The local authority is on track to becoming carbon neutral by 2040 after slashing its spending and introducing other green initiatives in the past three years.
An update presented to councillors reveals the council has completed 97 per cent of its action points including carbon emission reductions, energy-saving measures and events.
Highlights include a 12-fold increase in solar panel output.
This, along with other energy efficiency measures, has generated a saving of around £5m on energy bills over the last three years and helped reduce the council’s carbon footprint by more than 50 per cent based on baseline figures.
Meanwhile, the council’s Highway Asset Management team reported a total reduction of over 348 tonnes in CO2 emissions during 2023-24 (23 per cent more than 2022-23).
The team’s use of low carbon materials and adopting sustainable practices during their maintenance programme has resulted in carbon savings as well as financial savings.
Housing Services is now bidding for Wave 3 of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, through the Tees Valley Combined Authority.
If successful, the Wave 3 bid will see a further 1,600 council homes enjoying better energy efficiency with an energy performance of at least C by 2028.
As well as providing tenants with warmer homes that are more comfortable and cheaper to heat, the move would reduce carbon output further.
Councillor Chris McEwan, cabinet member for economy, said: “According to the World Health Organisation, climate change is the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century.
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“This report is a progress update on our journey to becoming a carbon-neutral council.
“Our work cuts across many different areas, and our climate change strategy must mirror this.
“In the past six months, I have met with all of the council’s senior managers to discuss our work and our targets around carbon neutrality.
“I am pleased to say we are making progress across the vast majority of our action points and are always looking at new and innovative ways to further our journey to carbon neutral by 2040.”