Green energy to power Kirklees Council’s buildings and street lights from April 2021.

The council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and has arranged for its energy supplier to switch them the corporate electricity supply to a green electricity tariff for the remaining two years of the current contract, which will last until April 2023.

‘Green electricity’ means that the council’s electricity supplies will be generated from entirely from renewable source.

The impact of using green energy in their buildings, street lights and schools is expected reduce the districts carbon usage by around 17, 250 tonnes which is enough CO2 to fill 3450 hot air balloons.

Once the contract ends, the council will look to secure another green energy contract to help contribute to its pledge to be carbon neutral by 2038.

Coun Naheed Mather, Cabinet Member for Greener Kirklees said: “The council operates over 100 buildings and more than 180 schools, by switching their electricity to a green tariff now, we can make a significant difference to how much carbon we are emitting.

"Green energy uses electricity generated from non-fossil fuel sources such as wind farms, and solar panels. Whilst the change to green energy does slightly increase to cost per kw, I strongly believe that the cost of not changing on the planet outweigh this.

"Changing to green energy is just the start of the council’s plan to reduce carbon emissions. If everyone does their bit we can all help save energy and money.

"Just remembering to turn off lights in empty rooms, switching to energy saving lightbulbs, turning appliances off standby and washing clothes at 30 degrees can make a real difference."