The local authority is considering turning heating levels down from 21 to 18 degrees celsius in schools, leisure centres, libraries, offices, and other buildings across its estate.
It is also being proposed that the council’s energy team, which currently consists of three full-time staff members, is increased over the next 18 months to carry out site visits and ensure energy is not being wasted.
These are part of 13 energy saving measures put forward by council chiefs to try and reduce annual costs that are expected to rise from £6.4m to £9.7m in 2022/23.
These proposals are due to be discussed at the council’s economy and resources committee next Tuesday.
A report produced for the meeting reads: “The energy cost spike has placed significant budget pressure on all local authorities. This trend will continue for the foreseeable future with much uncertainty and volatility in the energy markets.”
Current council policy is that heating systems are set to 21 degrees celsius, and the heating season runs from September 16 until May 31 each year.
It is expected that reducing heating levels and shortening the heating season to October 1-March 31, depending on local weather conditions, will reduce the council’s energy consumption significantly – but it is currently too difficult to estimate how much money will be saved.
Other measures include introducing an energy champion at each council site, and introducing PC shutdown software across the council’s estate to save wasting energy.
Schools in Dumfries and Galloway are responsible for 50 per cent of the council’s energy consumption, while leisure facilities use up 14 percent, according to the council papers.
The DG1 leisure complex and Dumfries Ice Bowl consume the most energy.
Meanwhile, large high schools and Monreith House in Dumfries, which is soon to be vacated, consume a “considerable amount of energy”, insist council officers.
Paul McCulloch, the council’s property estates and programmes manager, wrote in the report: “Further action is necessary to reduce energy usage across the estate, coupled with development of wider asset management strategies linked to an accelerated programme of property disposals.”
Benchmarking work has been undertaken by looking at Perth and Kinross Council, which has a similar sized estate, and recently created a new heating set point at 18 degrees celsius. Their energy team was also increased from three staff to seven.
