In the week Birmingham hosts the 4th National Science Cities Summit an innovative energy scheme will be launched to drastically cut carbon emissions from many of the City's most famous buildings.

The launch is set to be officially opened on Thursday November 15 by Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, Paul Tilsley.

A joint initiative between Birmingham City Council and Utilicom Ltd, with the support of The NEC Group, the Broad Street City Centre Energy Network will use a fuel-efficient technology known as Combined Heat and Power (CHP) to provide chilled water for air conditioning, electricity and hot water for heating to major buildings in and around Broad Street and Victoria Square.

Powered from a special generator based within The ICC the network will distribute energy via a system of insulated pipes which have already been laid one metre below the ground in the area.

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Unlike traditional forms of energy production which are typically only 30 per cent efficient, meaning they release more energy into the environment than they actually produce, the CHP scheme will achieve an efficiency rating closer to 80 per cent. This will both dramatically reduce carbon emissions by 2,800 tonnes in its first year and provide significant savings in energy bills for buildings connected to the network.

Cllr Tilsley said: "While lots of cities are quick to talk the talk about climate change, in Birmingham we actually deliver on our promises and are actively implementing ground breaking initiatives which are among the most forward thinking in the UK.

"The figures on the improved energy efficiency of CHP schemes speak for themselves, that's why I'm delighted that so many major civic and privately owned buildings are now connected to the network. With our partner, Utilicom we are already planning more schemes of this type for The Eastside area."

"This event is just one of the ways we are highlighting Birmingham as a leading Science City, and we are proud to be the host of the 4th National Science Cities Summit at the ICC (15-16 November). We have invited both public and private sector organisations from the other five Science Cities to share their innovative working practices, and see for themselves Birmingham as an exciting working Science City."

The CHP network will be managed by the Birmingham District Energy Company, a specially created organisation owned by the Utilicom Group, the UK's leading developer and provider of community and district energy schemes.

(JM)