next year.
The upgrades at the Active North Yorkshire centres sites are expected to provide savings by cutting energy bills, which can be invested in other key services, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Cllr Carl Les, leader of the council, said:
This is positive news. It is important that we continue to make this county a more environmentally friendly place to live, work and visit.
One way of achieving that is by improving the efficiency of our public buildings and homes by embracing green technology and renewable energy, and we are carrying out significant work in this area.
The installation of nearly 1,000 solar panels at these sites will help us generate energy more cheaply, reduce the amount we pay on our bills, and allow these savings to be invested in other areas of need across North Yorkshire.
The move comes as David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, secured government funding to install clean energy systems in community buildings in July last year.
David Skaith
Funding was allocated for panels to be installed on a total of 16 community buildings across the region following a £1 million grant by Great British Energy.
Mr Skaith said:
Lowering bills and improving our environment means that 16 of our region’s community buildings, such as these facilities in Ripon, Thirsk and Whitby, will spend less on energy and more on what matters – supporting people.
In February, County Durham-based BCS was awarded a £381,281 contract to install the solar panels installed at the three Active North Yorkshire sites.
It is estimated that the panels at the three sites could contribute combined savings of nearly 2,000 tonnes of carbon emissions and more than £2 million in electricity charges over the next 25 years.
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