An energy audit of three Council buildings and the replacement of half the city’s street lights will see savings of more than $140,000 a year and a 10 per cent reduction in emissions.

Some 33 energy saving opportunities were identified in the audit with 20 to be implemented. Eight of these were developed into detailed business cases.

Council’s sustainability and better living manager Mike Thompson said it was Council’s first big step in its climate change action plan.

‘‘One of our main priorities was to choose projects with the least return time, projects that would give us the quickest return possible,’’ Mr Thompson.

‘‘We’re talking about energy going up by 10 per cent so we’re trying to just offset that and stay ahead. Primarily though it is about reducing our greenhouse gas footprint.’’

The energy saving upgrades to Council buildings should be done by July 2012 at a cost of $275,000. That will be paid back within 2.8 years by energy savings.

Council can then reap about $97,000 a year in ongoing savings.

Mr Thompson said the ability to include funding from a government grant meant they were able to extend the audit to a host of Council buildings.

These included the Depot, the Aquatic Centre and the main administration building.

The NSW Government provided a 70 per cent funding subsidy to cover the cost of the audit. The audit cost $26,000. Council contributed $8679.

Plans are now underway for similar audits of The Q, the Sewage Treatment Works and the Conference Centre.

Meanwhile a deal with Essential Energy has seen the replacement of half of Council’s 4000 street lights. Council contributed $5873 for their replacement and expects to save $45,000 a year in energy costs.

Essential Energy regional general manager, South Eastern, Phillip Green, said the program was rolled out as part of the Essential Energy’s existing Bulk Lamp Replacement program and presents significant benefits for the Queanbeyan community.

‘‘We identified more than 2052 streetlights that were suitable for energy efficient lighting upgrades in the Queanbeyan Council area,’’ Mr Green said.

‘‘Our contractors recently completed the task of removing the older inefficient lamps, replacing them with new energy efficient fluorescent or sodium lights.’’

Through participation in the program Council will reduce its carbon footprint by about 345 tonnes per year – the equivalent to taking 100 cars off the road.