NEWS RELEASE
from Hutt City Council

30 July 2001

Hutt City Powers Down

Hutt City Council is investigating measures to conserve electricity in the wake of Energy Minister Pete Hodgson’s call for 10 per cent energy savings over the next 10 weeks.

Council Communications Manager, Kirk MacGibbon, said that as a first step the Council will turn off ‘beautification’ lights that illuminate things like trees and monuments around the city.

“For example, the lights illuminating the palm trees outside the War Memorial Library could easily be turned off with no risk to public safety,” said Neil Tonkin.

Other areas where the Council could look to conserve electricity would be the illumination of sports grounds used for training.

“Currently the lights at the Hutt Rec sports ground are turned on at around 4pm when the ground is being used by sports clubs. Leisure Services will investigate whether they could be turned on later, provided there is no impact on users.”

“Staff have also been asked to look at their own practices and reminded to turn off office lights when they leave and turn computers off, rather than leaving them overnight in standby mode.”

“We believe as one of Hutt Valley’s biggest users of electricity we have a community responsibility to make an effort and lead the way,” said Mr MacGibbon.

Hutt City Council uses approximately 12 gigawatts of electricity annually, with streetlighting using just over half of this amount. (A gigawatt is one thousand million watts). Other big users of electricity are Hutt City’s pools complexes and pumping stations for sewage and wastewater.

The Council’s electricity budget is around $500,000 per year.

ENDS
For further information please contact:
Kirk MacGibbon
Communications Manager
DDI: 04-570 6940

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