COUNCIL staff in Carmarthenshire are going green.

Last year the county council spent more than £3.5 million on gas and electricity bills, and staff are now being asked to play their part and help save thousands of pounds each year in wasted energy.

Little things such as turning off lights and switching off computer monitors can all make a difference.

Employees are being urged to come up with ideas to become more environmentally-friendly.

Many are already recycling plastic, paper and cans, and car sharing to and from work.

Green Teams' are to be set up in all of the council's main buildings.

This would involve a small group of staff who would work together to come up with ideas for saving energy and encourage everyone in their building to join in.

Chief executive Mark James said: "Energy conservation is one of the council's top priorities for the coming year. This makes great economic sense and also forms part of the council's climate change strategy.

"We are all aware of the serious consequences across the globe if we don't do something to reduce carbon emissions the council has pledged to make as much of a contribution as we can.

"We are already taking action to make sure that any new buildings we construct are as energy efficient as possible, and we already purchase green energy' which has been generated from renewable sources.

"Another excellent idea, which came from a member of staff in the housing division, was that in return for council tenants signing up to receive an electronic version of the tenants' newsletter via email, rather than a printed copy, we would plant a tree on their estate from the money saved.

"Although not directly related to energy usage, this is still a really good example of us acting to protect the environment - and reduce costs in the process."