Council slashes energy bill
FINGAL County Council has reduced its energy costs by over half a million euro through a series of energy-saving initiatives that have been carried out in the local authority over the last four years. The savings show that Fingal is way ahead of the annual three per cent energy reduction target set out for public bodies and has reduced its carbon emissions by 648 tonnes.
The total energy saved through the Energy Reduction Program 2007 – 2010 is so impressive that it would power the average house for 64 years, make 631 round trips to New York or make 40 million cups of tea. The programme focused on the council offices in Swords and Blanchardstown, as well as Blanchardstown and Balbriggan libraries.
In 2010, electricity consumption in County Hall was down by 24 per cent compared to 2007, while gas consumption was down six per cent. There was a reduction of almost 15 per cent in electricity use for both Blanchardstown and Balbriggan libraries, while gas consumption dropped 12 per cent.
Fingal County Manager David O'Connor said he was 'delighted at the savings we have achieved through simple but very effective energy management'. ' We've shown we know how to used best practice to get best value for money while still delivering great benefits to the environment.' A number of other actions are now underway in Fingal County Council that will improve energy efficiency even further, including refitting existing lighting in County Hall with sensor detection and changes to the air handling unit and lighting at Blanchardstown Library.
