Dublin City Council is spending almost €3,000 every hour on energy, an environmental expert said today.
Dr Gerry Wardell, director of energy agency Codema, said the capital must reduce its carbon emissions by a third over the next decade to counter the effects of climate change.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed today that Ireland exceeded Kyoto limits by more than 10 per last year.
"It is not good news but we can stop it and reverse it," Dr Wardell said.
"We must be proactive and reverse the train which is coming down the track."
Dr Wardell said the city's council energy bill totalled €20 million last year, with this figure set to rise to €25 million, or €2,850 every hour, this year.
This bill includes street lighting, water pumping, power for the local authority's offices, and fuel for its 1,400-strong vehicle fleet.
The city has set itself a target of reducing its current CO2 emissions by 50 million tonnes by 2020.
"The economy and the environment can support each other," he said.
"It's about putting people and health, as well as wealth, at the centre of the picture."
DCC, which owns Codema, has already invested in a number of initiatives such as sustainable local authority apartments at York Street in the city centre and the use of hydro power at the Roundwood reservoir.
Dr Wardell said a two-pronged approach of reducing energy consumption and sourcing alternative forms of energy must be adopted.
"It's about switching off lights and computers, working from home or taking the bus, and putting in new lightbulbs.
"But we also need to start investing in renewable sources of energy."
Dr Wardell was addressing local authority delegates at the Climate Change Conference organised by DCC.
PA