Edinburgh Energy Champions to Save the City £1,000,000
I read in the Edinburgh Evening News that every city council department is to be given an “energy champion” in a bid to drive down costs and save more than £1 million. Mostly the article waffles on about street lights, the use of council vehicles, and closing window blinds. But there, tucked away near the bottom, I read, “our buildings are notoriously bad for wasting energy. One of my bugbears is how we put conservation before energy-saving measures – for example not being allowed to put double glazing into certain buildings.”
Of course, I wholeheartedly agree - that’s my job, isn’t it? What bugs me is that upgrading windows seems to come very low down on the list of energy saving measures, mentioned in the same breath as providing swimming pool covers in schools.
When I read that the authority’s energy spending has risen by 35 per cent over the past three years, from £9.7m in 2005 to £13.2m at the beginning of this year, and that energy costs for 2008-09 are predicted to rise to £14.4m, I can’t help thinking that they would be better upgrading windows now in addition to the planned measures of encouraging people to check thermostats, close blinds at the end of the day, and ensure taps are turned off.
Tags: energy conservation