An effort to reduce the usage of energy in St Albans public buildings is set to go ahead with savings of around £200,000
 

St Albans District Council has decided to install solar photovoltaic panels to generate electricity at Verulamium Museum, Harpenden Public Halls, Harpenden Sports Centre and Harpenden Swimming Pool, and solar thermal panels to help heat water at Harpenden Swimming Pool.
 

This is set to make a saving of around £349,000 over a 20 year period and will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 110 tonnes every year.
 

Solar panels have already been installed on the roof of the Council’s offices at the Civic Centre.
 

Councillor Daniel Chichester-Miles, portfolio holder for environment for the council, said: “These measures will generate free energy for use in our buildings, reducing the Council’s carbon emissions and long-term costs.
 

“In addition, the Council will be working with its current electricity supplier to explore the potential of moving to a ‘green’ electricity option for 2013 and 2014.”

The council plans to reduce carbon emissions and expects to achieve a reduction of at least 5 percent year on year from its own operations.

A working party to look at how the council will support the Government’s Green Deal scheme was also discussed at the meeting yesterday (Thursday).
 

Green Deal aims to encourage people to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and residents will be able to access loan finance to install energy-saving measures, such as cavity wall insulation.

Repayments and borrowing costs are financed by the savings in energy bills.