Royal Mail Climate Change Challenge Pack:
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Royal Mail – Carbon neutral
Carbon management programme
Royal Mail Group is trying to reduce its carbon footprint and reduce carbon dioxide
emissions (CO2). They are working with the Carbon Trust in their Carbon Management
Programme to assess cost effective, carbon reduction measures.
Their carbon management strategy has three
main strands detailed below:
1. Energy efficiency
Reducing the amount of energy consumed
by vehicles and buildings to reduce carbon
dioxide emissions:
• reducing congestion and CO2 by
choosing the most appropriate method
of transport
• choosing cleaner, lower carbon vehicles
• using vehicles in the most efficient
manner
• sharing best practice.
2. Alternative fuels
Royal Mail need energy to deliver their
services, so they are looking for alternative
types/sources of energy e.g. bio-fuels.
UNIT 5
Their original target to source 10% of
their energy from renewable sources
was increased to 50% and has now been
exceeded with 100% of their electricity now
coming from certified renewable sources.
3. Offsetting residual
CO2 emissions
As there will always be some residual carbon
dioxide from their vehicles etc, Royal Mail will
try to reduce their overall carbon footprint
by “offsetting” e.g. supporting schemes such
as the planting of native trees in the UK
(carbon sequestration) and working closely
with the Woodland Trust.
Energy saving
Energy pilot schemes will be rolled out at
several of their offices over the 2005–06 year.
Using Combined Heat and Power (CHP).
They have 30 CHP units at 18 offices,
supplying 51GWh or 12% of their total
electricity consumption.
Using alternative fuel technology in their
road fleet. They currently have 147 Liquefied
Petroleum Gas (LPG) vehicles operating in
London and Perth, along with six electric
vehicles operating in the Oxford area.