Douglas Council’s efforts to go green have been recognised.

It has been awarded Unesco Biosphere Isle of Man partner status because of its efforts to safeguard natural resources and reduce energy consumption.

Environmental services committee chairman Councillor Ritchie McNicholl said: ’Sustainability and minimising our carbon footprint are core elements of the council’s corporate plan objective which pledges to improve energy performance and harness renewable energy technology.

’The council is more than half way through the process to convert all the borough’s street lighting to LED units, an initiative which led to Douglas being awarded Biggest Saving in the Public Sector in the 2017 Energy Awards.’

He said the council was also investing in energy-efficient and electric vehicles and was the first local authority in the island to operate a refuse collection vehicle fitted with an all-electric bin lift.

Other areas where the council had reduced its energy consumption included investing in an air source heat pump at Ballaughton nursery to heat the greenhouses rather than burn fossil fuels, harvesting rain water to irrigate plants and council-maintained floral displays around the town and composting green waste for re-use.

’The council is also committed to recycling and responsible waste management,’ said Councillor McNicholl, ’To this end we installed bin sensors in our public litter bins which indicate when they need emptying, so reduces the number of journeys and the council’s carbon footprint.

’Education and changing attitudes also play a large part. The council vigorously promotes its kerbside collection service and the reuse/recycle facilities provided at the eastern district civic amenity site and supports schools’ eco-programmes through talks delivered by members of our waste services team.’

The Isle of Man is the only entire nation to be a member of the Unesco world network of biosphere reserves.

It means the UN agency recognises that the island is a special place for people and nature to co-exist.

As a member of the network, the government has pledged to conserve the island’s landscape, wildlife, culture, heritage and communities, develop its infrastructure in a way that supports the environment.