David Cameron hopes competition between departments generated by publishing their energy use online will encourage sectors to compete to have the lowest emissions.

Mr Cameron said today (September 30) that an online league table will be updated daily to allow the public to see how each department is doing.

This means an estate of 7000 buildings across Whitehall will be looking for ways to cut energy.

He said:”In May I called for real action to make us the greenest government ever. I made a commitment that over the next 12 months central government departments would reduce their carbon emissions by 10%.

“We have made a start but clearly we can all do much more to show leadership on this vital issue. So today is a clear challenge to Cabinet ministers and an opportunity for the public to hold us to account.”

Mr Cameron said the Home Office has signed a ‘payment by results’ investment and performance contract with British Gas and facilities management experts Amey to deliver energy saving solutions.

While the Department for Energy and Climate Change plans to trial ceiling tiles which store heat during the day and release it in the evening as part of the Technology Strategy Board ‘Energy Efficient Whitehall’ green technology project.

Luke Walsh

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