Huge progress towards decarbonising Paignton Library

Paignton Library is going all green—but not in colour.

As part of ongoing work to reduce Torbay’s carbon footprint and make buildings in the Bay more energy efficient, funding has been granted to help decarbonise the library.

Gas boilers will be replaced with air source heat pumps in the roof of the library building, which will be the latest community facility to benefit from this more low-carbon, eco-friendly form of heating.

Other buildings to have benefitted from heat pumps in recent years include Torbay Leisure Centre, the Arid House at Torre Abbey, and Watcombe Children’s Centre Nursery.

The news came during COP29 fortnight when the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Baku, Azerbaijan, took place, and the spotlight was on climate change and carbon reduction. 

The project has been funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero via the Public Sector Decarbonisation Programme for a two-year programme that will be delivered by Salix.

The boilers that currently heat the building are at the end of their service life, and two of the boilers are beyond repair.

Cllr Chris Lewis, Deputy Leader of Torbay, said: “This is fantastic news for Paignton Library and the local community; the new heat pumps will be more energy efficient and better for the environment, saving around 77 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. This will make a significant contribution towards Torbay’s commitment to becoming net zero carbon.

“We are pleased to be able to highlight a number of local projects during COP29, and you can find out more by visiting our website or following our social media channels.”

Steve Turner, Chief Operating Officer, Libraries Unlimited, said: “We are delighted that Paignton Library is benefitting from this grant and can switch to air source heat pumps. We have recently created a Climate Action Plan, so this feeds in perfectly with this. Libraries are one of the original proponents of the ‘reduce, reuse, recycle ethos’—buy’a book and reuse it lots of times!—and we’re supporting lots of other green schemes in our buildings across Devon and Torbay. 

“Over the last year, for example, we’ve held regular and seasonal events encouraging people to swap and exchange things such as seeds, school uniforms, children’s dressing up clothes, and warm winter coats, and we host repair cafes, community fridges, and surplus food distribution points.”

Director of public sector decarbonisation at Salix, Ian Rodger, said: “The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme plays a key role in helping the public sector reach its net zero goals. The heat pumps at Paignton Library will help create a more energy-efficient building, which is

better for the local community, moving Torbay closer to becoming carbon neutral.

“And for those local people who love using their local library, they will now enjoy a more comfortable space.”

The work is expected to start in January 2025, and work is ongoing with building users, police, NHS, registrars, and stakeholders to minimise any disruption to services being provided by the library building.

Locally, through the Torbay Climate Partnership, a range of local public, private, voluntary, and community sector partners are working together to reduce the Bay’s carbon footprint and to help prepare for an adapting climate.