Reigate and Banstead Borough Council save £80,000 from carbon reductions

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council have saved £80,000 by improving energy management and reducing energy bills across their buildings and services between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010.

The biggest savings came from changes to the Council’s vehicle fleet with old vehicles being replaced with more efficient vehicles as they reach the end of their life, and there was also improved insulation, more efficient lighting, heating controls, replacement boilers and improved computers have also contributed to the savings.

A reduction in gas use at Earlswood depot by just under 50 per cent led to savings of £8,235 and 38 tonnes of CO2 per year, and fitting energy efficient lighting in Reigate’s Bancroft Road multi-storey car park saved over £17,000 and 89 tonnes of CO2 per year.

The Council expects to save a total of £390,000 per year to 2014 and £2m by March 2020, with its energy saving investment paying for itself within four years from completion.

Once the cost of energy-saving projects are paid back, financial savings will continue to be made from reduced energy bills.

Among the future projects that will result in significant energy savings is the new Horley leisure centre, which will be a modern, energy efficient building powered by renewable energy.

The Council’s Carbon Management Plan, aims to reduce energy use and carbon emissions from the Council’s buildings and services by 30 per cent by 2014.

The Council has also signed up to the 10:10 campaign, which means that it is targeting a 10 per cent reduction in energy usage during the current year.

Councillor Julian Ellacott, Executive Member for Environment, said: "As a council it is important that we play a proactive, leading role in addressing the issues of climate change and energy security locally and over the next few years we will be making even greater savings as our carbon reduction projects are realised."

Further information:
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council