Elected Members Agree £3.35M Investment to Cut Energy Usage in Council Buildings By £0.5M+ Per Year

Elected Members have agreed a £3.35M investment that will cut energy usage across Dumfries and Galloway Council’s non-school and school estate – and save more than £0.5M a year.

Following the investment and associated work, the Council will save £528,000 per year and reduce its carbon emissions by around 500 tonnes.

Yesterday’s (Thursday 8 February) decision follows the completion of Council-wide energy audits that identified spend-to-save measures centring on the introduction of LED lighting and associated controls.

The programme of work – set for completion in the next two years - will see retrofit-LED-lighting and associated controls fitted within 62 school and 68 non-school buildings.

Chair of the Finance, Procurement and Transformation Committee, Cllr Ivor Hyslop said: “Our Council Plan calls on our Council to address the climate emergency and urgently respond to climate change and transition to a carbon-neutral region. This is just the sort of measure we are keen to introduce in this challenging economic climate – not only cutting our carbon emissions but also saving money in the medium- to long-term.”

Vice-Chair, Cllr Richard Marsh commented: “I’m delighted Elected Members on FPT committee have agreed to fund this programme of works. The Council has seen energy prices rise significantly over several years and work has been ongoing to identify opportunities to reduce energy usage. This is one of the measures stemming from that work that will support the delivery of agreed savings reflected within the Council’s Change and Savings programme.”

To read the full report agreed by Elected Members at FPT committee yesterday (Thursday 8 February) go to (item 12): Agenda for Finance, Procurement and Transformation Committee on Thursday, 8th February, 2024, 10.30 am - Dumfries and Galloway Council (moderngov.co.uk)

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