Installation of solar panels to the roof of Larkfield Leisure Centre to provide a sustainable energy source
Solar panels are being installed at Larkfield Leisure Centre this week, as part of Tonbridge and Malling Borough council’s ongoing drive to become carbon neutral.
Once in place, the 190 panels fitted to the sports hall roof will allow the centre to generate its own renewable electricity, saving 19 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.
The work is in response to a recent assessment which revealed that around 70 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions from the council’s estate and operations were produced by its leisure centres, with electricity use being one of the largest factors. Energy efficiency at Larkfield Leisure Centre will be further improved later this year with a switch to LED lighting.
The council is responding to climate change challenges by adapting how it works and delivers services in line with its climate change strategy.
Cabinet member for environment and climate change, Cllr Robin Betts said: ‘This major investment in solar will help us reduce our environmental impact and enable the generation of clean and sustainable local energy for our leisure centre.’
‘We want to lead by example and decarbonising some of our major assets in this way moves us one step closer to our ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030.’