Tameside Council has announced ambitious plans to join other authorities in Greater Manchester in making the borough carbon neutral by 2038.

If it’s to reach that target, major changes will have to be made to the way people heat their homes.

To find out residents’ views, it has launched a month-long online consultation using www.zerocarbon.vote

The tool lets residents find out about low carbon heating methods and choose how they’d prefer to heat their home in the future.

The results will be used to shape Tameside’s plans for reaching carbon neutrality.

The consultation forms part of the Greater Manchester Local Energy Market project, which plans to revolutionise the use and distribution of energy across the region.

Councillor Allison Gwynne, Tameside Council’s executive member with responsibility for carbon reduction, said: “The next two decades are going to see big changes in the way we live as we embrace the move to carbon neutrality. The way we heat our homes will change. Gas will be replaced by heat pumps and further down the line by hydrogen.

“To be successful in any transition we all need to work together. It’s vital to understand how our residents want to see this change implemented, so we need to hear from them. It’s quick and easy to vote.

“Change is coming, and by having their say now, residents can help us decided where we put our effort and funding in making Tameside carbon neutral by 2038.”

www.zerocarbon.vote is a national survey run by the Energy Systems Catapult, an independent organisation which has been established to accelerate the transformation of the UK’s energy system and capture the opportunities of clean growth.

Richard Halsey, capabilities director at the Energy Systems Catapult, added: “Forward-thinking councils like Tameside recognise there’s a need to plan for their energy system to get to net zero.

“To do this well it’s important to engage with the community. People need to be aware and informed to prepare their homes in the right way at the right time to meet our net zero commitments.

“www.zerocarbon.vote is a quick and easy way to help Tameside residents engage in the steps needed decarbonise their homes and local area”.

The consultation will be open until Wednesday 7 January 2022. 

Read more from the Tameside Reporter

Click here for more of the latest news

Click here to read the latest edition of the paper online

Click here to find out where you can pick up a copy of the paper