Place Partnership has welcomed Richard Hurford as the company’s new Energy Manager.
Richard has an extensive background in energy and sustainability, having previously worked for npower, Schneider Electric and the Greater London Authority. At the London Borough of Lewisham he was responsible for achieving Beacon Status in Sustainable Energy and for becoming the second authority in the UK to have all its electricity supplied from 100% renewable sources.
At Place Partnership, Richard will provide advice to the company’s clients and partners on how they can reduce their carbon outputs, increase efficiencies in their energy usage and reduce costs.
Richard said: “There are 1,400 public sector buildings around Worcester, many of which can be re-engineered to cut cost and reduce their carbon output to create a better environment. Our team will undertake an evaluation of the buildings within our portfolio, identify the least efficient and outline how we can bring them up to standard.
“One important element will be to review bills and invoicing to see where we might be able to generate savings in the short term while we explore what alternative, renewable systems might be appropriate in the longer term.
“This could take the form of a number of different initiatives and products, such as building energy management system, installation of PV solar panels, or utilisation of battery technology to store generated energy for later consumption.”
Andrew Pollard, Managing Director at Place Partnership, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Richard to Place Partnership. A significant part of our mandate is to drive greater efficiencies across public sector assets and Richard’s appointment will be instrumental in ensuring that we are providing the best possible advice to our partners and clients.”
Richard will ensure that buildings are also conforming to the Worcestershire Energy Strategy, which outlines the Local Enterprise Partnership’s aspirations to enhance sustainability across the region.
The strategy outlines three key priorities to be achieved by 2030: reduction in carbon emissions of 50% on 2005 levels; double the size of the low carbon sector; and triple energy production from renewable generation.
Richard continued: “Energy and sustainability combine environment, economy and society improvements, so small changes that we make to the way we live and work can have far reaching positive implications on society generally.”