Green award for council chiefs (From Echo)

Green award for council chiefs

12:19pm Wednesday 30th November 2011 in Southend

WATER-SAVING devices in schools and an electric street sweeper have helped to win council bosses in Southend a green award.

Southend Council picked up an International Green Apple Environmental prize for its Looking for Carbon programme.

The scheme has saved £20,000 a year by reducing energy bills and installing energy-saving devices in 48 schools.

The electric street sweeper, which was introduced earlier this year, saves the equivalent of the carbon output of 40 cars.

Tony Cox, the Tory councillor responsible for waste and transport, said: “The Looking for Carbon initiative is prompting a whole range of activities within and beyond the council which not only help reduce carbon emissions, but are also saving considerable sums of money too.”