Reducing Our Carbon Footprint
We are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the surface transport sector. This will be achieved by cutting emissions from our operations and promoting the positive benefits of public transport in combating climate change. The key elements in our strategy commit us to:
- improve the fuel efficiency of our existing vehicles;
- purchase the most fuel-efficient vehicles;
- use alternative fuels as they become commercially available;
- improve the energy efficiency of our properties;
- reduce our business travel and develop green travel plans; and
- promote the use of public transport to combat climate change.
Improving Vehicle Efficiency
We have a number of programmes in place to improve fuel efficiency. These include driver training programmes, technology trials to monitor driver behaviour and fuel additive trials. Our trials will help us to identify best practice to boost fuel efficiency across the business.
Purchase of New Vehicles
The vehicles we plan to purchase are the most fuel-efficient vehicles for their specification and produce the lowest emissions of pollutants. All new engines will comply with the latest EURO IV emissions specification and will employ six-speed transmissions which, as we have shown in recent trials, reduce fuel consumption.
Improving the Fuel Efficiency of Our London Buses
Our bus operations in London have begun a major programme to reduce fuel usage in the business and set annual targets for improvement. They have invested in a central fuel management system to support this programme. The programme included driver awareness campaigns and improved driver training using a new driver training simulator and Drivecam technology. This technology monitors sharp braking and cornering and can be used to work with drivers to improve the safety and efficiency of their driving.
Alternative Fuels
In the long term we will seek to become less reliant on fossil fuels. Alternative fuel technologies and the necessary infrastructure are still insufficiently developed to support a reliable, cost effective and sustainable public transport network. Our current policy is to stay abreast of developments in all relevant technology and fuel issues and contribute to trials where we can.
The introduction of 5% biodiesel has provided a starting point. Hybrid vehicles are also showing promise. In the longer term, hydrogen produced from renewable resources may develop at a commercial level but it is generally accepted that the infrastructure and fuel supply is unlikely to be in place for another 15 years. Until this time we will continue to maintain an involvement in hydrogen technology wherever feasible, such as the highly successful fuel cell trials in London.
Property
Carbon dioxide emissions from our buildings are significantly lower than from our vehicles but nevertheless represent an important source. Since 2001 when we started energy monitoring we have achieved a 23% reduction in usage.
To further reduce emissions we are installing electronic heating control systems at 12 of our largest maintenance depots to optimise heating use and support significant cost savings.
Our programme of property upgrades also fosters improvements in energy performance. Energy efficiency is a key design consideration in new buildings. This year we worked with our design teams to develop a sustainability checklist which will help us identify opportunities for incorporating renewable energy into new buildings.
Our new headquarters building in Aberdeen will incorporate a number of sustainability features including ground source heat pumps, solar panels and a rainwater harvesting system.
Business Travel
Our Travel Policy encourages individuals to consider their need to travel. Video conferencing connects our main offices and we encourage the use of these and telephone conferencing facilities. All our employees receive free bus and/or rail travel passes when they join FirstGroup. Through reciprocal arrangements our employees can also sometimes travel free on other operators' buses.
We monitor business travel undertaken by rail and air and we will use this data to assess and influence changes in behaviour patterns.
We are also looking at ways to further encourage our employees to travel to work by more sustainable means. A number of our companies are implementing green travel plans and we are seeking to ensure that all our operating companies have operational green travel plans by 2012.