Energy Saving Trust
Energy Saving Trust is a world leading centre for advice and research working with businesses, governments, consumers and communities to promote domestic energy efficiency. Climate change is a major threat to humanity, fuel bills continue to rise and our reliance on imported energy continues to grow. The UK is committed to achieving an 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. To address these challenges we all need to reduce our energy consumption and accelerate a move to sustainable, low carbon lifestyles. We are a leading and trusted organisation helping people save energy every day. Our experts speak with millions of householders every year, deliver first class programmes for governments and provide consultancy to UK businesses and international companies. All that we do is underpinned by our pioneering world-renowned research.
Company details
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- Business Type:
- Professional association
- Industry Type:
- Renewable Energy
- Market Focus:
- Internationally (various countries)
- Year Founded:
- 1992
- Employees:
- 101-1000
This company also provides solutions for other industrial applications.
Please, visit the following links for more info:
Climate change is a major threat to humanity, fuel...
Climate change is a major threat to humanity, fuel bills continue to rise and our reliance on imported energy continues to grow. The UK is committed to achieving an 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. To address these challenges we all need to reduce our energy consumption and accelerate a move to sustainable, low carbon lifestyles.
We are a leading and trusted organisation helping people save energy every day. Our experts speak with millions of householders every year, deliver first class programmes for governments and provide consultancy to UK businesses and international companies. All that we do is underpinned by our pioneering world-renowned research.
We are independent and impartial so the advice we give is all about helping you.
Our case studies highlight how we’ve helped people save energy and inspire energy efficiency behaviour change - in communities, commercial ventures, homes and travel across the UK.
Our Research and Reports
We are committed to discovering new ways of accelerating a move to a sustainable future and are at the forefront of world-renowned research that challenges conventions.
We share much of our research so that the wider public can learn and benefit from it - our reports are available to download as PDFs.
Our Partners and Supporters
We are committed to discovering new ways of accelerating a move to a sustainable future and are at the forefront of world-renowned research that challenges conventions.
We share much of our research so that the wider public can learn and benefit from it - our reports are available to download as PDFs.
Accelerating the growth and effectiveness of commu...
Accelerating the growth and effectiveness of community energy
Energy is central to our lives yet most of us do not have control over where it comes from and how much it costs us.
But community energy doesn’t just happen; in many cases it’s born out of a small group of inspiring pioneers who overcome great obstacles in order to reap rewards.
It can be the result of years of campaigning, planning, consultation and fundraising. In spite of great achievements, these are often not consolidated or communicated in such a way that others can learn from them, and build on them for the future.
We have set up Britain’s first energy research foundation to drive research, knowledge and insight into what community energy could mean for all our futures. With so much discussion about communities and localisation, the Foundation aims to lead the way in understanding not only what community energy is about but what works and why. We want to work with interested partners to build our collective knowledge of what the future could look like.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability
While our work aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and generally improve the environment, we are conscious that running a business creates its own impacts.
As an organisation we work hard to manage our impact in order to reduce our effect on the environment. This is pursued through maintaining ISO 14001 environmental accreditation which is supported by an environmental management system (EMS). The EMS provides a systematic approach to keep current with relevant environmental legislation and provides a structure on which to base our internal environmental activities. It is our sustainability group which is the backbone for promoting environmental activities and sustainable behaviour throughout the organisation.
Our sustainability group
The sustainability group is composed of three subgroups in each of the main offices (England, Scotland and Wales) and is run by volunteers in the organisation. The group encourages all employees to be as resource efficient as possible through sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm as well as promoting sustainable activities and behaviours. The group monitors and reports the organisation's carbon footprint each year, identifying areas for improvement. Through understanding what we can do to improve our use of carbon, the group helps to influence staff and suppliers in a positive way. The group has accumulated practical knowledge and experience since it was formed in 2004, developing a variety of successful approaches to engage employees.
A list of our significant environmental aspects can be found below.
Sustainability measures
Waste
- The waste hierarchy is actively applied in each of the offices to minimise the amount of waste produced.
- Waste and recycling rates are monitored each quarter to review the level of waste in the offices.
- All possible waste is recycled including paper, cardboard, plastic, organic waste, glass, aluminium cans, batteries, CDs, printer toner cartridges and electronic equipment.
- Other initiatives include having ethically produced cloth bags to reduce the number of plastic bags and where possible encouraging use of reusable coffee cups to help reduce office waste.
Energy efficiency
- The sustainability group works closely with building management in each of our offices to minimise use of energy resources.
- Energy use is monitored and recorded in each of the offices. The data is reported quarterly to top management.
- Energy efficient behaviour is promoted such as powering down 4-way extensions at the end of the day, turning off monitors when not in use, switching off appliances when not in use, etc.
Travel
- In instances where staff meetings are held remotely, the use of a variety of facilities including video conferencing is preferential.
- Facilities for cyclists are provided in each of the main offices, i.e. bike rooms, changing rooms, showers and lockers.
- A ‘Cycle to Work’ scheme is available to help make purchasing a bike more affordable for employees.
- Use of public transport over taxies is actively encouraged.
- For occasions where a rental car is necessary, employees are permitted only to hire economic, low emission vehicles.
- Private cars used by employees for business purposes must meet a standard of vehicle efficiency.
- Flights are restricted to necessary travel. Domestic flights within the UK require approval from our Chief Executive.
Water efficiency
- Water use in the offices is recorded and monitored where possible.
- Efficient use of water is actively promoted in each of the offices.
- A water survey was sent out to all employees to promote efficient water use at home.
Sustainability group initiatives
A variety of internal events are held during each year to promote sustainability throughout the organisation. Examples of these are listed:
- Volunteer days to help the local community, such as cutting back intrusive vegetation in local beauty spots.
- Climate change training delivered by the Met Office available to staff.
- 'Brown bag lunches' (bring your lunch and eat while you listen) are regularly held with guest speakers. Sustainability documentaries are shown to promote sustainable living, i.e. insects as a sustainable food source
- ‘Walk to Work Week’ competitions.
- Week long events to promote a sustainable lifestyle, i.e. ‘Energy Saving Week’ and ‘Ready Steady Winter’.
- Quarterly newsletter for staff.
- Internal intranet site to promote the group’s activities within the organisation.
Products and services
We are committed to incorporating sustainability across all business functions in order to manage and influence the positive environmental and social impacts of our business activity, as well as to exceed our high standard of environmental excellence. Therefore, sustainability principles are embedded within all procurement related activities including our relationship with ethical suppliers and in the communities where we operate.
We expect that all of our employees are committed to:
- procuring products and services which minimise our environmental impact, taking into account the lifecycle of any product purchased
- complying with all applicable legislative requirements
- continuously improving knowledge of environmentally responsible supply chain management
- assessing the sustainability credentials of our suppliers and encouraging activity among suppliers which minimise environmental impact.
Quality and environmental policy
We are committed to:
- providing high quality services and advice
- consistently meeting customers’ requirements and exceeding their expectations
- continually improving all areas of activity including its management systems and procedures
- meeting all legal requirements and those of BS EN ISO 9001:2008.
We are committed to implementing this policy throughout the organisation by:
- maximising emission savings from our activities
- minimising our energy use associated with building management and travel
- reducing overall waste and improving levels of recycling
- working with suppliers to mutually improve environmental performance and favour procurement from those that do
- using ethical suppliers and sustainable sources wherever appropriate.
Environmental aspects
Environmental aspects are an inevitable result of any organisation’s operation. To address these aspects, they have been identified, assessed and rated in terms of their significance by the Sustainability Group.
As part of the Environmental Management System, the organisation’s environmental aspects are regularly reviewed.
Aspects (in order of significance)
- CO2 / CO2 emissions: office use of electricity
- CO2 / CO2 emissions: office use of gas
- CO2 / CO2 emissions: business travel
- Suppliers and sub contractors
- Consumption of resources
- Hazardous waste
- Accidents i.e. fire
- Non-hazardous waste
- Nuisance and noise
- Cleaning products.