Chris Huhne

Chris Huhne supports Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service going from red to green!

Local MP Chris Huhne showed his support for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service’s commitment to the environment at a recent visit to the Service’s Headquarters in Eastleigh.

At a meeting with Chief Officer John Bonney, Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne was presented with the Service’s polices and plans that outline its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint through a range of new measures. Protecting the environment is one of the Service’s five priority areas.

In April, the Service showed its commitment to the environment, with the opening of its new ‘green’ fire station in Winchester. The new station benefits from some proven eco-friendly technology including; ground source heat pumps, rainwater harvesting, solar panels for water heating, and photovoltaic panels for power generation.

The Service has also achieved a 30% reduction in the number of fires (compared with its 2008 baseline) which has contributed to reducing its carbon footprint. Fewer fires means less travel, and this means less damage to the environment.

Chris Huhne MP said, “Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service have always been good at putting out fires – and hence cutting carbon. Now they are going a step further to cut their emissions while they work.

I’m delighted that the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service have taken a lead on this issue. This shows that by prioritising environmental concerns, cutting your carbon footprint and making your organisation more energy efficient, you can save money while going green.”

Chris added, “Not only this, but the service has managed to reduce the number of fires over the last 4 years by nearly a third – a fantastic achievement! Eastleigh and Hampshire can be very proud of its fire and rescue service.”

Chief Officer Bonney said, “Despite the challenging financial climate we currently face, we want to make sure the environment does not suffer and we remain committed to reducing our carbon footprint. The environment remains one of our five priority areas for the next five years and we will look to reduce our carbon footprint through a number of measures. It is important to note that while some of these measures, including the new windows in our buildings across the Service, cost money they will reduce our energy consumption and therefore our outgoing costs. The opening of our ‘green’ Winchester Fire Station is a striking example of our commitment to ‘going green’ and we will continue to look for opportunities like these in the future.”