SOUTH Lakeland District Council is going green in order to reduce its carbon footprint.

The council submitted a planning application to install a roof mounted 50kWp solar photovoltaic system on South Lakeland House, Kendal.

It will convert solar energy into direct current electricity and pay for itself after eight years.

A spokesperson for the District Council said: “As an authority South Lakeland District Council is committed to becoming ‘greener’ and our latest Council Plan includes a number of initiatives that will help reduce our own carbon emissions by reducing our energy use through management of our land and buildings.

“Part of this is a two year project to identify how we can use our own buildings for solar power and this application to install panels on South Lakeland House is the first scheme.

“It is estimated that, if approved, the panels would have an eight year ‘payback’ once installed. If approved by planning then a report will go to Cabinet in March to award the tender for the installation, which is currently being advertised.’’