10 Downing Street Backs 10:10 says Cameron

The new Prime Minister of Great Britain, David Cameron has announced that he will be supporting the 10:10 initiative of cutting Britain's CO2 emissions by 10% by 10/10/2010.

The Prime Minister said: “I don’t want to hear warm words about the environment. I want to see real action. I want this to be the greenest government ever. Today, taking our lead from 10:10, I commit us to a 10 per cent reduction in carbon emissions across central Government in the next twelve months. You’ll be driving this forward."

“But I have also made sure all Cabinet ministers are involved, developing plans to show how they will meet their share. And the public will be involved too – because we’re going to publish the energy use of government headquarters in real-time, so people can hold us to account for our performance. If we do this, we’ll cut the Government’s energy bills by hundreds of millions of pounds.”

In a meeting with staff at the DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change), it was announced by Cameron himself that he will ensure that the Government Department headquarters will publish online in real time their energy use so that the general public are able to hold ministers and civil servants accountable for their carbon footprint. The Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne has been appointed to ensure that this target is reached within government with the help of representatives from key departments and the private sector.

(Source: http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2010/05/central-government-emissions-to-be-cut-pm-2-50121)

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To read more about the 10:10 campaign, click here.

Shell becomes first fuel site to be awarded Carbon Trust Standard

Shell has introduced innovative energy-saving features at 200 petrol stations across the country in a bid to increase energy efficiency, cut carbon emissions and reduce energy costs. The sites involved in the Shell EnergySave Sites programme are aiming to achieve an average drop in energy consumption of 25% by introducing high-tech lighting and improvements in the cooling and heating systems.

Shell asked the Carbon Trust Standard Company (CTSC) to validate the energy saving success of pilot sites in Hayward’s Heath, High Wycombe and Salford Quays.

All three sites were found to have successfully measured, managed and reduced their carbon footprints. As a result, they are the first retail fuel sites to be awarded the coveted Carbon Trust Standard.

Shell now intends to work with CTSC to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard across all 200 petrol stations currently involved in the Shell EnergySave Sites programme and any further stations that join it.

The majority of savings from the Shell EnergySave Sites programme will be achieved by reducing electricity use. Shell worked closely with manufacturers to develop state-of-the-art solutions and train local staff. The innovations include motion-sensitive lighting, new LED signage, improved refrigeration and more efficient heating and air-conditioning systems. None of the changes will affect the safety of these sites for customers visiting Shell.

Shell also announced that to continue improving energy efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint of its retail operations, all new stations built in the UK will be constructed to be more energy efficient.

To read more on this story visit www.shell.co.uk