Leading the way towards a greener future

7.34.13pm GMT Mon 1st Feb 2010

Businesses and residents in Northampton are being invited to bring a breath of fresh air to Northampton and join a campaign to reduce the town's carbon footprint by ten percent this year.

Lib Dem led Northampton Borough Council has signed up to the 10:10 national energy campaign that is aiming to reduce C02 emissions across the country this year. As well as aiming to reduce its own carbon footprint the Council will be looking to work with local businesses and residents to help them play a part in saving energy across Northampton.

The Borough Council has made a commitment to reducing its carbon footprint by 35% by 2012. During this time the Council has invested in a number of energy saving projects and initiatives.

This has already seen improvements made to many Council owned buildings, car parks and leisure centres. The council has also produced a Green Office Guide as part of an on-going campaign to encourage employees to save energy, and this is also available to businesses and individuals to download from the council's website.

To reduce carbon emissions further Northampton Borough Council will continue to focus on how the Council can become more energy efficient. The Council also runs the Save It Campaign to encourage employees to help save energy through simple steps.

Councillor Trini Crake, cabinet member for environment said: "Reducing carbon emissions is something we can all be a part of. It is easy to think this does not affect us or is something for the next generation to solve, but we cannot be so selfish.

"We already have a number of positive initiatives running and are building upon our successes where we have been able to reduce our carbon footprint. The next step for us is to work with businesses and residents to see what we can do to support each other in making Northampton a greener town to live and work in."

For further information on the Northampton Borough Council's carbon management programme visit www.northampton.gov.uk/sustainabledevelopment.