MONMOUTHSHIRE council’s new headquarters is in the running for an award.

County Hall at Usk has been shortlisted in the public sector category of the inaugural Wales Green Energy Awards, organised by RenewableUK Cymru. The building, opened in May, has photovoltaic cells to generate electricity, a biomass boiler for heating and bat and swallow boxes.

Cllr Phil Murphy, cabinet member with responsibility for the county’s estates, said: “This is also good for the pockets of Monmouthshire’s taxpayers as the savings in energy costs will be significant.”

The winners of the seven categories will be chosen on October 9 in St David’s Hotel in Cardiff.