Oh yes it's official Local Councils that engage with residents to use the internet as the primary source of information and transaction handling can save the plant from well over 14,000 tonnes of CO2 the equivalent of 5,362 return flight from Heathrow to Malaga every year. How about that?
The Department of Communities and Local Government released new research today in a study report commissioned from independent environmental specialists Best Foot Forward to discover how big a contribution councils could make to tackling climate change by encouraging local people to turn to their website for routine transactions.
The research was based on real life data supplied by Sunderland City Council which showed that increasing the number of online applications for five key local authority services - planning, schools admissions, registrar's certificates, environmental services enquiries and council tax payments, revealed the city council could save 80,000 kg of CO2 each year. Rolled out nationally this is the equivalent of over 14,000 tonnes of CO2
Parmjit Dhanda, e-Government minister said:
"We know that driving to the Town Hall to carry out a transaction uses 20 times more energy than doing it online. That's why it's so important that we encourage people to talk to their local authority through the web.
"The Best Foot Forward study supports Government plans for a low carbon economy and debunks the received wisdom that increases in IT server capacity negate any CO2 savings arising from the Internet economy."
Councillor Bob Symonds, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said:
"Sunderland City Council is delighted to have been part of this study. Delivering services in ways that are efficient as well as environmentally beneficial by using the appropriate technology is a continuing priority for the City Council. With our partners across Sunderland, we have declared our commitment to sustaining and nurturing the city's green, clean, coastal environment as part of our Sunderland way of life."
The report concludes that increasing the take-up of online services can form an important part of a broader carbon reduction strategy in all local authorities, improving their capacity to deliver better quality services without requiring an increase in CO2 emissions.
There are about 480 District and Borough Councils in our country that could make a real difference if they and we (their residents) could move towards greater use of the internet. However there are about 12,000 Parish, Town and Community Councils in the UK, it makes you wonder what a difference they could make to the planets CO2 levels by moving to a greener internet solution.
How about it, are you a member of a Parish, Town or Community Council looking to help our planet, if so contact The Local Channel on 0800 38 986 38 and find out how to get on-line and encourage your residents to use the internet for a greener, cleaner and more up-to-date environment.
The Local Channel is "NALC's preferred website partner for Town and Parish Councils"
A copy of Best Foot Forward's study (with Sunderland City Council) of An e-Government Truth: Potential CO2 Efficiencies from Online Provision of Local Government Services can de downloaded at:
www.communities.gov.uk/takeup.
The independent study was funded through the award-winning 'Connect to your Council' Take-Up Campaign, launched by Communities and Local Government in May 2006 and designed to encourage more people to use online council services.