Produced with support from: TEN WAYS FOR BUSINESSES TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE I'M AN ENERGY SAVER

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1 Produced with support from: TEN WAYS FOR BUSINESSES TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE I'M AN ENERGY SAVER

2 BT Foreword Climate change is an issue which affects each and every one of us. At BT we are committed to finding new ways to help minimise our environmental impacts as well as providing our customers with solutions which are less harmful to the planet. We believe that ICT can help to promote sustainability and go some way towards protecting the environment. Our vision is to harness communications to tackle climate change with our strategy focused on maintaining momentum in: Reducing our own footprint Influencing our customers and our suppliers Engaging our employees Executing a pan-bt integrated communications plan Environmental performance is also becoming increasingly important to our customers, with evidence of our social and environmental performance continually required for contract bids for new business. Products and services such as broadband, teleconferencing and video conferencing can help BT and our customers to address climate change by enabling remote working. This reduces travel time and energy use and allows more people to enjoy the benefits of flexible work schedules. I would encourage all companies to lead by example, using sustainable resources where possible and reducing negative impacts on the environment, otherwise our future landscapes will be very different from those we know now. For more information on BT s social and environment activities visit Alastair Hamilton Managing Director BT Northern Ireland CO2 Emissions 60% Lower than 1996 level BT rated world No.1 telecommunications company in the Dow Jones Global Sustainability Index for six years running.

3 Why is climate change an issue for business? Climate change is the great challenge facing modern society and we all, as individuals, employees, employers or leaders in society, have our part to play. The good news is that the steps needed to positively address climate change will ultimately benefit the planet, our businesses, our society and ourselves. More than half a million pounds worth of savings were identified by companies working with Business in the Community s ARENA Network campaign last year as a result of good environmental management and controls. Many of the solutions identified stem from very simple and common sense actions which, when scaled up, can provide a powerful level of change. Sustainability is undoubtedly good for businesses as well as for the local communities they serve. Combining even just a few energy saving measures in the workplace can help save your business thousands of pounds per year, as well as giving you a competitive edge if you choose to communicate your commitment to stakeholders. The first step is to assign responsibility for the issue. Treat it like any other aspect of running a business and you will generate returns in much the same way, so: Assign responsibility Audit the current situation Create an action plan Monitor progress on targets Before taking that step though, use this booklet to see how simple the changes can be and how adopting some or all of the following ten actions in the workplace can help conserve energy, saving you money and contributing to the slowdown of climate change at the same time. In essence small changes x lots of people = BIG CHANGE. If this booklet has inspired you, share it with colleagues, employees and even at home with your family. Together, we can make a difference. Take action today! If you would like help, support, or further advice, call Business in the Community on (028) and ask for the ARENA Network team.

4 Action 1 Cut waste Action 2 Turn it down Action 3 Save on lighting Action 4 Switch it off Action 5 Leave it at home Action 6 Use renewable energy Action 7 Plant a tree Action 8 Make it happen Action 9 Challenge suppliers Action 10 Celebrate and report

5 Action 1 Cut waste Waste is a key contributor to global warming. Landfill sites represent squandered materials and significant financial waste, not only in terms of the cost of the energy and resources used to produce them and the cost of disposal, but also the landfill tax levied on businesses. Collecting and processing waste produces CO2 emissions and also methane gas, which is released from landfill when biodegradable waste breaks down and which is over 20 times as powerful a greenhouse gas as CO2. By removing or segregating biodegradable waste from the landfill stream we can reduce methane production and its impact on climate change. Paper and cardboard can be recycled, waste food and vegetable matter can be composted. Techniques such as in-vessel composting, vermi-composting and anaerobic digestion can be used on a large scale to convert difficult biodegradable wastes to useful resources, such as renewable energy.

6 Action 2 Turn it down Working environments need to be comfortable, neither too hot, nor too cold. Most office environments are over heated. Turn the thermostat down by one notch. If the windows are open the heating is too high Install programmable thermostats or time clocks Service boilers regularly Install insulation Consider Combined Heat and Power solutions. Causeway Hospitals Trust recently invested in Combined Heat and Power units attached to a new gas heating system, with predicted savings of thousands of pounds per year When purchasing new capital equipment make sure it is energy efficient. A list is maintained at

7 Action 3 Save on lighting Good, suitable lighting is essential to a comfortable and safe working environment; however with office buildings accounting for 19% of all commercial energy consumption, it is also a potential source of major savings. Maximise natural light where possible Assess light provided with light actually required and adjust accordingly Switch off all lights when not in use Install occupational sensors Fit energy-saving light bulbs. These last up to twelve times longer than ordinary bulbs. One energy-saving bulb can save a considerable amount of money in its lifetime Cost = 4.99 Saving = Profit = 60.01p

8 Action 4 Switch it off On average, employees waste 6,000 each year just because they don t switch off computers and equipment which is not in use. Don t just log-off a PC at the end of the day, shut it down! Switch off printers and copiers when not in use and remove mobile phone chargers from sockets after charging, as they constantly draw power. Equipment left on standby mode continues to use power switch it off! On a more specific note, if your business uses refrigeration or compressed air, check your systems regularly to ensure they are running efficiently. Good management can bring huge savings. The Henderson Group saved 17% on its energy costs through good management. Key steps included: 1) Auditing existing practices and equipment, 2) Purchasing appropriate equipment and 3) Managing the equipment to get optimal performance.

9 Action 5 Leave it at home Half of all car journeys are less than two miles, but most catalytic converters work only after three miles of travel. Try walking short distances, or using public transport where possible. In the office, try new technology (like video-conferencing) to cut down on unnecessary corporate travel. Additionally: Service vehicles regularly Train employees in good driving technique for better efficiency Implement car sharing schemes Promote public transport solutions Purchase CO2 efficient cars

10 Action 6 Use renewable energy With sources of renewable energy increasingly available, cost-effective and efficient, consider: Purchasing green power form your energy supplier Sourcing alternative providers Installing some renewable technologies at your premises There are five main renewable sources hydropower (water), solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass one may be the right one for your business and could save you money.

11 Action 7 Plant a tree While planting a tree is not the complete answer to addressing carbon emissions and global climate change, it has a role to play. If you need help to calculate your carbon emissions, visit and use the business CO2 calculator there. Once you ve worked out how much carbon your business emits, you can purchase offsets in the form of new trees planted, from a number of organisations. There are a number of such schemes currently available and the Carbon Trust and Climate Care are both good starting points for information. Locally, ARENA Network plans to launch a carbon neutralising scheme for businesses in 2007, so look out for details.

12 Action 8 Make it happen To be effective, conserving energy must be embedded in the company culture. To achieve this, training and reinforcement of messages to staff at every opportunity is essential. Posters and stickers on energy saving measures are available from the Carbon Trust to display in your office and keep the issues in employees minds. Why not develop your own fun, in-house scheme to encourage suggestions and celebrate achievements. I'M AN ENERGY SAVER

13 Action 9 Challenge suppliers If you re committed to doing it, you ll want your suppliers to commit too. That way, you can be sure your product has been produced in the most energy efficient, sustainable way possible, at each stage along the supply chain. Organisations which work with their supply chains to reduce energy use and carbon emissions can realise major savings in terms of energy consumption and carbon emissions as well as reducing costs. Tell your suppliers what you re doing to reduce energy use and carbon emissions, encourage them to examine their own processes and follow your example in adopting best practice that way you can all save and everyone s a winner!

14 Action 10 Celebrate and report You will make savings by implementing each of these actions some will take longer to realise than others, so be patient. To encourage further action internally and inspire others externally, it is important to celebrate achievements and publicly report on progress. If you are saving energy, saving money and helping to save the planet, take the credit for doing so and tell others so that they can follow your example. Start today.

15 Useful links and further information Climate Change info (website for An Inconvenient Truth) Waste Regional waste groups Heating, lighting and equipment Transport Renewable energy Carbon offsetting Other

16 ARENA Network is the environmental arm of Business in the Community and provides an environmental support and review service for organisations of every type and size in Northern Ireland. Please visit the website at or call us on (028) WE RE HERE TO HELP Business in the Community is a unique movement in the UK and Ireland of over 750 member companies (230 of these in Northern Ireland), with a further 2,000 plus engaged through our programmes and campaigns. We operate through a local network of more than 100 business-led partnerships and 60 global partners. Business in the Community Northern Ireland Bridge House Paulett Avenue Belfast BT5 4HD T (028) F E info@bitcni.org.uk January 2007 Registered Details 137 Shepherdess Walk, London N1 7RQ. Telephone: Registered Charity No: Company Limited by Guarantee No: Printed on Revive Matt uncoated (75% post consumer waste)