CC’S OFFICE TURN OFF REAPS BENEFITS
(Dec 1-04)

Buckinghamshire County Council has welcomed new initiatives aimed at ensuring the council becomes even more environment-friendly. And it may even start to consistently monitor its impact on the environment by measuring waste recycling, recycled paper use, energy and water consumption and employee travel to and from work.

One special aim is to identify more environmental champions across the council. There is already an informal network of more than 20 employees who encourage recycling and energy efficiency at work.

All employees are recommended to recycle paper and switch off lights, photocopiers, printers and computer screens at night. In fact, a recent “Big Switch Off” campaign led to reduced electricity consumption of 7.5% just on one night at County Hall in Aylesbury. Over the year this could mean a saving of £7,500.

The Council has also signed up to the Carbon Management Programme, which is dedicated to reducing energy consumption and green house gas emissions.

Also an internal report shows that, of the waste paper produced at County Hall, only 32% (20 tonnes) is recycled each year and only 2.5% of paper bought by the council in a year is recycled.

Councillors, too, are encouraged to identify worthy environmental causes when considering how to use their portion of the Community Leaders Fund, which allows each councillor around £250 per 1,000 constituents a year to donate to local causes. This amounted to £117,400 for the finance year 2004/05.