THE Environment Agency in Worthing aims to increase its green credentials by going solar to produce electricity.
By installing solar panels on the roof of its Guildbourne House offices in Chatsworth Road, the agency hopes to help attain the southern region target of reducing the area's office energy use by 30 per cent by 2011-12.
The agency is also committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 30 per cent.
The Worthing roof power system will generate about 12,000 KwH per year using daylight — direct sunshine is not required.
Nick Berry, the agency's environmental management adviser, told the Herald: "We are using Sharp panels manufactured in Wrexham, and they will not be visible as each panel is mounted on our flat roof at the top of the building.
"We will have a display panel in reception, showing how much power the system is generating."
Planning permission is now being sought for the £65,000 project.
If permission is granted, work will start early in the new year.
Fifty per cent of the funding will come from the low carbon buildings programme, sponsored by the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR).
Mr Berry added: "So far in southern region, we have reduced energy from our offices by 20 per cent, equating to 500,000KwH.
"We are on course in this office to have made 25 per cent reductions by the end of this year."
-------------------------------------
Click here to go back to Worthing news.Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.Email the Herald: letters@worthingherald.co.ukClick here for the Herald staff directory.Want to read this page in French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Urdu or 48 other languages? click here for Google translate.
The full article contains 298 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
