Carbon Neutrality & Resilience

In 2019 Glastonbury Town Council’s carbon footprint was 35.5tCO2 due to lightning, powering and heating our buildings, and running our vehicles and equipment. By 2023 we had reduced this by 56% to 15.5tCO2

Five areas of work are continuing to help reduce carbon emissions as well as building resilience:

1. Cut out waste (Reduce) – (Always the first step) Finding ways to use less energy, fuel, materials and water. And to create less waste. Replacing the old boiler with a new more efficient one and improving the heat distribution efficiency with zoning and insulation has cut carbon emissions by 7tCO2(39%). Insulating the listed town hall where possible will help to reduce this further. Petrol and diesel use were reduced by replacing on the old vans with a second hand electric one, which saved 1tCO2. Water is saved by improving toilets and using 5000 litres of rainwater storage for watering plants. 
2. Switch to renewable energy (Decarbonise) – Switching to a 100% renewable energy supplier has reduced our carbon footprint by over 10tCO2, and installing solar panels on the town hall roof will make us more resilient. 
3. Support nature – Protecting and restoring forests, peatlands, wetlands, soils, water, and other natural systems. GTC has planted hedges in Herbies field, plus trees there and around the town centre. This is estimated to have offset around 1tCO2, but is not included in the total carbon emissions cut and needs more investigation. We have also made our planting areas Glyphosate free zones by introducing a new weed control system. 
4. Share (Influence) – Telling people about what works, listening to what they need, supporting community groups, buying local, switching to ethical suppliers and banks, pushing for government support. This website and regular events aim to share our experience and expertise with the wider community.
5. Prepare for the changes ahead – Planning ways to protect the town from flooding, storms and other impacts by developing emergency plans. Support community groups and individuals to cope with coming changes. The Glastonbury Town Deal projects offers many opportunities for this work. By  renovating buildings and adapting services, GTC is protecting them from future climate impacts. By improving communications and support for our community, we aim to help people to cope with our shared predicament.