PEOPLE are being urged to commit to reduce energy usage while at the Urdd Eisteddfod.

Carmarthenshire County Council has created a pledge wall at its stand at the Eisteddfod in Llandovery, to encourage both residents of the county and visitors to sign their pledge and reduce energy usage, cutting the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere through the generation of energy.

It is part of the council’s vision to become a net zero authority and on the stand, the council will be providing information about the day-to-day actions that can be taken to help combat the causes of climate change.

Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, Carmarthenshire County Council’s cabinet member for climate change, decarbonisation and sustainability, said: “This week, Wales’ attention is focused on the Urdd Eisteddfod and us, Carmarthenshire, as the host county.

"It’s an excellent opportunity, therefore, for us to showcase our bold intentions to reduce carbon emissions across all aspects of the county in order to give our children and our children’s children a healthy and sustainable county.

“We cannot do this alone. It is no coincidence that we are asking people to support our cause and sign the pledge wall during the Urdd Eisteddfod, which is Wales’ largest youth festival, to focus people’s minds on why and for who we are doing this on behalf of.”

The council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and was the first local authority in Wales to adopt and publish a net zero commitment action plan and is committed to being a net zero carbon local authority by 2030.

The council is doing the small things, taking inspiration from patron saint, Saint David, who the quote is attributed to (in Welsh: ‘gwneud y pethau bychain’) across the estate to achieve energy efficiency.

This includes installing energy efficient lighting, insulation, swimming pool covers, garage speed doors, shut-down software on computers and TRV’s among many more.

LED technology has also been put in town and community council streetlamps and smart meters have been installed across the council’s estates to provide half-hourly energy data to monitor what is being used and establish the carbon footprint.

The council has upgraded its gas meters and is working to do the same on its electricity meters by the summer and will then upgrade all water meters. This work is carried out alongside a number of projects by the council to help with the climate emergency.

Carmarthenshire County Council said it continues to press both the Welsh and UK Governments to provide leadership and the necessary support and resources to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and mitigate against the harmful impacts of climate change, protecting the communities and environment.

The council is committed to working with partners including the government and the public sector, as well as private and third sectors, to harness a range of opportunities to decarbonise energy systems and create innovative solutions to achieve carbon savings.