Image source: Aberdeen City Council
Aberdeen City Council has agreed on a working relationship with Microsoft to explore connections with the company’s research projects.
It highlighted the scope to work on technology to help combat climate change, with goals including the development of an app to help residents save on energy consumption to retrofit the council’s housing stock.
This follows on from a collaboration over the past three years to digitise customer processes, introduce chatbots to the council website and bring together health and social care.
Council leader Cllr Alex Nicoll said: "To join forces with Microsoft at a strategic level will ensure that Aberdeen remains at the forefront of digital innovation.
“The agreement reflects our desire to partner the world’s best in not only redesigning services but in becoming a climate positive city.
“The adoption of emerging technology is improving residents’ lives whilst delivering necessary savings at time of increasing financial pressure for the public sector.”
Emissions target
Aberdeen is aiming to achieve net zero corporate carbon emissions by 2045 at the latest, with interim targets of a reduction of at least 48% by 2025 and a reduction of at least 75% by 2030.
Andy MacDonald, director of customer services, said: “We will be even better placed to harness technology to manage demand with respect to energy consumption, giving residents greater control over their own carbon footprint and household spend.”
