ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN 2005 - 2010
The industry uses the surrounding coast and countryside to its full advantage and relies heavily on the environment being a safe, beautiful place to be. We have a strong commitment to preserving our local environment and reducing our impact and realised we could greatly increase awareness by looking at ways of making alterations and improvements in all areas.
Due to the nature of our business we are able to share this knowledge and understanding with all of our clients and help educate children and teenagers to help make environmental actions become common practice for the future. We encourage clients to offer ideas and take information away with them to help them manage their own changes, so please take the time to speak to us about our developments.
Our main aims for undertaking the project are:
o Customer satisfaction
o Reducing environmental impact
o Financial savings
The time and effort we have invested since 2005 has resulted in staggering financial savings, a reduction in headaches/respiratory problems being caused by cleaners using chemical based products, increased customer satisfaction not only through the environmental and educational benefits, but also through things such as warmer buildings and healthier food.
Our main achievement has been the belief and vision of senior staff that has flowed through the whole staff team ensuring that the culture of environmental concern is a key factor for all.
The six key areas and some of our achievements are outlined below:
Six key areas focussed on:
1. Energy & In-Skern Generation
In-Skern Generation
· Solar-thermal panels, supplying 70% of our hot water to:
§ 3 accommodation blocks
§ Kitchen/dining area
§ Laundry
§ Swimming pool
· Wind turbines in their final stages of installation to supply centres electricity
· Planning permission for a third wind turbine should it be required
Upgraded to energy efficient equipment
· Condensing boilers with 30% more efficiency
· Wind turbines will communicate with our immersion heater telling it to fire up when surplus electricity is being produced, ensuring we do not use any gas fired central heating unless absolutely necessary.
· Combi convection steam ovens
· Laundry equipment
· Appliances are all A/B energy,
Lighting
· Energy saving internal light bulbs
· Light sensors in communal shower/toilet blocks
· 98% low energy external lighting
· ‘Last Out, lights out’ marked on most appropriate light switches
· Display lights on refrigeration units (in bar areas) are turned off at the end of a shift
Re-insulated buildings
98% double glazed windows & doors
Fitted SavaWatt plugs
Fridge/freezer seals are maintained,
Radiators have thermostatic valves,
Thermostatic controls are fitted,
Self-closing mechanisms on appropriate doors
Kettles are manually marked at different mug levels.
Measures taken to try & ensure TV’s & computer monitors are not left on standby
2, Waste & Second Chance Rubbish
We recycle
· Waste paper
· Cardboard
· Plastic
· Aluminium
· Glass
· Old mobile phones
Send to Charity
· Waste textiles (or made in to rags)
· Printer & toner cartridges
· Stamps
Paper usage
· Printed material is put on to double sided wherever possible
· Reusable paper (blank on one side) is reused in printers & the photocopier
· All correspondence with our clients & business associates done by e-mail wherever possible
Half full toiletries left by clients are given to other clients/staff to use
Garden waste from around site is left to rot naturally
Reuse Jiffy bags/packaging material
Maintenance team daily litter picks
Paper lunch bags, which can be disposed of in paper recycling bins
Employees encouraged to pick up litter on site & whilst on activity locations off site
Fix it or re-use it policy means if we can’t fix it we keep it to reuse on various projects
Reduction in food waste
Cornstarch disposable cups
Environmentally friendly sewerage pump
Significantly reduced our bottled water and disposable cup usage
3, WATER
Taps are regularly checked for drips and leaks
Maintenance team daily litter picks
Dishwasher recycles the water from the morning & evening cycles
Timers on watering system for hanging baskets
All hoses use a trigger to let out water
All run-off goes in to soak-away
Reduced water levels in toilet cisterns
Environmentally friendly urinal block’s, reduced from 1 flush per hour to 2 pints of water per day
Micro fibre mops used on all floors - uses minimum water & cleaning products
Micro fibre cloths used - require no cleaning products & minimal/no water
4, TRANSPORT
Systems in place to reduce the number of trips made each day
Organise coach transport for clients
Provide coach parking area & accommodation option for coach drivers
Provide information on transport options in our literature
We offer to pick up & drop off clients when they use the local train/bus services
PCV trained minibus drivers are tested on economic driving
Unfortunately as they are lease vehicles we are unable to convert them to bio-diesel
5, PURChaSING
Over 90% of our suppliers are local companies & we continue to source any new suppliers locally
Chemical reduction
· Water based paints
· Chemical free cleaning products
Food & drink
· We grow some of our own herbs
British chickens
· Exmoor beef
· Westcountry pork & bacon
· Bottled water from local source
· Variety of local beers offered in the bar
Brochure printed on sustainable paper using bio-degradable vegetable & Soya based inks
Copy paper made from mixed source well managed forests & other controlled sources (FSC)
Flip chart markers made from recycled paper, containing water based non-toxic ink
6, WILDLIFE & LANDSCAPE
Tree planting scheme in place with 95% of the trees on site having been planted by us
Natural bird nesting areas
Field studies courses
Field Studies staff qualified in various areas enabling them to pass more in-depth information on to other staff and clients
Help out with litter picks in the local area
Information on surrounding environment & sound environmental practices passed on to visiting clients
Kept & maintained the Devon hedgerows ensuring we protect the Biodiversity of our site
Garden waste from around site is left to rot naturally
Provide information on transport options in our literature
STAFF TRAINING
IOSH, Managing Environmental Responsibility achieved by Sarah Rigby,
Office & Environmental Manager & Craig Lessiter, Maintenance Manager
Instructional staff trained to introduce our policy to visiting clients
Maintenance team trained in hedge laying
Environmental responsibilities & expectations of staff is included in staff induction
Continual in-house training in new procedures
Relevant seminars/courses attended by Environmental Manager
OUR FUTURE PLANS
Upgrade the Farmhouse accommodation to use renewable energy
Selling environmental awareness weekends
Electric staff pool cars
Look at rainwater-harvesting system
Fitting light sensors in other communal areas
Continue to try & find a suitable solution to our food waste disposal
Print all other brochures on sustainable paper using biodegradable vegetable & Soya based inks
Continue looking at ways to expand our ethical purchasing in all areas of the business
AWARDS
Gold winners 2009 - International Green Apple Awards, The Green Organisation
Award Finalists 2007 & 2009 - Devon Environmental Business Initiative (DEBI)
Highly Commended 2007 - BusinessCommitment to the Environment Award, Marketing Bureau
ENVIRONMENTAL & ECONOMIC OUTCOMES
Gas/Electricity Savings
|
|
KWhrs
|
Co2
(kg)
|
Carbon (kg)
|
Notes
|
|
Pre renewable energy (savings created over 3 years)
|
890,204
|
1,972,000
|
539,000
|
|
|
Wind electric saving
(3 year estimated total)
|
330,000
|
|
|
|
|
Solar gas saving
(3 year estimated total)
|
661,890
|
|
|
Now proving correct
|
|
Future
(3 year period)
|
1,882,094
|
578,715
|
157,989
|
|
|
Bonus ROC’s
|
|
|
|
|
|
Projected total
cash benefit
|
|
|
|
Covers total cost of project in 3 years!
|
|
Figures assume gas/electricity prices remain the same!
|
|
|
Other Savings to Date
|
|
Savings
(Per Year)
|
Notes
|
|
Cleaning products
|
341 litres
|
Inc 162 litres of bleach
|
|
Landfill waste
|
220,000 litres
|
|
|
Bottled water
|
4,794 bottles
|
|
|
Disposable cups
|
20,000 cups
|
|
|
Paper
|
32,000 sheets
|
Equates to 64 reams
|
|
Water –
Mop system
Urinal blocks
|
65,268 litres (estimated)
50,771 litres
|
|
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