Council staff to be trained to go green at work

Shetland Islands Council will begin training its staff from June onwards in how to work in a more environmentally-friendly fashion.

Specific measures to address carbon consumption in the council’s buildings will also be introduced.

A report on how to assist carbon reduction by staff and within council buildings will go before councillors in May, adding to the carbon governance system approved in March.

The report will draw on a recent survey of SIC staff, which showed a widespread and deep awareness of the need to change attitudes and practices within the council, in order to reduce the carbon footprint.

SIC environment and energy services manager Jim Grant said: “We surveyed all council staff and had an encouraging level of returns. Staff have been reducing their own carbon consumption at home, have made changes in their lifestyle to do that, and have seen the advantages. Now they are keen to see the same thing happen within the council.”

The survey showed that staff felt there were various barriers to overcome before the SIC could become truly green. These included the poor quality of some of the buildings, time constraints, staff attitudes and management policy.

Mr Grant said: “There is a clear message from across the council that wasteful processes have been identified by people within their own service area, and that major savings could be achieved. A number of useful projects have been identified, and the environment and energy unit will provide support to staff and managers to tackle these – notably when it comes to re-using and sharing council assets.

“Some staff feel unable to change things on their own, but the further development of environment management and the implementation of a council-wide carbon reduction programme, will turn staff motivation to change things into empowered action. That will really accomplish something.”