A global energy transition specialist with a Newcastle base has been helping reduce carbon emissions of some prominent North East buildings and organisations.

Equans works with housing associations, local authorities, and other public sector organisations to help their transition to a zero-carbon future, and has helped to reduce carbon emissions from buildings including Newcastle Civic Centre, Newcastle Theatre Royal and Northumbria University.

For each organisation, Equans carries out initial data-gathering before identifying energy-saving opportunities in buildings, car parks and wider sites. It then plans and carries out the agreed works, and supports organisations to secure appropriate funding and accreditation.

Examples of the types of changes made include insulation upgrades, installation of energy-efficient windows and doors, and the installation of electric vehicle charge points.

Works carried out in partnership with Newcastle City Council are predicted to result in a reduction of the organisation’s carbon footprint by 536.88 tonnes C02 equivalent. The project included retrofit measures such as cavity wall insulation and solar panels, while new air source heat pumps will be introduced in the Civic Centre car park.

Newcastle Theatre Royal benefited from secondary glazing, solar panels and air source heat pumps, while its associated car parks had more than 1,000 light fittings switched over to energy-efficient LEDs.

And Northumbria University used funding from the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to reduce its gas consumption, working with Equans to install heat pumps in two of its buildings: the Business School and the Design School. A feasibility study is now underway to look at decarbonising more than 20 more university buildings in the city.

Find out more about Equans here.

Equans is just one of hundreds of organisations helping the North East reach its net zero targets and make a difference on a global scale.

If you’ve a story to share or would like to find out more how you can start your decarbonisation journey, please email [email protected]. To find out more about Equans, email [email protected] and [email protected].