Council Wins Energy Award

Manukau City Council has won an award in the 2002 EnergyWise Awards and been a finalist in another category. The EnergyWise Awards are sponsored by EECA, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.

The council has taken out an Energy Manager Award for energy-saving initiatives in recent years. It has succeeded in cutting its annual power bill by more than $500,000 through conservation, introducing new technology and renegotiating its supply contract.

The council was also a finalist in the Local Government Public Sector Award, a category which recognises organisations that demonstrate leadership and deliver value to ratepayers.

Promoting energy efficiency is now a priority for the council. City Manager Colin Dale says, "It's only common sense that we look at ways of cutting our energy use and lowering our power bills. It's good for us and for the country.

"We've reduced our energy use by 5% since 1999 and I want us to build on our growing reputation as an energy-efficient council. In addition to the half million dollar savings, we are looking at other measures such as putting in more energy-efficient street lighting that cut our bills even further."

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