Saturday 12 June 2010

Ditch consultants and hire electricians to spark energy cuts

Practical and low cost advice from electricians has helped cut energy consumption at the Environment Agency.

Speaking at the Greening the Public Sector conference in London, Head of Internal Environment Management Julian Feasby said there were cost and energy-saving benefits to asking tradesmen for advice rather than hiring more expensive sustainability consultants.

Mr Feasby said: "We have reduced energy consumption by 20%, reduced water use by 20% and cut office waste to landfill by 61%. We don't agree in carbon offsetting. We have a carbon reduction fund and staff come up with ideas such as the wind turbine installed at the Draycott depot in the Midlands."

However, he told ELN that the fund had been reduced in the light of the government's budget cuts. He said: "We are in the public sector and savings are to be made. I suggest people talk about carbon savings as a way of making financial savings."