Solar panels to soon be installed at two council-owned buildings

As part of the local authority’s ambitious plan to retrofit its buildings, South Oxhey Leisure Centre in Gosforth Lane and the council’s head office, Three Rivers House, in Rickmansworth will see from 426 solar panels installed between them, creating 194 kWp.

Once the solar panels have been installed, it will save approximately 30t CO2 and over £25,000 per year on utility costs.

Cllr Jon Tankard, Lead Member for Climate Change & Sustainability, said: “The council has already made huge progress in decarbonising its buildings. At Three Rivers House, we have installed an air source heat pump, solar panels, double glazing and improved ventilation system that has reduced our emissions by 25%. With these new additional solar panels at our head office, we will be reducing further.

“It’s not just Three Rivers House as well. Last year, William Penn Leisure Centre, which was one of our most energy-consuming buildings, saw multiple retrospective upgrades, including solar panels, and now South Oxhey Leisure Centre will be receiving the same treatment.

“I am very proud that we continue to make great progress in reaching our own net zero target by 2030 and inspire others in our journey. We will be monitoring the financial benefits every month and we will share the results in our Climate Action Plan at our Climate Change and Leisure Committee in March and October each year.”

Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Leader of Three Rivers District Council, said: “Climate change is the greatest challenge of our lifetime, and as we see and feel its effects grow stronger each year, it’s important as ever to reduce our emissions.

“We are a small district, but we punch well above our weight in terms of our green agenda to lead by example and inspire others to make changes and fight climate change along with us. It is a huge challenge, but together we can do this.”

You can read more about the previous works at William Penn Leisure Centre and Three Rivers House.