Monmouthshire County Council's new County Hall, has been shortlisted in the public sector category of the inaugural Wales Green Energy Awards,

The building was formally opened in May this year, and has been recognised by RenewableUK Cymru to celebrate the achievements of the green energy industry in Wales.

Councillor Phil Murphy Cabinet Member with responsibility for the county's estates, said, "Innovative, environmentally friendly design is central to the buildings we commission. We have some of the greenest schools in the UK and now we have one of the country's most sustainable council headquarters.

"This is not only good for the environment; it is also good for the pockets of Monmouthshire's taxpayers as the savings in energy costs will be significant."

County Hall has a range of green features, including photovoltaic cells to generate electricity, a biomass boiler for heating and bat and swallow boxes for the local wildlife. The building also collects rainwater, which is used in lavatory cisterns.

A panel of independent judges comprising Lee Waters, Director of the Institute of Welsh Affairs, Peter Davies, Wales' Commissioner for Sustainable Futures and Chris Kelsey, Environmental Editor at Media Wales, will choose the winners of the seven categories to be announced in a ceremony on Wednesday October 9 in St David's Hotel in Cardiff.

Llywelyn Rhys, Deputy Director of RenewableUK Cymru, said, "This is the first year that we have run the Wales Green Energy Awards and we have been impressed with the quality of the entries. 

"It was good to see such a spread of green energy projects taking place right across Wales and the judges will have a hard job choosing the winners."