Council's Green Initiative Saves Cash and Emissions

A green initiative put in place by South Lakeland District Council has already started to save money and reduce emissions. Local MP Tim Farron has praised the scheme as "another example of the Lib Dem-run council's green credentials."

The District Council has installed solar panels on its premises in Kendal. The scheme has saved the council a total of £9000 in the last year. Half of this was in the form of lower bills, because of the reduced use of electricity from the grid, while the other half was in the form of payment for surplus electricity sold back to the grid.

The scheme cost £61,000 but is expected not just to pay for itself but to produce savings of £120,000 over its lifetime of 20 years, in addition to saving 300 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Tim said: "This is yet another example of the Lib Dem-run council's green credentials. When it comes to being green, the district council does not just talk the talk, it walks the walk. Whether it is rolling out kerbside recycling or using green energy, the council is making a big effort to make our area more environmentally friendly.

"The success of this scheme over the last year shows that being green makes good business sense as well as environmental sense. Within a few years, these solar panels will have paid for themselves and be making money."