Environmental policy

Over the last 15 years the Society has proactively introduced a number of successful environmental practices including adoption of the Government's "Making a Corporate Commitment to Energy Efficiency Campaign" along with the launch of a number of Green Mortgage products such as the 'Carbon Neutral Mortgage'.

These practices were brought together in 2000 under a new Environmental Policy which obtained board approval in November 2000.

THE NORWICH AND PETERBOROUGH GROUP'S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

"To minimise our impact on the environment by adopting best practice in the use of energy, management of waste and use of natural resources"


Environmental Objectives 2006

The Society’s targets for 2006 are based on past performance and expected changes to premises, processes or operations in the forthcoming 12 months. Energy use at the Principal Office has fallen considerably over the last decade and no further savings are expected in 2006. Spring 2005 saw the introduction of longer operating hours and higher staff numbers, the impact of which will be reflected in the 2006 targets.

1.0  Energy

Monitoring of electricity and gas consumption at the Principal Office will be undertaken monthly and reported to the executive team on a quarterly basis. Monitoring of electricity and gas consumption across the branch network will be undertaken on an ad hoc basis and reported to the executive team annually. 

Energy saving initiatives will be reviewed on a regular basis and the use of electricity supplies from renewable sources will be implemented where financially viable.

The following Lynch Wood electricity consumption targets will be set for 2006.

Principal Office.

Quarter 1

Quarter 2

Quarter 3

Quarter 4

Total year end kWh.

2002 actual

304825

271434

266059

276552

1118870

2003 actual

285240

259775

271154

284602

1100771

2004 actual

289417

273482

294352

289399

1146650

2005 actual

293832

310318

321515

316617

1242282

2006 target

313000

315000

320000

316000

1264000*

2006 actual 313138 282848 285589 297382 1178957

*2006 target higher than 2005 due to longer operating hours and more staff.

The Branch network electricity consumption target will be set at 1,650,000 kWh for 2006. This compares to 1,700,000 actual in 2005.

The following Lynch Wood gas consumption targets will be set for 2006. 

Principal Office.

Quarter 1

Quarter 2

Quarter 3

Quarter 4

Total year end kWh.

2002 actual

202697

118739

20057

206133

547626

2003 actual

251787

94310

16604

155186

517887

2004 actual

277571

91760

20840

155249

545420

2005 actual

282440

89274

21310

145455

538479

2006 target

280000 

90000

21300

145000

536300**

2006 actual 270421 113794 18674 145411 549435

**2006 target would have been higher than 2005 due to extended operating hours however, alterations to boiler controls are starting to show savings.

The Branch network gas consumption target will be set at 165,000 kWh for 2006. This compares to 260,233 kWh in 2005. The 2006 target is significantly lower due to the upgrade of boiler systems at two of our braches.

2.0  Water

Monitoring of water consumption at the Principal Office will be undertaken monthly and reported to the executive team on a quarterly basis. Monitoring of water consumption across the branch network will be undertaken on an ad hoc basis and reported to the executive team on an annual basis.

Water saving initiatives will be reviewed on a regular basis and implemented where viable.

The following Lynch Wood water consumption targets will be set for 2006.

Principal Office.

Quarter 1

Quarter 2

Quarter 3

Quarter 4

Total year end m3.

2002 actual

1030

1031

1004

1005

4070

2003 actual

836

754

977

977

3544

2004 actual

1088

544

1032

957

3621

2005 actual

849

1054

972

948

3823

2006 target

970

970

970

950

3860***

2006 actual 967 988 965 965 3885

***2006 target higher than 2005 due to longer operating hours and more staff.

The Branch network water consumption target will be set at 2,500 m3 for 2006 which is comparable with 2005’s actual consumption. 

3.0  Transport

The Society’s Travel Plan will be used as a guide throughout the year in order to:  

  • Minimise the amount of mileage undertaken by staff for business use.
  • Minimise the amount of mileage undertaken by the Society’s suppliers for business use.
  • Minimise commuter traffic at the Principal Office for single occupancy car users.
  • Explore opportunities to positively discriminate in favour of less polluting forms of transport.

Additional cycle, shower and locker facilities will be provided at Lynch Wood in 2006 to encourage alternative ways of commuting not involving cars.

4.0 Resource management

The Society will actively seek out and promote opportunities to minimise waste and maximise recycling across the following areas:

  • Toner cartridges.
  • Plastic drinking cups.
  • IT equipment and consumables.
  • Telephony equipment and consumables.
  • Fluorescent lighting.
  • Stationery products.
  • Marketing material.
  • Building waste.
  • Furniture.
  • Grounds maintenance (composting etc).

Ongoing attention will be given on paper use throughout 2006 in order to bring down usage by:

  • Monthly monitoring and reporting of usage.
  • Raising staff awareness on volume of paper used and opportunities to minimise printing.
  • Maximising use of IT systems to minimise printing.

The use of materials from managed sustainable sources will be actively sought including:

·        Timber for shopfitting and building works.

·        Paper for stationery and marketing materials.

The use of ozone depleting chemicals including HCFC’s for air conditioning will continue to be phased out.

5.0 Environmental Support & Benchmarking

Accreditation under the PECT Environmental Management Scheme will be retained and used as a guide throughout the year to help minimise waste and reduce pollution.

Opportunities for the promotion of energy efficiency across the region will be actively sought including:

  • Development of environmental products (green mortgages etc).
  • Joint ventures with non-profit making organisations.
  • Development of carbon reduction initiatives through the CRed Programme.