A new scheme that will help public sector bodies in Wales make savings and reduce their carbon impact has been launched today by Natural Resources Minister Carl Sargeant.
The Re:fit Cymru programme, which is being supported by £1.5m from the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme of the EU, will provide professional support to Welsh public sector organisations to help them identify, develop and implement projects that will secure substantial financial cost savings, improve the energy performance of their buildings and reduce their CO2 footprint.
Re:fit Cymru will provide support through:
- Stakeholder engagement to secure organisational buy-in
- Strategy and project development
- Procurement and legal support
- Technical Advice
- Access to a UK wide public sector framework
- Support during project delivery
Re:fit Cymru will subsidise 90% of the cost for these services. Once the project is at a stage to be implemented the Welsh Government can offer zero percent interest finance which will be paid back by the savings made.
On a visit to the Radyr Weir Hydro Scheme in Cardiff, Natural Resources Minister Carl Sargeant congratulated Cardiff Council on their bold, forward thinking attitude to renewable energy generation and energy efficiency, and highlighted how Re:fit Cymru can help public sector bodies reduce both their revenue expenditure and carbon footprint.
Carl Sargeant said:
“We know that public bodies often do not have the capacity or specialist knowledge to develop large projects that will reduce energy use, cut energy bills and help deliver Carbon reduction targets. Through Re:fit Cymru they will have access to the right support to help deliver these projects.
“Cardiff Council has recently been awarded £2.1m from the Invest to Save Green Growth Fund to improve energy efficiency within schools and other public buildings through the Re:fit programme. This is precisely the type of project we are attempting to stimulate through Re:fit Cymru and we are aiming to deliver £30m of capital schemes through this route. We have already had interest from local authorities, a university and health boards and I hope more will come on board when they see what is on offer.”
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