GREEN Kirklees is beating a Government target to improve energy efficiency in council homes.
New figures from Friends of the Earth show it is one of only three councils in the Yorkshire and Humberside region that are on track to meet 2010 targets for saving energy and cutting fuel bills.
The figures, taken from the Government's environment department website, show the council's own assessment of how much they have improved energy efficiency of homes in their area.
Kirklees topped the percentage poll with a 16.8% improvement, followed by Rotherham (12.5%) and Sheffield (12%).
Calderdale came fourth with 11.2% with Ryedale at the bottom of the table for the region with 1.3%.
The Home Energy Conservation Act, passed in 1995, calls for councils to have a strategy to include energy efficiency schemes.
Work carried out under this Act should lead to 30% improvement between 1995 and 2010.
To be on track for the improvement councils should have managed at least 12% by April 2002.
The improvements have been reached through several initiatives including the insulation and installation of efficient heating systems in council or housing association homes, promoting bulk buying schemes to reduce the cost of insulation to private home owners and advertising the benefits of insulation.
Friends of the Earth campaigner Martyn Williams said: "Some councils are making progress. But so many are falling behind that it is clear the government must do more to help them meet these crucial targets.
"Saving energy in the home is a crucial part of fighting man-made climate change."
