Taking steps towards sustainability
Like many companies we want to make a commitment towards greater sustainability and supporting the UK’s net zero target. Reaching net zero for Ecl-ips means achieving a zero overall impact on global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from our business activities. By aiming to do this it is supporting the UK’s commitment to Net Zero Carbon by 2050 which requires every person, household and business to play their part and is enshrined in law.
There are various steps that we can take to achieve net zero and reducing our carbon emissions as a company and we are developing a sustainability policy and net zero plan . The company has been supported in this thanks to UK government funding. The Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS), being offered across the West Midlands, provided a free energy assessment and a consultation with Simon Maycock of The Clean Tech Business Group who has produced drafts of the policy and plan for the company to consider.
Solar panel installation
Our first step has been to install solar panels. This is a 14.88kWp Photovoltaics (PV) system with 3.72kWp installed on each of the four roof aspects of our offices on Harris Business Park in Stoke Prior near Bromsgrove. How this system works is outlined below.
The cost of the solar panel installation was partly paid for through a Net Zero grant. The pots of money are administered locally via Worcestershire County Council. The amount given was based on the level of emissions that would be saved by the product which equated to 40% of the price, although the criteria for future grants is due to change. The solar panels were installed by Econergy Solutions, a Bromsgrove-based company.
Generating energy and reducing emissions
Overall, the energy generated should mean half is available for consumption by Ecl-ips and half will be exported to the national electricity grid. Electricity bills will be reduced significantly over the lifetime of the solar panels. Ecl-ips has a handy dashboard that tracks the energy being generated and exported. Currently the actual amount exported is capped however, based on the capacity the grid can handle.
This project will reduce the company’s scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions. Scope 1 are direct GHG emissions produced by Ecl-ips when running heating boilers and its vehicles. Scope 2 are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy, e.g. electricity. Econergy forecasts that four tons of carbon emissions will be avoided annually thanks to the solar panels. Over the systems lifetime this equates to 105,729 car kilometres and 76 long haul aeroplane flights being avoided.
Next steps
Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions that include those produced in manufacturing of products we install, employee commuting and waste disposal. Steps to improve these that have taken place include increasing recycling within work spaces and communicating this to staff as well as going digital for operations so that paper use is minimal cutting waste.
The work of our Partners
The major partners of Ecl-ips: Motorola Solutions, Paxton Access and HKC Security’s owner Assa Abloy are committed to reducing their environmental impact in the manufacturing of their products and cutting carbon emissions that could impact global warming.
Motorola Solutions states that “We strive to stay abreast of top environmental issues that affect our operations and the communities we serve. We remain focused on matters such as climate impact and waste reduction. We aim to identify and address a wide array of factors that impact the sustainability of the communities we inhabit. These are the actions it is taking in different areas of its business:
- Operations: Motorola Solutions looks for ways to reduce water & energy consumption while reducing waste.
- Products: The company considers environmental impacts in the design of its products and works across all stages of the lifecycle to reduce carbon footprint & improve efficiency.
- Supply Chain: To enhance the sustainability of its products, Motorola Solutions expects its suppliers to align with its goals and works with them to build their environmental acumen.
Paxton Access: The company states that it has become carbon neutral, partly through making changes in areas such as transport and energy efficient manufacturing as well as offsetting. The areas it is taking action are:
- Its workspaces: sending zero waste to landfill; installing energy saving security systems.
- Renewable energy: switch to 100% renewable energy tariffs; investing in solar panels
- Products and materials: 5-year guarantee; limiting need for printed materials
- Manufacturing: improved energy efficiency in its machines
- Shipping & travel: Transitioned from air freight to sea freight; 98% of company vehicles are electric or hybrid
Assa Abloy: In its latest statements on sustainability the company has committed to:
- Halving its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
- Achieving net-zero no later than 2050