A £5 million green scheme to reduce carbon emissions at council-owned homes and buildings in the borough is set to be given the green light.

Dudley Council has been awarded around £2.5 million in European funding and will match-fund the rest from existing budgets. The local authority’s ruling cabinet will be asked to approve the outlay at a meeting later this month.

The scheme will see smart thermostats installed alongside new gas boilers in nearly 1,000 council homes across the borough to cut down on emissions. Buildings such as Dudley Council House in Priory Road are also likely to see improvements to make them more energy efficient. Councillor Laura Taylor, cabinet member for housing, communities and residents’ welfare, said:

"This initiative will improve the energy efficiency of council homes and public buildings, reducing our carbon emissions and helping to tackle climate change.

"Council tenants will see savings on their utility bills and investment in our public buildings will make them more cost efficient to run as energy prices increase."

Work to install the first boilers and smart thermostats is likely to start later this month, with improvements to public buildings set to commence next spring.

The scheme will be discussed at the next meeting of Dudley Council’s cabinet on Thursday June 27 from 6pm at the Council House in Priory Road. Members of the public are welcome to attend.