Taking energy efficiency to another level

Work has been completed to replace the lifts at the council’s multi-storey car park in Hitchin, to help reduce our carbon footprint and fight climate change.

Three new electric traction lifts at Lairage multi-storey in Bedford Road (next to Waitrose) have replaced the four electro-hydraulic lifts which were installed in 1990. The new electric traction lifts are much more energy efficient than the old hydraulic type and in addition have standby off peak and idle modes as well as LED lighting. These new lifts will save around 40% on energy use compared to the old lifts.

Updating the lift system is just one of a number of measures the council is taking as part of our Climate Change Strategy, having declared a climate emergency in May 2019. We have already switched to renewable electricity and green gas in our buildings and installed solar panels to the main council building in Letchworth. We have begun replacing council vehicles with Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs) as and when current leases expire and are looking at providing additional electric car charging points in our car parks.

Councillor Sam Collins, Executive Member for Enterprise and the Arts, said: “These new lifts are brighter, more resistant to anti-social behaviour and they are not only much more efficient, they will also save the tax payer money. I was amazed at how much energy was saved over the previous lifts. Small changes like this can all add up to make a significant change, and that shows how we are committed to our Climate Change Strategy in everything we do as a council. We are also in  the process of commissioning a roadmap to help us meet our goal for the council to be carbon neutral by 2030. Part of our work includes installing solar thermal panels to heat Royston Leisure Centre’s pool later this year, another one of these small improvements that all add up.”

More information: Climate change