Chesterfield Borough Council hosted a visit from the Rt. Hon Chris Huhne MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to highlight the Council's work in installing renewable energy technology to its own buildings.

This is to reduce the Council's and the private sector's carbon footprint in new developments by using renewable energy and through the building design. The Council also uses these examples to raise its residents’ awareness of the domestic use of renewable energy and the importance of carbon reduction generally.

Chris Huhne MP visited Chesterfield a few years ago to see the excellent examples in renewable technology being set by the Borough Council. He visited the latest major private development in Chesterfield - the four-star Casa hotel.

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The hotel, opened in November 2010, has several energy saving technologies including air source heat pumps that divert energy from one zone of the building to another as the sun moves around the building throughout the day. The building design itself uses materials that reduce energy consumption and the low energy boiler system minimises the energy required.

Mr Huhne, Energy and Climate Change Secretary, said: "Chesterfield's a great example of how the local authority and local companies are making the most of the low carbon economy. Chesterfield Borough Council and the new Casa Hotel are putting into practice what many areas are still only talking about.

"Installing green energy is a triple win: it's good for tackling climate change, good for securing our energy supplies, and good for jobs."

Council buildings that have renewable installations include the Healthy Living Centre at Staveley, Queen’s Park Sports Centre, the Tourist Information Centre, the Town Hall and its business innovation centres.

(CD)