Manchester City Council’s IT scheme for helping residents monitor and reduce carbon emissions will launch formally in the new year.

Technology provided by the council will link to energy management systems providing a real-time carbon footprint of a building, helping households realise the financial as well as the environmental benefits of reducing energy use.

Exactly what hardware will be used is still under discussion, but one possibility is the provision of thin-client technology, said Ateh Hatwell, from the council’s digital development team.

“The systems could integrate into local networks, giving green advice such as tips on recycling and energy efficiency,” he said.

The key is to appreciate the educational potential of IT systems, according to Hatwell.

“We want to show how IT can support a wider change within society while providing the means to enable it,” he said.

The initiative is a response to the government’s Digital Challenge ­ which encouraged local authorities to look at how technology can be used to improve social conditions ­ and aims to make it easier for businesses and consumers to change their environmental behaviour.

The scheme is part-funded by the council, and also supported by UK central government and the EU’s e-inclusion initiative.

The plan is part of the ONE Manchester partnership ­ including local councils and the Manchester Digital Development Agency (MDDA) ­ which wants to create Europe’s largest public broadband network for deprived areas in the region.

The aim is to help the city rival London as a knowledge economy, said MDDA chief executive Dave Carter.

“The region will be a pioneer in digital communications, allowing it to compete globally for increased economic investment,” he said.