'Leadership needed' on energy use

Cosla said energy bills did not mirror the councils' reduction in consumption

The Scottish Government should do more to encourage energy efficiency in the public sector, a watchdog has warned.

Audit Scotland said energy consumption in public buildings fell by nearly 5% in the three years to 2007, but price rises saw bills increase by 48%.

The report said public bodies should have clear guidance on how to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.

The Scottish Government said an action plan for the public sector would form part of its climate change bill.

The Audit Scotland recommendations came in a report on energy efficiency, which concluded that the public sector had made some progress but could do more.

Councils and the NHS spent the most on energy, and these bodies have also made the greatest efforts to improve energy efficiency, it said.

While more than two-thirds of public bodies had targets for improving energy efficiency, just over half were confident of meeting them.

With both energy prices and concern about climate change rising, the least that can be expected from the government is leadership Liam McArthurLib Dem energy spokesman

The report said there was no national target, and "very few" local targets to reduce energy consumption associated with transport, by means such as car-sharing and video conferencing.

Auditor general Robert Black said: "Improving energy efficiency can be one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to enhance the public sector's contribution to addressing the challenges of climate change.

"It should also reduce the impact of rising energy prices on public services."

He added: "There has been some progress, and the Scottish Government's publication last week of its draft climate change bill is an encouraging step.

"However, there is still a need for the government and public bodies to give strong leadership to deliver improvements in energy efficiency and the public sector's contribution to tackling climate change."

Sarah Boyack, Labour's environment spokeswoman, said: "What we need to see is more effort into energy conservation, the development of renewables and combined heat and power systems in public sector buildings."

The Lib Dem energy spokesman, Liam McArthur, said the report confirmed the government's "failure to take energy efficiency seriously".

"With both energy prices and concern about climate change rising, the least that can be expected from the government is leadership," he said.

'National contract'

The local government organisation, Cosla, said the report recognised "the great strides" councils had made in recent years, despite longer opening hours probably increasing energy consumption.

Councillor Alison Hay, Cosla's environment spokeswoman, said: "It is disappointing that due to rising energy costs this success in regards to reducing consumption has not translated to a reduction in expenditure on energy.

"But this only further highlights the need to continue to strive for even greater energy efficiency, to reduce costs but also to cut down on CO2 emissions - a key priority for Scottish councils who are committed to combating climate change."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We are already encouraging greater energy efficiency in the public sector through a range of support including sponsorship of the Carbon Trust, our Central Energy Efficiency Fund and the Greener Scotland initiative, Leading by Example.

"And we are using public sector combined purchasing power to procure a national contract for electricity, which could save up to