Wandsworth hits green target

8:36am Friday 19th October 2007

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Going green has saved Wandsworth Council £700,000 and 11,000 of carbon emissions in the past year.

Announcing the council had met it green energy target three years early, executive member for environment Malcolm Grimston said the carbon cut was equal to the greenhouse emissions from about 3,200 homes.

The carbon savings had been found by switching to green energy suppliers for more than half the council's power and reduced consumption.

A computerised energy management system has cut energy usage by 23 per cent at five estate boiler houses, automatically changing settings to match the weather.

The combined energy savings since 2006 have cut about £700,000 a year off the council's £6million energy bill, Coun Grimston said.

The council is also using 20 per cent less water than three years ago, mainly the result of the new Battersea Park borehole supplying the park's fountains.

"More and more people are ready to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle and they expect their local council to lead by example," Coun Grimston said.

"That means getting our own house in order and encouraging others to do the same with their own environmental commitments.

"Within the town hall we are training staff to develop their awareness of new approaches to energy reduction both at work and at home.

"Every year the task will get tougher so we need to be constantly identifying new initiatives that can keep us ahead of the game."

The council set itself the target of cutting emissions by 20 per cent over 20 years to 2010. That was raised in 2005 to 25 per cent but the target has now been reached.

• Is a 25 per cent emission cut enough? Let us know what you think, and any green suggestions, in the comments section below.