A new era of energy efficiency across council buildings will be launched with the signing of a landmark contract today.

The new Energy Performance Contract, set to be signed with Honeywell Building Solutions, will involve all council premises undergoing an energy review and then having a range of energy efficiency measures carried out.

A review will be completed at over 100 buildings, including schools and sports centres, and will save money, energy and cut the council's carbon footprint.

The Energy Performance Contract guarantees energy performance improvements and will allow the council to use third-party funding to finance energy efficiency improvements such as improvements to boilers and reducing heat loss from pipework.


In practice, the council will first agree to a range of energy efficiency works based on the amount of energy they can save against the cost. Once the works have been completed the council will see its energy bill fall but the savings will be used to pay for the works. Once this investment has been repaid the council will then begin to pay the reduced amount for its energy.

This will also have the benefit of fixing the council's spend on energy (excluding annual rate of inflation) throughout the repayment period.

An eight-year contract will be signed with Honeywell Building Solutions, who specialise in the installation of energy efficient systems, to carry out the project following an EU-compliant selection process.

The contract is also open to other councils, schools or housing associations throughout the UK to take advantage of the initiative on their own premises. If other organisations use the contract then the council will receive a fee.

(CD/JP)