A COUNCIL has gone green in an effort to promote renewable energy and protect the local environment.

Teesdale District Council has switched to a green energy scheme to power its smaller work sites around the dale through an initiative run by Southern Electricity.

The authority mainly uses hydro-electric power to provide electricity for its work sites, and claims the switch is also saving the council money.

Tony Seaman, director of development services at the council, said: "As a council, we are committed to promoting energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in the area.

"We have reduced all of our utility consumptions - electricity by 6.2 per cent, gas by 3.2 per cent and water by 21.4 per cent.

"The cost savings arising have been used to improve heating equipment and other energy saving measures that will assist us to reach our target of cutting Co2 emissions by ten per cent by 2005.

"The council will look at renewable energy sources for the remainder of its sites when the contract comes up for renewal in 2003."

Southern Electric provides more than half of the UK's renewable energy through its hydro-electric sites in Scotland.

Accounts manager David Paulley said: "Along with other forward thinking local authorities such as Eastleigh, Mid-Devon, South Somerset and the Forest of Dean, I am delighted that Teesdale District Council has joined the growing band of organisations willing to show their green credentials."