Herefordshire praised for its green credentials

Herefordshire has been singled out for praise for its progressive approach to trying to reduce the UK's carbon emissions. Minister of state for climate change and the environment Ian Pearson commended the county for its carbon calculator, launched on the myherefordshire community web portal, which allows users to determine their carbon footprint.

The council was the first in the country to use Defra's carbon calculator methodology at community level. The calculator employs the internationally respected AMEE as the operating system, as used by organisations as diverse as Google, Radiohead, the Energy Saving Trust and the UK and Irish governments. The AMEE website has also praised the myherefordshire calculator for its user friendliness.

‘This is just the sort of initiative we are hoping to encourage by developing a calculating engine that others can use,' said Ian Pearson. ‘This will help to spread the vital message about tackling climate change to the widest of audiences.'

The council hopes the calculator will also stimulate grass roots action to tackle climate change, said cabinet member for ICT, education and achievement Philip Price, as it also has links to local carbon reduction action groups. ‘The aim of the project is to use the calculator as a means of increasing public awareness about the environmental impact of energy consumption and then giving people advice on how they can change their behaviour to make a real difference - both to their fuel bills and the environment.'

The council had also met its annual recycling target of 32 per cent four months early, in December. The target will increase to 40 per cent by the end of 2010, and the authority will also extend its kerbside recycling service to virtually every household in the county by the end of this year - up from the current 72 per cent. ‘I wish to thank residents for their great help and support in helping their council meet its targets and doing their bit to keep our beautiful county even greener,' said cabinet member for the environment John Jarvis. ‘Recycling is now becoming part of everyday life for most people in Herefordshire.'