Ratepayers gain from 'greening'

The council is today signing a three-year partnership with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) that will search for ways to slash energy use. Photo / Nick Reed

A green overhaul by Auckland Council is expected to save ratepayers nearly three quarters of a million dollars each year.

The council is today signing a three-year partnership with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) that will search for ways to slash energy use.

Measures already taken at the council's new Albert St premises include a retrofitting with LED lighting, more efficient appliances and a move to laptops which, after just one year, is estimated to have saved $535,000 and brought a 40 per cent reduction in energy use.

The new agreement will include further improvements, a new energy management plan, and assessments and ratings for key council buildings.

The council's chief sustainability officer, John Mauro, said the agreement would offer tangible benefit to ratepayers.

"We're challenging ourselves to sleuth out savings and keep innovating so we can deliver the same or better levels of service while cutting costs."

With an electricity spend of about $10 million each year, the council is one of New Zealand's largest energy users.

Mr Mauro said its efforts would be a powerful signal to other businesses and organisations about the benefits of "greening".