Green Building Store has just produced some new resources to help householders undertake low energy refurbishments for typical older and hard-to-treat homes. The resources have been developed as part of the MASTT (Marsden & Slaithwaite Transition Towns) Warmer Homes project in partnership with Connect Housing, and have been funded by DECC.

The project has used the low energy Passivhaus methodology to explore low energy approaches to two home types – a Victorian mid-terrace and 1940s semi-detached home – in the Colne Valley, West Yorkshire. Energy-efficient strategies were developed for each of the homes – at three different budget levels – demonstrating the level of improvements that are possible (with 90% projected savings in one case).

The free ‘Warmer Homes’ resources include two films and a 12 page booklet and also cover:

• The importance of a ‘fabric first’ approach before installing bolt-on micro-renewables.
• The need for the key principles of insulation, airtightness, continuity of insulation and ventilation to work together to achieve effective low energy refurbishments.
• Guidance on developing a ‘whole house plan’ when undertaking any home energy improvements, so that incremental improvements (eg improving the energy efficiency of a single room) are put in the context of the future plan for the whole house.
• Advice on ventilation strategies when improving the airtightness of homes – ranging from extractor fans and trickle vents to MVHR (mechanical ventilation with heat recovery) systems – depending on the level of airtightness.
• Low-cost suggestions for improving heating and lighting efficiencies.
• Sources of funding, including retrofit mortgages and the Green Deal.

Chris Herring, Director of Green Building Store, commented: “We have a huge challenge in the UK to start refurbishing our homes for energy efficiency, and I hope the Government’s Green Deal, when introduced later this year, will increase interest in this. Our Warmer Homes resources will help householders make well-informed decisions for improving their homes, based on best practice building principles.”

The free Warmer Homes resources are available to view/ download at www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk

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Bristol-based wholefood manufacturer and distributor Essential Trading has invested £100,000 in a new solar PV electricity system from Solarsense at its Fishponds warehouse in its latest effort to minimise its impact on the environment.

Essential Trading is an ethical company committed to the welfare of the planet. The installation of solar power panels at its factory HQ in Fishponds is the next logical step for this business that is keen to harness all environmentally friendly advances in technology.

Essential chose Backwell-based Solarsense to supply its 44.64 kWp system that comprises 186 solar photovoltaic panels mounted on the roof of its warehouse.  The solar PV (photovoltaic) technology captures the clean, natural energy of the sun.  When the sun hits the panels, it creates an electrical field within the layers of the panels.  This electrical field is converted to AC (usable) electricity and is taken up by the various demands for electrical power within the factory, warehouse and offices.

Essential is paid 32.9p/kWh for all electricity that is generated and is then free to use this energy. Any surplus electricity is then exported onto the grid and Essential is paid 3.1p/kWh for this.

The solar PV at Essential Trading will generate an estimated 38000 kWh of electricity per year.  This represents a saving of approximately 513 Tonnes of CO2 over the 25 year life of the FIT (Feed in Tariff – the Government scheme where businesses and home owners are rewarded if they invest in renewable electricity).  The cooperative borrowed the money to fund this project from ethical bank Triodos.  With the Government’s Feed in Tariff, the cash generated from the system will mean it pays for itself during the 10-year loan payback period and will thereafter be a source of income.

“We are delighted to have our solar power panels up and running now after all the months of planning,” says Eli Sarre, marketing manager for Essential Trading.  “We strive to produce the most sustainable food and non-food products and check the source of each ingredient rigorously,” she says.  “So it makes perfect sense for us to tap into the world’s source ingredient for life – the sun – to power our business naturally.”

About Essential Trading

Essential Trading is a worker co-operative established in 1971 and based in Bristol.  The company wholesales, manufactures and distributes organic wholefoods across the UK and internationally and has over 6,000 lines of healthy options, quality nutrition and ecological products.  80% of its products are certified organic and all are vegetarian or vegan.  An increasing number are fairtrade and gluten-free, thus able to meet the changing ethical and dietary demands of consumers today. With a turnover of approximately £12 million and employing around 85 people, Essential is one of the largest successful worker co-operatives in the UK.

www.essential-trading.coop

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Introduced in 2008; Display Energy Certificates (DEC) were originally required in all public sector buildings/offices larger than 1000m2; that are frequently visited by the public. DECs were not made compulsory for private sector property.

The aim of the DEC is to display the rate of the operational energy efficiency and performance of a building, rating from A to G, they should be prominently displayed where all public visitors will be able to see them. There are large financial penalties for failure to display a DEC at all times, in a prominent place.  For example, a maximum fine of £5,000 may be imposed dependent on the nature of the breach of regulations.

With the government’s plan for delivering a low carbon construction and building services sector being broadly welcomed by the industry; the Low Carbon Construction Innovation and Growth Team (IGT), led by chief construction adviser Paul Morrell have proposed several recommendations to green construction.  One of which is to create an existing homes hub that will monitor and enforce the mandatory use of DECs in all public sector buildings, not just those that are larger than 1,000 m2.   In May 2011 Construction Minister, Mark Prisk, hinted that the government would back this recommendation and ensure DECs were rolled out.

The UK Government target of an 80% cut in carbon emissions by 2050 (as outlined in The Climate Change Act 2008) has the full commitment of the independent Committee on Climate Change, who has suggested that we should be reaching the 50% point by 2025.

A barrier to the construction industry lowering their carbon emissions has been the issue of there not being a common method or rating system for the measurement of operational energy use in all non-domestic buildings: if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.

DECs provide data on how a building is performing which is essential to allow the design and implementation of an effective energy reduction strategy. Savings of between 5 and 30% can be made through simple, low cost changes to the way a building is managed and occupied, and mandatory ratings based on actual energy use, are a crucial first step.

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) along with the UK Green Building Council supports the wider roll out of DEC.  CIBSE’s Technical Director, Hywel Davies, states that “There is now a clear industry consensus around making more use of Display Energy Certificates to identify potential energy and cost savings”.

The Energy Bill, according to the Government, “has been designed to provide for a step change in the provision of energy efficiency measures to homes and businesses”. In order to achieve that aim, we need to know how much energy is being used in the first place.

A mandatory roll-out of DECs would address this in a way that would bring significant economic, as well as environmental, benefits.  In fact, some large property companies have chosen to carry out DECs on their buildings as part of their sustainability strategy and out of choice. These companies found that DECs can help provide them with information on which to base investment decisions.

The Energy Bill to recognise the benefits of DECs for all

DECs also provide a common methodology for measuring energy efficiency in buildings and could therefore also form the basis for monitoring other property-related policies, such as the Carbon Reduction Commitment and the Green Deal for Business and in the long term reducing the overall cost of compliance.

Corporations have championed the efforts of Conservative MP, Zac Goldsmith, to amend the Government’s Energy Bill.

Goldsmith tabled a new clause, named clause 22 and published in June 2011, which would see all commercial buildings require Display Energy Certificates (DECs) – A-G ratings for energy performance – a requirement which currently only applied to public buildings of more than 1000m2.  Zac Goldsmith states his intentions of the new clause: “mandatory A to G ratings are the crucial first step in helping businesses understand how to reduce their energy use”.

Buildings are responsible for over 40% of the UK’s total carbon emissions, with non domestic buildings accounting for 17%.  In addition, it is estimated that 75% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 have already been built, which means that we must take action to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emission from existing buildings.

Whilst the carbon plan published in March 2001 includes a commitment to extend DECs to commercial buildings by October 2012, in order to fulfil that commitment the Energy Bill must be used to introduce the necessary enabling legislation, giving the Secretary of State the power to extend DECs through regulations.

The UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) fears that if the Energy Bill is not used to introduce DECs they will not be adopted in time be able to reach the Government target, outlined in The Climate Change Act 2008, of reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2025 and by 80% by 2050.

Paul King, Chief Executive of the UK Green Building Council supports clause 22 and said: “there is widespread business support for the extension of DECs to commercial buildings because they help companies save money on energy bills and they provide a level playing field for comparing the market. This is an ideal opportunity for Government to fulfil the commitment it gave in March.”

Going a step further, members of the UK property industry also support clause 22 and have asked for the Energy Bill to include legislation for the roll out of DECs for all buildings.

Commercial property agents Colliers International have also signed up to support the amendment to the Energy Bill. In addition, International Sustainability Recruitment Consultancy, Allen & York, who specialise in recruiting for the energy and building services industry also suggest that “rolling out DECs to all public buildings could provide better data on energy use in non-domestic buildings. This information enables better building management and results in energy, carbon and financial savings”. Nikki Clark, Senior Recruitment Consultant, Energy Management – Allen & York

To conclude, the roll out of DEC’s for all commercial buildings will aid the increase of workplace efficiency and cut carbon emissions – therefore making a significant step towards The Climate Change Act 2008 targets of a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2025.

There is substantial business support for the roll out of clause 22 in The Energy Bill and in regards to the progress within government; a Report is initially required in order to draft legislation and procedures that will enable the roll out of DECs for all.

Allen & York are a leading international Sustainability Recruitment consultancy, offering jobs in Environment, CSR & Sustainability, Renewable Energy and Carbon Management, plus Health and Safety Management. For more information, please visit www.allen-york.com

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When you buy something that is set to benefit you over a period of years, you want to make sure you can trust the company you are buying it from. With regards to solar PV, it is important to make sure that your installer is MCS certificated.

What is MCS certification?

Good question! MCS stands for Microgeneration Certification Scheme and registered companies have to prove their commitment to quality and pass a set of rigorous assessments. The scheme is recognised in many countries all over the world and is universally known as something that marks a company out as being of a very high standard.

How does the MCS certification benefit me?

Getting your solar panels installed by an MCS registered company means that you are guaranteed immense quality and a very high standard. Because it promotes quality assurance, customers can rest assured in the knowledge that their installer is committed to excellent quality and results.

One solar PV installer that is MCS certificated and better than the rest is The Energy Conservation Group.

Who is The Energy Conservation Group?

The Energy Conservation Group is a solar PV installer based in the sunny county of Dorset. They are passionate about providing customers with installations of the highest quality. Because they choose the components very carefully, they can offer an amazing 12 year guarantee on their installations. This shows their commitment to quality and excellent customer service.

TECG will also monitor your installation and

notify you of any issues immediately.

They do not forget you once they have installed your system and will be there for help, advice and reassurance when you need it.

Contact them now at http://www.tecg.co.uk.

The Energy Conservation Group is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

First published on the YouGen blog.

For many, fireplaces are the embodiment of the British household, with the hearth taking pride of place in the home. With the advent of climate change awareness, people are looking to reinstate period features such as these, whilst using an appliance that is efficient, economical and environmental.  This explains why wood pellet stoves are enjoying a growth in popularity; but what should you be looking for as a potential buyer?

1. Temperature Control
One thing we love about pellet stoves is their controllability. You can set the temperature with a precision approaching that of a gas or oil heating system. Unlike most traditional room heaters, pellet stoves have an electronic thermostat which can be set with an impressive degree of accuracy.

2. Self-Ignition
Most pellet stoves will have the ability to self-ignite, turning themselves on and off as required. This is not done by the owner, but instead via an inbuilt computer that regulates its operation. This means that the stove functions independently, with minimal user intervention needed.

3. Fuel Feed System and Burn Time/Duration
Pellet stoves are fed from an integral fuel hopper (see image) by a motorised feeding screw which supplies fuel to maintain the small fire that heats the room. The size on the stove’s integral hopper in relation to the rated heat output of the stove will determine how often the appliance needs refilling. This is commonly referred to as the burn time and is sometimes quoted for the stove’s full output (the shortest burn time) and the stove’s minimum output (the longest burn time). In reality, the frequency of refilling will lie in between these two figures as heat demand will vary on a daily basis.

Some systems allow for this integral hopper to be filled automatically from a larger main store of fuel. Sensors in the appliance tell an auxiliary feed system that it needs topping up and it is then refilled accordingly. External fuel stores do require additional space so may not be suitable for everyone. However, this does mean that refilling is done automatically with larger stores holding enough fuel for a whole season.

4. Efficiency
As with all solid fuel appliances, greater efficiency means lower running costs and reduced environmental implications as well. You should always look for an appliance that is going to deliver the efficiency you require.  A typical pellet stove will operate at a gross efficiency of around 80%. We have a guide where you can compare the efficiencies of various appliances.

5. Storage
If you are planning to invest in this stove type, then you should be aware that correct storage of pellets essential. Pellets will absorb lots of moisture from the surrounding air and from damp on floors and walls. Bagged or loose pellets should be stored in an environment that protects against this. Wet pellets will damage appliances.

First published on the YouGen blog. For more information on renewable energy, please visit the YouGen website.

About the author: Laurence Jones is an energy expert at YouGen and marketing support officer at HETAS

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First published on the YouGen blog

Q: I just received a call from Anglian (0845 296 9668) who were offering an incredible 40% discount on their products. They were claiming you don’t need direct sunlight for solar PV, only daylight and that PV can be placed on a north facing roof. Is there someone who I could complain to, as I know that less aware people would believe their mis-selling.

A:  It’s interesting that this question came in on the same day that Which? published it’s latest investigation into the sales of solar panels. Anglian was one of the companies it names and shames.

Your first port of call for dodgy sales techniques for solar panels and other renewable energy technologies is the REAL Assurance Scheme Consumer Code, which all MCS accredited installers must sign up to. This covers all aspects of the installation before, during and after the contract. Mis-selling, and offering discounts if you sign-up on the day are both things that are covered in the code.

There is a section on the website about how to complain. You can either download a pdf form, or fill in an online form. There’s a rather convoluted flow chart on the page which shows you how your complaint will be dealt with.

There is currently a small loophole that allows sales companies to sell on behalf of MCS accredited installers without being members of REAL. This loophole is about to be closed. It is still worth reporting mis-selling by these companies to REAL, although they probably don’t have as much power over companies that aren’t a member of the scheme.

If that doesn’t bring you any joy, you can report the company to trading standards: enter your postcode here to find your local branch.

Misleading advertising can be reported to the Advertising Standards Authority, but I’m struggling to find an equivalent for dodgy telephone selling. So give REAL a try, and do let us know how you get on.

First published on the YouGen blog

About the author: Cathy Debenham, Founder of YouGen – Renewable energy made easy.

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Green Building Store’s new Ecoplus³ range of windows & doors launched today (Thursday 30th June 2011) aims to meet the energy efficiency requirements of 2050 and beyond and comes with ultra efficient triple glazing as standard. Ecoplus³ also aims to systematically address the environmental impact of window manufacture, through use of FSC Pure timber, natural timber finishes, boron preservatives and UK manufacture.

Ecoplus³ is the third evolution of Green Building Store’s Ecoplus range since its launch in 1995, and is the most energy efficient Ecoplus range yet, with whole window U values as low as 0.86 W/m2K. Not surprisingly, Ecoplus³ triple glazed windows have also achieved an ‘A’ energy-rating in the BFRC energy rating scheme. Ecoplus has been at the cutting edge of sustainable window design for over 15 years. In 1995 it pioneered the use of safer boron timber treatments and, in 2005, was the first UK manufactured range of windows to be made using FSC Pure 100% timber.

According to Chris Herring, Green Building Store Director and designer of the Ecoplus³ range:
“Ecoplus³ is one of the most energy efficient oak or pine timber window & door ranges made in the UK and offers a unique environmental specification. Ecoplus³’s elegant outward-opening window design also works well in either traditional or contemporary settings, offering a beautiful and sustainable solution for retrofitting homes to low energy standards.”

Buildings can lose 10-25% of their heat through windows but this can be considerably improved through use of energy efficient glazing. Green Building Store believes that only triple glazed windows and doors will be the correct specification to complement the necessary super insulation measures which the existing housing stock needs to address the threat of climate change.

As well as offering high thermal performance, the Ecoplus³ range combines a number of  sustainable features. Ecoplus³ is handmade in Green Building Store’s Yorkshire workshops to high standards of quality and durability, using FSC Pure engineered pine or oak. Ecoplus³ is also treated with inorganic boron-based mineral salts, widely recognised as the safest and most environmentally benign treatment available.  It is then finished with OSMO natural plant based finishes, which are so safe they have been deemed safe enough to use on children’s toys (safety standard EN71).

As a special introductory offer, Green Building Store is offering 10% off all Ecoplus³ orders placed before 15/08/11. For more information on Ecoplus³ or for a FREE quote,  contact Green Building Store’s Ecoplus³ department on 01484 463336 or email: emma@greenbuildingstore.co.uk.

As a special introductory offer, Green Building Store is offering 10% off all Ecoplus³ orders placed before 15/08/11.

Green Building Store is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

First published on the YouGen blog

“Where should I put my air source heat pump? is a question I am often asked.

I reply “where would you like to put it?” and nine times out of 10 it can be installed where the enquirer had hoped it could.

So let’s look at the basics to give us some ideas of where we can, and cannot, position our air source heat pump.

Rule No.1

An air source heat pump (ASHP), as it’s name suggests, requires air as its source of heat. So rule number 1 is position the unit where it has an ample supply of ambient (outdoor) air.

Note I mention ambient air. If you were to position your ASHP in the loft, garage or some other internal space you would effectively turn that space into a cold room (freezer); as the heat pump takes the same air and keeps cooling and cooling it until the temperatures slumped to levels where it was impossible for the heat pump to extract heat effectively.

Rule No.2

When having your ASHP installed always consider that, in that unlikely event that your unit should require attention, there is adequate access for a service engineer to take a look at it, without having to resort to expensive scaffolding or other access equipment.

So enough of rules and on to recommendations!

Ground Level or suspended?

Where ever possible I would recommend placing the unit on the floor immediately outside the property similar to the unit shown above. This has two major benefits: first, the pipework on the exterior of the house is kept to a minimum, thus avoiding increased heat loss. Secondly, any service or maintenance work is easily and comfortably executed.

I should also mention that if you are placing the unit on the floor, ample allowance should be made to ensure any ice caused by the defrost cycle in sub zero temperatures will not cause a hazard on a path or walk way – your installer will be well aware of this hazard and should be able to overcome it easily enough.

If you are fitting the unit into a corner made up of two walls, make sure there is adequate space around the unit to allow for free air flow. As an example the dimensions required for the units my company manufacture can be seen below.

You will notice that there is also a minimum distance that must be kept clear in front of the unit.
This distance is to prevent the cold air being blown out of the front of the unit from bouncing back into the rear of the unit.

Cold air bouncing back into the rear of the unit will reduce the average air temperature the unit is extracting its heat from, which in turn reduces the efficiency of the unit and increases running costs.

In some circumstances however it is not always possible to fit a unit on the ground and the unit must therefore be fitted on brackets at a higher level. If so, take care not to cause any hazard at head height and to ensure it is easily accessed for any service visits.

Again your installer will be able to advise you and will probably suggest a drip tray be used to ensure any condensate from the unit is collected and drained away out of harms way.

North, East, South or West?

I am also often asked whether there is any benefit in positioning the unit against a south facing wall rather than a north facing wall? Not normally, is my response!

As already mentioned the unit takes it’s heat from the air, and whilst it is possible that the shade air temperature may be a degree or so warmer on the south side of the property than the north, this is only likely to be in daylight summer hours when the unit is unlikely to be operating.

Other Considerations

If possible, avoid positioning the unit immediately outside or below a bedroom window. There are always those nights when you can not get to sleep and, if you are like me, when they occur the merest murmur like the refrigerator downstairs in the kitchen becomes an irritant.

While modern air source heat pumps are extremely quiet, in the middle of the night you are just as likely to notice them as you would the refrigerator in the kitchen downstairs if they are right outside your open bedroom window. Therefore the further away you put them from the bedroom window the more likely it will be that it is only the fridge’s murmur irritating you.

It is also probably worth also mentioning that you should avoid putting the unit into a court yard, where the sound would bounce around and not decay as quickly as when there are no surfaces for it to bounce on.

One final consideration, if your property is exposed, is to avoid positioning your unit against a wall that snow usually drifts against. If the snow was to drift against the unit and reduce its air flow, it would reduce its efficiency and its output as a result.

Flexible

So apart from the few exceptions I have mentioned above an air source heat pump can be positioned anywhere around the property, making it even more flexible than a traditional gas boiler and certainly, from a positioning point of view, one of the most flexible renewable energy technologies.

Next Blog – Can you use air source heat pumps to heat domestic hot water?

About the author: John Lightfoot is an energy expert on the YouGen website. John is also director at Thermal Energy Ventures Ltd.

First published on the YouGen blog. For more information on renewable energy, please visit the YouGen website.

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When you buy a freezer with an ‘A’ energy label, you expect it to be just that and perform accordingly.  So finding out that another company had been prosecuted for misleading energy labelling, didn’t fill me with joy. It did, however, give me some reassurance that the checking up of energy performance claims is being taken seriously. This is especially true when the company in question, Icetech, who incorrectly labelled their Norfrost Freezer (C4AEW) an ‘A’ when rigorous tests by the National Measurements Office (NMO) found it to rate as a ‘F’, is still claiming on it’s website that their ‘range has been developed to be the most energy efficient freezers in the World’.  And that the Energy Saving Trust has designated a selection of their appliances as “Energy Saving Partners”.  Something I could find no reference to on the EST website. Under the same investigation by the NMO in 2010, an Ice-king chest freezer, manufactured in China, but sold in the UK by John Gilman and Sons, was mislabelled as A+ (B on the web), but performed as an ‘E’ or ‘F’ in tests.  See sust-it’s press release.

So who cares if these products are mislabelled, if we’re getting a bargain?  Well, not only are these appliances creating more CO2, their lifecycle running costs could end up costing the consumer up to £200 more to run.  Both the models mislabelled were sold at the lower end of the market, making them attractive on price, especially if the shopper thinks they are comparing them with other ‘A” rated models.  This is a real issue and let’s hope that businesses take note, particularly as the government has announced plans to ensure that the Green Deal won’t rip off consumers.  And that Icetech have learnt from there £12,000 fine and £28,000 costs and have, as they state is the press release carried out a “… complete reassessment of production and testing procedures”.

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Chris Huhne announced in May, a UK wide commitment to halving carbon emissions by 2025, from 1990 levels, along with plans to radically change the way that the country produces energy, reports the BBC.[1] This announcement makes the UK the first country in the world to have declared a “legally binding” target on greenhouse gas emissions beyond 2020.

Part of these plans involves the UK having to cut carbon emissions in half by 2027.  Allen & York have explored how this is being put into practice by organisations around the UK.  Their in-depth interview with Paul Hinds, the Head of Sustainability at Natural England, outlines how they went about reducing their carbon emissions of its business travel and estate by 50% by the end of 2010.

Questions we asked Paul Hinds

1) What factors have leaded you to the desire and action of decreasing carbon emissions by 50%?

2) What do you believe the long term impacts on Natural England will be as a result of reducing carbon emissions by 50%?

3) As the Head of Sustainability, have you had experience of reducing carbon emissions within business by a significant amount before?

4) How will you reduce carbon emissions by 50% at Natural England?

5) What is the process involved in reducing carbon by 50% at Natural England, for example how long have you been working at this?

6) Are you on target so far?

A&Y: What factors have leaded you to the desire and action of decreasing carbon emissions by 50%?

PH: The organisation was formed in 2006 to be the adviser to the Government on the natural environment.  As an advocate of mitigating carbon we felt we had to ‘walk the walk’ as well as ‘talk the talk’ hence we set a very ambitious target.  We also wanted to demonstrate that carbon could be reduced without the need to either offset or pass on the carbon burden to our customers, stakeholders or employees.  We also wanted to demonstrate that carbon reduction brings significant financial benefits as well as productivity and work-life balance benefits to our staff.

A&Y: What do you believe the long term impacts on Natural England would be as a result of reducing carbon by 50%?

PH: We have instilled a ‘low carbon culture’ in the organisation whereby everyone now questions the carbon costs of decisions and actions in much the same way as they would consider the financial costs.  As a result we take a more balanced approached to how we do our business but continue to maintain our levels of customer service.  Whilst this is a hugely significant achievement, it is the first step towards the agency being a truly sustainable organisation.  We are now looking at the environmental impact of our suppliers, commuting, waste etc. and will be setting targets later in the year.

A&Y: As The Head of Sustainability, have you had experience of reducing carbon emissions with business by a significant amount before?

PH: I have previously worked for organisations and led partnerships with carbon reduction goals, but nowhere near as ambitious as 50%.  This is what attracted me to the job in the first place, particularly as most of my peers at the time thought I was setting myself up to fail!  Prior to joining Natural England I was more involved in the strategic development and influencing side of environmental management, both working with collaborations between private business and the public sector as well as lobbying within Whitehall.  The job offered me the opportunity to show that, like Natural England, I could both ‘walk the walk’ as well as ‘talk the talk’.  On a personal level I have reduced my carbon footprint by well over 50% as a result of cycling and using public transport more and becoming much more energy conscious around my home (despite 3 kids with a fascination for light switches!)

A&Y: How will you reduce carbon emissions by 50% at Natural England?

PH: Through a combination of energy efficiency and ‘right-sizing’ our offices, giving ownership of carbon to our staff whilst providing them with the support and tools needed to work in more sustainable ways and strong leadership from our senior decision makers. My role has been very much about facilitating these programmes of work which has varied from rolling up my sleeves and pouring over endless spreadsheets of data to presenting to the Board.  To use a football analogy it has been very much a ‘Player manager’ role with me both managing people to deliver whilst also delivering myself.

A&Y: What is the process involved in reducing carbon by 50% at Natural England, for example how long have you been working at this?

PH: There is no distinct step by step process in the delivery as a lot of things have to be delivered concurrently.  However, for us, the most important area was getting the data right – both the methodology and the timings by which we report our carbon emissions.  This was important for two main reasons;

1. Because we are an ‘evidence based’ organisation with lots of very clever people who immediately challenge any data they don’t feel is right

2. We wanted our staff to ‘own’ as much of their carbon footprint as possible, so accurate and regular reporting on how successful they were in reducing their carbon footprint was essential in order to maintain buy-in.

If we couple this with the commitment of our senior management team to reduce their own individual travel carbon footprints (thereby showing that we are all in it together) with the organisational dialogue we have created with our staff, then we have created a strong base on which to achieve our savings.

Our methodology follows Defra’s published guidance and uses its emission factors and is accredited to the Carbon Trust Standard and has been audited by PwC. We use utility bill data to calculate and monitor our estate energy carbon emissions, but have begun to move over to real time monitoring of our offices

The largest proportion of our 2007 footprint and the biggest opportunity for carbon saving has been through improving the energy performance of our estate.  We have closed and moved from inefficient offices to more sustainable locations and also encouraged our staff to realise the work-life balance benefits of flexible working and touchdown centres rather than commuting to a Natural England office on a daily basis.

We have established a system that quantifies the emissions of working at home to ensure that we are not passing on the carbon burden to our staff when working in a flexible way and we are supporting staff in improving the energy efficiency of their homes by providing advice on insulation, behavioural change and grants.

A&Y: Are you on target so far?

PH: We have already made considerable progress with a 48% reduction (as of the beginning of December 2010) and plans to ensure we meet the target by mid-January 2011.  Our office energy efficiency programme and rationalisation of inefficient estate has reduced our working office carbon footprint by just under 44% as of November 2010 with an estimated annual utilities cost saving of £380,000 (against our 2007 baseline).

During the first year of implementation (2009-10) the Natural England travel carbon footprint fell by just under 23%.

Our thanks to Paul Hinds and if you are interested in taking part in our series of Sustainability Industry Leader Interviews please email – our Communications Team

Allen & York are a leading international Sustainability Recruitment consultancy, offering jobs in Environment, CSR & Sustainability, Renewable Energy and Carbon Management, plus Health and Safety Management. Please visit their website at: www.allen-york.com

Allen & York is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more