LIMERICK City and County Council (LCCC) plans to switch off all unnecessary lighting at its offices when not required this winter and will also urge staff to power down their IT and other equipment when leaving the workplace.
In response to a question from Green Party councillor Sasa Novak on the Council’s energy usage, she was informed that LCCC employs the use of Building Management Systems (BMS) in City Hall, County Hall and Lissanalta Hall.
Head of Corporate Services Laura Flannery explained at this month’s Metropolitan District meeting that these systems enable control of office temperature as well as plant and equipment run times.
“Going forward Limerick City and County Council will implement wintertime settings on these systems as directed by the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications, which will aim to reduce equipment run times and office temperature when and where appropriate,” Ms Flannery said.
Since the beginning of 2022, the local authority has replaced approximately 150 fluorescent light fittings with LED fittings in City Hall, and says it will continue to upgrade any remaining fittings over the coming months in order to drive further energy efficiencies.
“The remit of the public lighting section is to maintain and operate the existing public lighting network and to ensure any new lights being installed, as part of standalone schemes and/or developments, meet the necessary standards Limerick City and County Council require.”
The Council’s machinery yard are also planning to trial electrical vehicles for Metropolitan area based operations of light commercial vehicles.
