City council to spend £2m to cut energy costs

Leicester City Council is set to approve plans to spend more than £2m on schemes to cut the energy costs of its public buildings.

The authority said 44 properties across the city would be fitted with modern energy-efficient lights or solar panels.

The Haymarket Theatre, Leicester Leys Leisure Centre and Braunstone Leisure Centre are among the buildings earmarked for solar projects.

Historic buildings such as the medieval Guildhall and the Victorian Abbey Pumping Station will get new lighting systems, the council said.

Council-owned gyms, libraries, community centres and office blocks have also been proposed for investment.

The council has estimated the programme will save it £392,000 annually and cut its carbon emissions by 261 tonnes a year.

A council spokesperson said: "The council is directly responsible for around 1.5% of Leicester's carbon footprint from energy and fuel use.

"While many of these initiatives involve significant upfront costs with long return periods - 20 to 50 years - several offer a much quicker return on investment."

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