Cornwall's first Charitable Trust leisure centre is celebrating after its most recent energy audit showed the Centre had reduced its carbon emissions by 146 tonnes, the equivalent of 18 double decker buses!

Carn Brea Leisure Centre Trust, located in Pool, has reduced its energy consumption by a massive 30 per cent over the last 12 months and based on the government's mandatory 'display energy certificate' criteria now operates more efficiently than a building of its size would be expected.

The improvement is the result of the Trust's strategy to minimise its impact on the environment and reduce overheads and follows an investment of £100k from the Trust and £480k from Cornwall Council to upgrade the Centre's outdated mechanical and electrical installations and refurbish the changing facilities.

Alex Clifton, Carn Brea's Strategic Development Manager said "We are delighted that our plan to reduce the impact the facility has on the environment and at the same time cut our costs has been recognised with a much improved rating."

"In a building of this age, we are proud to have been able to make such good progress and are now looking forward to the challenge of making further improvements to our energy efficiencies."

Julian German, Cornwall Councillor for climate change and the environment said: "This is great news! To have achieved such a significant reduction in carbon emissions and in energy consumption shows exactly how the right investment and the right strategy can reap significant green rewards."

Chris Hines MBE, a well known local environmental campaigner, who was awarded the MBE for services to the environment in 2008 is also a former Trustee at Carn Brea and recently visited the Centre to view the new equipment that has made such a positive impact and present the improved energy rating certificate to staff.

Chris said: "This is an amazing example of what can be achieved and should help raise the bar for other businesses and organisations. Everything the brilliant team at Carn Brea do pushes the boundaries and shows what can be achieved with optimism and a can do attitude!"

He added: "Can we make the changes needed to address climate change? With community projects like Carn Brea, I'm sure we can."

The Centre has also recently reduced its water consumption with the introduction of new technology and is now currently looking at further improvements to its energy efficiency with LED lighting, rain water harvesting, voltage optimisation and additional recycling all being considered.

Photograph: Chris Hines MBE (right), presents the improved energy rating certificate to Centre Manager, Barry Holding