Initiatives are currently being taken which will have the impact of reducing Cork County Council's energy bill by over €400,000, this year, with other measures being planned to cut this even further in future years.

Electricity is Cork County Councils largest energy source accounting for approximately 77% of Cork County Councils energy with over 1000 accounts across the county.

These provide electricity to locations, which provide services i.e. water supply, wastewater treatment, public lighting, office space heating and lighting etc. With the remainder of our energy usage being accounted for by transport, machinery and oil and gas used for heating buildings.

Given the Open Electricity Market in Ireland, there is now excellent opportunity for all energy users to shop around for the best value in the market place and this is one of the ways in which Cork County Council will be reducing it's energy costs in the near future, this step alone will net in excess of €220,000 in savings, with a further €180,000 being saved through a meter changing programme currently ongoing on general purpose accounts.

-- Advertisement --

It is also anticipated that announcements in the very near future will allow for further substantial savings to be made in the area of public lighting, which currently accounts for 18% of our energy bill.

The council is also supporting greener and more efficient electricity production, and is currently investigating the potential of producing electricity at a number of sites, following recent announcements by Minister Ryan, which gives an incentive to such practices.

In other areas Cork County Council's energy section are currently rolling out a building labelling programme, which is going beyond the European Performance in Buildings Directive requirements of labelling public buildings >1000m2 by labelling all public buildings irrespective of size.

This programme will also feed into a European project entitled 'Communicate your buildings energy rating', which is aimed at designing a new awareness programme for all buildings users, which will have the effect of further reducing the council's energy use, through education and awareness.

(GK/BMcC)