A new carbon-cutting plan adopted by Aberdeen City Council could save the city up to £2 million over the next five years.

Councillors unanimously agreed to adopt the Carbon Management Plan, which sets a target to cut emissions by 23% by 2015 and 42% by 2020.

The plan includes more than two dozen projects which will help the council hit the targets.

One of the deepest cuts will be achieved by the move from St Nicholas House to the new corporate council headquarters at Marischal College, and the closure of Summerhill Education Centre, will together reduce the amount of carbon produced each year by 2,664 tonnes.

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Marischal College will produce just 14.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, compared to the 1,604 produced annually by St Nicholas House.

Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Convener Councillor Kate Dean said: "This is a vitally important document which demonstrates our commitment to carbon reduction.

"We have set ourselves targets in the past, which we have already surpassed. Now we are undertaking a further 26 carbon-saving projects which will help us play our part in protecting the environment and also save our citizens a great deal of money.

"We are showing that we can be a beacon for other large organisations and proving just how much can be done by taking commonsense measures."

(CD)