Energetic Council Wins Queen's Award

23 April 2001

Please note: these pages contain archived information. Whilst the details were correct when first published, they may since have 'aged' and some of the information could be out-of-date. For this reason, links in the content of archive news stories have been disabled.

For the first time Britain's most coveted commercial award, the Queen's Award for Enterprise has been awarded to a local authority.
Woking Borough Council has gained the award in recognition of its ground-breaking approach to sustainable community energy systems and the practical steps it is taking locally to tackle global warming.

By using existing energy technologies innovatively and taking a fresh approach to the application of traditional financial structures and legal powers, the Council has developed a number of small scale local green energy systems. These supply heating, cooling, lighting and power to meet the needs of residents, businesses and organisations at an affordable price. Businesses and organisations participating in these initiatives are also exempt from the Climate Change Levy.

Woking Borough Council saves its Council Tax payers £700,000 per year (an average of £20 per household in the Borough) on energy bills. Thanks to its sustainable energy schemes, there have been no increases in energy bills for Council tenants since 1992.

To further these initiatives, the Council has formed a wholly owned Energy and Environmental Services Company (EESCO), Thameswey Limited and through it a public/private joint venture Energy Services Company (ESCO), Thameswey Energy Limited. Thameswey Energy Limited opened its first energy station in Woking town centre in March.

Through Thameswey Energy Limited, the Council aims to work in partnership with other forward thinking local authorities, businesses and property investors, to help them take the lead in sustainable energy and make savings too.

Councillor Mrs Rosemary Johnson, Chairman of Woking Borough Council's Executive Committee said: "We have worked hard over many years to improve the environmental conditions for residents of the Borough and make our contribution to the Government's international commitment to reduce harmful emissions. For us energy efficiency makes economic sense - we want to work in partnership with other local authorities and institutions to help them reduce their emissions and energy bills. Together we really can make a difference."

Sustainable Woking - Background Case Studies

Further Information

For further information and a press pack contact Jane Easton O'Keeffe or Justine Peacock at Revelation Communications on 01483 715757, email janeeo@woking.gov.uk or justinep@woking.gov.uk.