At Buckinghamshire County Council we are developing our carbon management plan for the next five years.

While we have invested in many energy reduction projects such as insulation across a large amount of the portfolio, the issue of engaging staff to reduce energy is something we now need to focus on.

With regards to buildings energy use we especially would like staff in our offices to buy into the new energy saving focus of the council and ensure that lights are turned off in meeting rooms when the meetings are finished, to turn PCs to hibernate mode when away from the desk for a period of time (meeting/over lunch) and switch off monitors when not in use.

For staff driving during work we would like them to consider whether they need to drive at all to the particular meeting, drive more fuel efficiently and try things like web conferencing. I'd like to know how other organisations have been successful in implementing this sort of staff engagement. There seems to be two barriers:

• Feeling no responsibility on an individual basis to save the Council energy/money
• Having no desire to change ingrained behaviours.

How can these be overcome?

Do you have a similar challenge? Do you feel you’re making progress on this? Have you got some ideas and suggestions for Grace? Please join in and add your thoughts.

Grace will be attending January's 2degrees Live event, 'Raising The Energy Performance of Your Properties', which will take place on 25th January 2013. If you are interested in attending please contact Matthew Eastick on +44 (0) 1865 597 640 or matthew.eastick@2degreesnetwork.com.