Bradford Council is set to pledge to reduce its carbon emissions by 20 per cent.

The Council is taking a lead on tackling climate change by setting itself the ambitious target which it hopes to achieve by 2010/2011.

The Executive will meet next Tuesday, October 9, to discuss a Carbon Management Programme which details ways the Council can reduce its energy consumption, use more renewable energy sources and reduce its impact on the environment.

As well as reducing carbon emissions, the measures will also save the Council money on energy costs in the long-term.

Members will consider a number of measures including:

  • improving housekeeping in all of its buildings, including raising awareness with staff to switch off equipment, recycle and reduce energy use;
  • installing 1,600 timer switches to ensure vending machines, photocopiers, water coolers and other office equipment is switched off automatically when the building is not in use;
  • investigating the use of wind turbines at Bradford Central Library, Wibsey Depot and Richard Dunn sports centre;
  • replacing steam boilers at City Hall and Ilkley Town Hall with new high-efficiency gas boilers and biomass boilers fuelled by woodchips from the Council's woodlands.