Data updates for Highland Council’s Energy Benchmarking Tool

Highland Council has refreshed its Energy Benchmarking Tool with the latest 2024/25 data, making it easier for the public, Elected Members, and staff to explore the Council’s energy use and carbon emissions across its non-domestic estate.

The online tool, first launched in 2023, tracks the energy performance, costs, and carbon footprint of Council buildings such as schools, offices, and depots. The latest update also includes user experience improvements to make data more accessible and transparent.

Councillor Kate Willis, Chair of the Climate Change Committee, said: “This tool gives everyone clear insight into where our carbon emissions come from and how we’re progressing towards Net Zero. By sharing this information openly, we can make better decisions about energy use and identify where improvements will have the greatest impact.”

For 2024/25, total emissions from the Council’s operations were 27,501 tonnes of CO₂, with over 60% linked to non-domestic buildings — a reduction of 200 tonnes compared to the previous year.

The Energy Benchmarking Tool supports the Council’s Net Zero Strategy, which targets zero emissions from operations by 2045.

Access the tool here: Energy Use in Our Buildings – Highland Council