THE council spent £72,000 more on electricity at its current headquarters in its first eight months at Time Square than it did in its final eight months at Easthampstead House.
An investigation by The News found that from April 2018 to January 1, 2019, the authority spent £89,396.72 on electricity at Time Square compared to £17,374.47 in the same eight-month period the previous year at Easthampstead House.
The 400 per cent difference and Steve Caplan, Assistant Director, Property, at Bracknell Forest Council (BFC), told The News that the difference was due to the “differing types of office space” between Easthampstead House and the new council building at Time Square.
He said: “Time Square has a significantly larger floor space compared to that of Easthampstead House which was a naturally ventilated building.
“Time Square is an open plan air-conditioned building with meeting rooms, large open space atriums and a central staircase, so will consume more energy per square metre.
“The building also now houses all central office staff which will have an increased impact on energy costs.
“However, for a building of this type, energy spend is better than the national average.
“Bracknell Forest Council has a dedicated energy manager who looks at energy costs and consumption to save money and reduce pollution.”
In 2015/16, the council spent £66,000 more at Time Square than at Easthampstead House, in 2016/2017 the figure was £69,000 and in 2017/2018 the number was £84,155.
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