Cutting our emissions

By 2030, we will be a carbon neutral organisation - this is our goal

One of our core purposes is to conserve and enhance the natural heritage of this incredible place - we therefore feel that we should be leading the way in helping to reduce our collective greenhouse gas emissions.

The North York Moors National Park Authority has set a target of reaching carbon neutrality by 2030.

To achieve our goal, we have produced the North York Moors National Park Authority Decarbonisation Plan 2023-2030 that identifies the key actions we are taking to decarbonise our operations and reach our ambitious goal. We have already taken some significant steps such as installing heat pumps and energy efficiency measures at Danby Lodge and Sutton Bank National Park Centres and updating our fleet of electric vehicles (EV).

We recognise that some elements of our emissions are not solely in our direct control and/or will require additional support to achieve e.g. the availability of low carbon technology, decarbonisation of the power grid and downstream supplier emissions. We will seek to collaborate with partners, procure responsibility, advocate for action in these areas or influence positive behaviour where is it right to do so.

We are working closely with the wider National Park family; Defra and our regional partners, having endorsed the York and North Yorkshire's Strategy for a Sustainable Future.

Take a look at our progress, as well as our plans for the future.

North York Moors National Park Authority Decarbonisation Plan 2023-2030

Key milestones / targets

Electricity

• All of our electricity is currently supplied through REGO-certified renewable energy.
• Where appropriate we're installing solar energy generation (National Park Centres, toilets, depots etc.)
• We are working to reduce energy through the more efficient use of IT and electrical equipment to use less and increase the lifetime of what we purchase

Heating

• We have increased the energy efficiency and installed air source and heat pumps at Danby Lodge and Sutton Bank National Park Centres (see below)
• We have a roadmap to decommission our remaining fossil fuel heating sources

Transport- our car parks and facilities

• Our fleet of staff vehicles are all electric
• We have installed EV chargers in five of our car parks (Sutton Bank National Park Centre, Danby Lodge National Park Centre, Hutton le Hole, Newton under Roseberry and Thornton le Dale
• All car parks providing toilet facilities now have Dark Skies-friendly, low-wattage lighting
  • The majority of facilities have been refurbished with internal sensor lighting, water-efficient cisterns, and waterless urinals, significantly reducing water usage
• Solar PV and Solar immersion hot water systems are installed at Hutton le Hole, Newton under Roseberry, Goathland, Farndale, Chopgate and Ravenscar. Further work is planned at Thornton le Dale toilets.

Green improvements at our National Park Centres

Starting back in winter 2022, we've made considerate investment at our Centres to reduce our emissions from burning fossil fuels.

Danby Lodge

• 73 new traditional wood Yorkshire sash double-glazed windows, replacing the old single-glazed units that were draughty and worn
• 65 solar PV panels with battery storage
• Ground source heat pump system with underground pipes totalling nearly 1.5 km
• Single air source heat pump to heat the ‘cottage’ and gallery
• New, more efficient radiators throughout the building
• 8 EV chargers, including 2 accessible spaces
• Dark Skies-friendly External lighting (all LED low-wattage on sensors)
• E-bike chargers to support sustainable travel, powered by the centre
• Automatic doors on entrance to retain heat and improve energy efficiency
• Dark Skies Station has solar-generating roof tiles, powering the building and creating surplus energy for the centre. Plus:
  • Electricity (heating and lighting) is self-sufficient from solar panels
  • timber FSC certified
  • insulation manufactured by UK-based carbon-neutral business
  • Rockwool made in the UK from igneous rock by ISO14001 firm
  • 75% recycled polypropylene roof tiles
  • solar photovoltaics
  • air-source heat pump air conditioning system

  

Sutton Bank

• 177 new thermally efficient glazing units, replacing older units
• New, more efficient radiators
• New air source heating system
• 42 solar panels with battery storage
• Automatic door to retain heat and improve energy efficiency
• 6 EV chargers
• E-bike chargers to support sustainable travel, powered by the centre.