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Wandsworth
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Improving the local environment
As an inner London borough we face many challenges. The negative impact of the heavy traffic levels on the strategic road network is felt by borough residents in terms of relatively high levels of air pollution experienced at roadside locations as a result of vehicle emissions. Each year, the council receives more than 5,000 complaints about nuisances, of which over 4,000 are about noise. A particular local issue is that of aircraft noise, particularly night flights that disturb sleep patterns. Nevertheless significant progress is being made to minimise waste. Wandsworth residents generated some 103,000 tonnes of household waste in 2006/07, equating to 366 kg per resident per year. The development and expansion of convenient recycling facilities since the introduction of a comingled (mixed) kerbside recycling collection in March 2003 has led to considerable progress. Overall, household recycling and composting rates have risen from 17.5% in 2003/04 to 24.6% in 2007/08. The Council has been proactive in tackling its own energy use in order to reduce damaging emissions. For example, there has been a 30.42% overall improvement in energy efficiency for private and council-owned dwellings between 1 April 1996 - 31 March 2007, including a 2.03% reduction for the year ending 31 March 2007. The responsibility for tackling climate change does not rest with the council alone. Through the Greener Borough Initiative the council has been providing encouragement and advice to residents, staff and business on their own lifestyles and environmental impacts. Residents can pledge to reduce their environmental impact by visiting www.wandsworth.gov.uk/greenpledge The natural environment is one of the borough's major assets and is crucial to residents' quality of life, as well as making an important contribution to international biodiversity commitments. Regular consultation with residents indicates:-
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Merton Council
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In Merton we are committed to working with you all whether you’re a resident or business in the borough to minimize the impact we have on our environment. As a council putting residents first, we are working out how much CO2 all the homes in Merton are creating. This will help us shape our environmental policies to most benefit you.
We pioneered our very own groundbreaking Merton Rule. This rule means that developers and architects have to come up with CO2-busting designs by using renewable energy on site and making sure the building is properly insulated. The impact of the Merton Rule has been so great that the previous Mayor of London and many councils across the UK have since committed to using it and to top it all, it’s now included in national planning strategy. We are continuing to work on keeping the rule alive and making it relevant to the future.
We have just completed our climate change strategy, which sets out clearly, and simply what we can all do, including the council as a major employer in the area, to lighten our carbon footprint. The strategy reaffirms our ambition to lead by example and make Merton a greener borough.
Here are just a few things the council is doing to become more environmentally-friendly:
- We are dramatically reducing the amount of water we use. In the gents’ lavatories at the civic centre the urinals are fitted with water saving devices, which can detect when people use the urinals and regulate the amount of water used. Believe it or not we've saved £4,000 worth of water over the last 18 months. That’s 2.5 million litres of water, the volume of more than two Olympic size swimming pools - quite a saving.
- We are reducing the voltage of all our electrical appliances saving 120 tonnes CO2 in the civic centre per year. This will be rolled out across all council office buildings this year.
- We're also upgrading our hot water systems so we don't have to save hot water when it's not needed.
- We've insulated all our larger office buildings to reduce heat loss.
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Royal Borough of Kingston
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Kingston Council supports the Green Guardian Campaign and is committed to raising awareness of environment issues and taking practical steps to help prevent and adjust to climate change.
To demonstrate this, the council is putting environmental issues at the top of the agenda by with the creation of a new Climate Change and Sustainable Travel Group.
The new team brings together dedicated staff which have been already working on key environmental and transport issues into one pooled resource where they can share expertise and work together more effectively.
The new team will also strengthen our partnership working with community groups and businesses who will be key in developing and delivering our Energy and Climate Change Strategies.
The team will also be working with residents, schools and businesses to provide practical help and advice on how everyone can play a part in reducing our ecological footprint by making simple changes in what we buy and how travel.
We are committed to the Green Guardian Campaign so that together we can bring the ‘green’ message to as many residents and businesses as possible and help everyone make informed choices about how to protect the local and global environment.
You can contact the new team by emailing ccst@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
Cllr Bob Steed
Executive Member for the Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change
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London Borough of Bexley
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Greenwich Council
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Treaty Shopping Centre
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The Treaty Centre, Hounslow
Managed by EFM Facilities, The Treaty Centre recognises that the day-to-day operations and other responsibilities impact on the environment in a number of ways. Improving our environmental performance in all of our operations is a major priority, and we are committed to achieving continuous improvement in environmental performance as well as preventing pollution, which is in line with the Environmental & Energy Campaign of the EFM Group.
To date the Centre has spent a considerable amount of time gathering information which has then allowed us to make informed decisions on how to move forward in line with the requirements of our Campaign. In each of the last two years we have made considerable reductions in the amount of electricity which we have used – as well as realising cost reductions. The introduction of a management system which allows desk top control – to the minute - of all equipment which uses energy, has been key in this success. The Centre used 415,000 less KWH in 2008 than in 2006! The amount of waste which goes to Landfill has reduced by 50% over a two year period as a result of recycling programmes which have been introduced, together with a reduction in the amount of waste generated by Tenants. The initiatives behind both of these significant achievements continue, however it is now more about fine tuning, and thinking outside of the box. For example during the latter part of 2008 an energy optimisation system was introduced throughout the Car Park areas which will achieve savings up to a further 30% by dropping the voltage from 240 to 190 – a difference which is not noticeable to the human eye!
There are a number of initiatives which the Centre will be considering – and, or, working towards in the coming months:
- Within the next few weeks “electrobays” will be installed in the Car Park. Electrobay has been developed by electromotive as the ‘ultimate zero-emission’ transport system. Shoppers who own electric vehicles or dual fuel vehicles will be to ‘refuel’ with electricity in a secure and user friendly environment whilst shopping.
- As a way of further reducing waste which goes to Landfill, the Centre is examining ways to recycle food and associated waste. This will be used to generate bio fuel with the residual waste being used to generate energy which will go back to the national grid.
- The Centre is working with the Street Management Division of LBOH to develop a travel plan for both employees at the Centre - and visitors alike. A travel plan involves identifying an appropriate package of measures aimed at promoting sustainable travel, with an emphasis on reducing reliance on single occupancy car journeys.
We receive around 180,000 visitors each week, and want them to be reassured that we and our Retailers are actively working towards reducing the impact on our environment!
Contact Details:
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Treaty Shopping Centre 44 The Treaty Centre Hounslow Middlesex TW3 1RH |
Office: +44 (0) 20 8572 3570 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8572 4913 Website: www.treatyshoppingcentre.co.uk |
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Quadron
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Quadron Services, Kingston
QUADRON: An environmentally friendly contractor
Quadron recognises its responsibilities towards the protection of the environment and the need for continuous improvement in all elements of the environmental performance of the company in the workplace.
Policy - It is our goal to conduct the whole of our operation in an environmentally responsible manner, by consistently reducing the environmental impact of our activities in line with sound business practice. Quadron will at all times take all reasonable precautions to safeguard the environment and protect the health of human beings, creatures and plants.
We commit to reducing our carbon footprint, in particular by reducing the main cause of climate change, CO2 emissions, and to contribute towards sustainable development taking into account local priorities in accordance with Agenda 21.
ISO 14001 - Quadron has an Environmental Management System (EMS) in place and is working towards full ISO 14001 accreditation. Contract managers are currently undergoing training to cover the first three phases of BS 8555. Induction training includes making staff aware of those environmental and geological issues which are affected by their work so that they perform their duties in a way that minimises impact on the environment.
Performance Measurement - Key Performance Indicators and targets are set and measured monthly, in consultation with each client.
Sustainable Procurement - All materials used are wherever possible from environmentally friendly and sustainable sources, as local as possible to the site of use, with minimum packaging and from recycled materials wherever viable. Alternative fuels are sought, the use of pesticides actively minimised and composting material used from green waste recycling schemes.
Biodiversity - Quadron works closely with its Clients and local interest groups to ensure its operations are sensitive to local biodiversity issues.
Waste Management - Local on-site composting, reusing and recycling materials are key elements of our environmental policy.
Other Initiatives - Bedding out with reusable pots, water harvesting and reducing the use of pesticides all feature in our green operational plans.
Vehicles & Plant - Electric vehicles, LPG mowers, staff bicycles and reducing the need for travelling contribute to our innovations for reducing air pollution.
Contact details:
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Quadron Services Ltd The Recycling Centre, Chapel Mill Road, Off Villiers Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT1 3GZ |
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HSBC
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HSBC
HSBC is determined to be one of the world's leading companies in addressing the challenges presented by climate change and this means embedding sustainability into its business. HSBC believes companies that manage their business in a sustainable way are better placed to compete in the global economy and deliver long-term value to their shareholders.
That is why we were the first major bank to go carbon neutral in 2005 and have since committed £40 million through the Global Environmental Efficiency Programme to reduce the Group's direct impact on the environment. We have also appointed Lord Stern, former Adviser to the UK Government on Climate Change, to act as a Special Adviser to HSBC Group Chairman, Stephen Green, on the implications of climate change.
But we want to go even further. So in 2007, HSBC committed £50 million to form the HSBC Climate Partnership.
The HSBC Climate Partnership is a five year climate change programme designed to inspire activity by individuals, businesses and governments.
It brings together HSBC and four of the world's leading environmental organisations - The Climate Group, Earthwatch, WWF and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
The work of the HSBC Climate Partnership focuses on assessing the current impact of climate change, demonstrating what needs to be done and encouraging others to take action. Over its five year course, the HSBC Climate Partnership aims to:-
- Create cleaner, greener cities in Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, New York and Shanghai; and promote them as models for the world;
- Engage HSBC's global workforce on climate change issues;
- Conduct the world's largest ever field experiment on the long-term effects of climate change and how it will affect the world's forests;
- Protect some of the world's major rivers including the Ganges, Yangtze, Thames and the Amazon and the livelihoods of the people who rely on them.
- HSBC believes that Climate Change is a global problem with local solutions and that it requires collective action by public, private and not-for-profit sectors.'
