The Lighthouse - showpiece of Glasgow's reign next year as UK City of Architecture and Design - is the first building in Scotland to sign up for ScottishPower's "Green Energy" tariff, launched today to promote renewable energy.

Green Energy gives ScottishPower's three million electricity customers the opportunity to fund investment in wind and hydro generating plant.

For an additional payment of 4p a day on the average domestic electricity account, and 28p a day for businesses, Green Energy customers will help to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas CO2.

The reduction will depend on the size of the projects funded, but in the case of a typical windfarm, could lead to annual savings of 50,000 tonnes a year the equivalent of taking 16,000 cars off the road. (see note)

Customer contributions will be matched on a £1 to £1 basis by the generators selected to built the projects and an independent committee is being set up to manage the fund and decide how the money is to be spent. ScottishPower is one of the few UK electricity companies to offer an environmentally-friendly tariff.

Green Energy is being launched following a survey by ScottishPower and its Manweb subsidiary which indicated a sizeable number of customers wished to make a personal contribution to renewable energy.

Switching on to Green Energy is among several environmental initiatives pioneered by the Lighthouse as part of a £12.25 million conversion of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's first major public building as Scotland's Centre for Architecture, Design and the City.

It was designed for the Glasgow Herald in 1883 and has been lying unoccupied for the past 15 years since the newspaper's departure to Albion Street.

The building will be a showcase for some of the most advanced energy-saving features ever seen. The viewing gallery at roof level is intended to be self-sufficient in energy, which will be generated by low-profile ducted wind turbines and solar panels.

Multiple-layered glazed windows insulated with argon gas and daylight-responsive lighting are among the other features being fitted to enhance energy efficiency. The performance of the new technologies will be monitored to assess their potential for use on a wider basis.

Funds for this have been provided through the European Commission's THERMIE programme set up to encourage renewable energy strategies in cities. Glasgow City Council and fellow members of the "RE-Start" project, including Turin, Barcelona, Lyon and Dublin, are working together on energy measures to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

ScottishPower's Green Energy complements existing schemes such as the Scottish Renewables Order, which offsets the relatively high cost of renewable energy installations by providing developers with a guaranteed above-market price for their output.

ScottishPower's new tariff will support the company's own efforts to reduce emissions, which range from investment in clean-coal technology at its major power stations, to the development of a renewable energy portfolio which now accounts for around fifteen per cent of the company's generation capacity.

Currently ScottishPower has full or part ownership of eight windfarms and is the second largest windfarm operator in the UK.

Charles Berry, Managing Director of ScottishPower's Energy Supply business, said ScottishPower was uniquely placed in the energy sector to offer a green energy scheme. The company was an experienced renewable energy generator with a well-established customer service infrastructure, including a new multi-million pound utility billing system.

"We believe that 'Green Energy' is an ideal opportunity for customers and other stakeholders who want to encourage renewable energy and we are delighted our first customer, The Lighthouse, shares this aim," he added

Lighthouse Director Stuart MacDonald said:
"The building provides an exciting illustration of how sustainable energy features can be incorporated seamlessly in to the overall design, even within the city centre, and Green Energy also fits in well with the concept.

"In his own work Mackintosh demonstrated a respect for nature and awareness of energy conservation and we are sure he would have approved".

An advice line (0845 272 7000) has been set up to provide more information including on energy efficiency to customers interested in Green Energy.

Editor's note:

1. (from Electricity Association figures based on a modern, petrol-fuelled car with catalytic converter, covering 15,000km a year and producing 210g of C02 per km travelled)
2. The Lighthouse is Scotland's Centre for Architecture, Design and the City.
3. The Lighthouse design team includes architects Page & Park and consulting services engineers Oscar Faber.
4. The RE-Start group includes Glasgow City Council Property Services and the University of Strathclyde's Energy Systems Research Unit.
5. Glasgow 1999 is hosting the most ambitious celebration of architecture and design ever attempted with around 300 exhibitions and events throughout the city.

Further Information:
ScottishPower Press Office
Gordon Laidlaw/ Colin McSeveny:                                 0141 248 8200

Media Officer Glasgow 1998:   Caroline Newson.          0141 287 7106

RE-Start Brian Kane                                                       0141 287 8408