Case Studies and Success stories

Work has recently been completed at Carmarthen Learning Centre to make it more energy efficient and reduce its carbon emissions by 76%. Retrofit measures that include cavity wall insulation, double glazing, and roof improvements have been implemented to improve the heat retention of the building. The Learning Centre is no longer reliant on a gas supply as Solar Panels an Air Source Heat Pump provide energy and heat to the building. Energy efficient LED lighting have also been installed.

Not only has the upgrade works reduced the building's environment impact, it has also improved the comfort and experience for those who work and learn in the building.

To help improve Carmarthenshire’s Authority’s environment and increase biodiversity, the Council’s Rural Conservation Team and Property Department arranged the planting of over 8,000 native broadleaved trees to create 4.5 hectares of new woodland on Council owned land at Tregib (Llandeilo), Pendre (Kidwelly) and Maesdewi (Llandybie). Community planting days, including a day for pupils from Llandybie Primary School, were held at two of the locations.

As trees grow and photosynthesise, they will extract carbon emissions from the atmosphere. These new woodlands will provide new habitats for wildlife and thus contribute to addressing the nature emergency and become places where people can enjoy nature.

Plans have been put together by the Council’s Conservation team, with the help of the Botanic Gardens, for a Tree Nursery and wildlife friendly grounds to be developed in Johnstown Day Centre. With financial support from ‘Places for Nature’ funding scheme, the garden will include an accessible outdoor growing area and sensory garden, a woodland garden, a bog garden, meadow areas and an orchard. Although the project is taking place at the Johnstown centre, it will involve all day services through the collecting and planting of native seeds. There are also plans for a similar project to take place at Manor Road Day Centre. Not only will the garden improve the biodiversity of the area, but it will also provide a safe and accessible space for all to enjoy.

Over many years, across Britain, there has been a huge decline in insects which pollinate our wildflowers, and our crops, also known as pollinators. Carmarthenshire County Council currently is looking at ways of managing grassland that will make it both richer in wildflowers and more attractive to pollinators. Simply by cutting less frequently, flowers that are already growing in the grass can flower and also support insects. There is no need to sow wildflower seed. Last summer the Council experimented with this new approach and it was well received by residents who enjoyed seeing the flower rich grasslands that appeared.

The decarbonisation of heat is the biggest challenge we currently face as the production of heat requires huge amounts of energy. We are extremely fortunate to have been successful in receiving the Low Carbon Heat Grant from the Welsh Government, which saw the installation of air source heat pumps at 6 primary schools across the county. Their fossil fuelled heating systems have been removed, saving 161tCO₂e annually from being emitted into the atmosphere. Roof mounted solar PV was also installed at all the schools to help mitigate the electricity required to run the heat pumps, making the systems even more sustainable.

A Living Wall has recently been installed on Llanelli Library’s façade which has numerous benefits. It has increased local biodiversity and improved the air quality of the town. It also sequesters 23.56kg of carbon annually, which is the equivalent to 6 medium sized trees, whilst also boosting people’s well-being.

Carmarthenshire County Council has partnered with Nappicycle to deliver an innovative project that tackles two major challenges- diverting waste from landfill and sustainable road maintenance. The pilot project on the B4336 at Pontweli saw approximately 80,000 nappies, which were collected by the Council, recycled into fibrous pellets at Nappicycle’s facility in Capel Hendre. These pellets were then incorporated into the Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) surfacing material at the GH Harries plant in Ludchurch, Pembrokeshire. This SMA was then used for road surface improvements. This project is a perfect exemplar of a local circular economy in action as well as more sustainable waste and highway management. Using local contractors has also had a greater impact on reducing our carbon footprint by reducing miles travelled, whilst simultaneously having other benefits like boosting the local economy.