Council on course to hit its emissions reduction target

AN ambitious target to reduce carbon emissions by 25 per cent at East Lothian Council is on course to be reached by 2014, it has emerged.

The local authority set the five-year plan in motion in 2009 and has achieved an initial fall in emissions by expanding waste recycling and improving the energy efficiency of council buildings.

Further schemes to reduce its carbon footprint include installing heating control measures, increasing the number of low-carbon vehicles in the council’s fleet and making improvements to IT systems.

Councillor Barry Turner, cabinet member for the environment, said: “Recent construction projects for the council, including new schools and community facilities, have been designed and constructed with energy efficiency and CO2 reductions as key considerations.

“Future projects include installing photovoltaic and other renewable energy sources across the council’s buildings and trialling low-carbon and renewable building technologies. The involvement of council staff is essential in helping to achieve our targets.”