So this is it, 2012 is ‘the big year’ where real energy reduction success will be revealed in the CRC League Tables and energy price rises bite further into profit margins. There’s no better time to drive that initiative forward and make those reductions.

To get you started here are two tips to consider.

1. Create a clear strategy that others can follow:

As with any ‘journey’, a sustainability strategy must be well planned, thought out and easy to explain. After all you don’t want programmes to conflict, duplicate or baffle the audience.  The GAIA Path is one such simple methodology to help decide what to do and when. It works on the premise that actions need to be placed in the right order and scheduled at the right time to maximise impact. For example employee engagement sits in the ‘Manage’ step at the front with carbon trading at the end in the ‘Offset’ step.  Learn more about it here:  GAIA Path.

2: Recognise your role is to influence others:

Once you’re clear on what your plans are you need to engage others.  An Energy Managers success greatly depends upon their ability to influence others from the Chief Executive to the Cleaner. To do this we advocate starting with a compelling message. It has to be more than just ’saving money’ or ‘reducing carbon’ which will have little appeal and make everyone feel guilty. Consider something aspirational like a commitment to ISO 14001 or a Green Policy commitment to your customers.

To understand how to do this and obtain 19 more ideas on how to enable a sustainable culture in your business, request a Free copy of our Sustainability Handbook Click here to request booklet.

Good Luck!

Haydn

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It was great to meet up yesterday with the attendees at the inaugural Leicestershire High Energy Users’ group.

A wide range of issues were discussed ranging from the impact of carbon-reduction legislation and carbon planning to the adoption of energy-saving technologies including lighting upgrades, voltage optimisation, photovoltaics and variable speed drives. A common thread was the need for impartial advice about the new available technologies rather than relying on manufacturers’ ‘spin’ which can cause confusion and which ultimately lengthens the decision-making process.

Forthcoming meetings will seek to invite such impartial providers of advice on a range of technologies. We look forward to the next meeting to be held on 19^th January hosted by Oadby & Wigston Borough Council.

If you’re a Leicestershire business and would like to join our self help group. Just email myself at teresa.morton@gaiaactive.com. The group is free to join.

Teresa Morton GAIA

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Thank you to all of you who turned out for the Energy Event seminar on Empowering staff to achieve sustainable energy savings, given by Louisa Nadolny of Blaby District Council.

Louisa talked about the award-winning carbon-reduction achievements at Blaby, and kindly acknowledged the contribution provided by GAIA during the past year. As promised,  here are the presentation slides for you to read at your leisure.

GAIA presentation for NEC 14th Sept 2011 Final

Teresa Morton, GAIA Sept

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Many congratulations to Blaby District Council for winning a coveted Green Apple Award for their energy and transport reduction success encouraged by their Behaviour Change Programme with GAIA. The official ceremony for the award will be in November at the Houses of Commons.

Across all of Blaby District Council they saved 19.25% of total utility energy consumption and vehicle fuel in 2010, a fantastic result – well done all.

You can hear more about how Blaby District Council achieved these savings at the Energy Event 13/14 September the NEC in Birmingham.

Click this link to learn more – Energy Event Link

Teresa – GAIA

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Many thanks to all those organisations who attended the  Workshop at the ‘Innovation & Investment for a Low Carbon Future’ Conference at the NEC on 3rd December.

GAIA conducted a session on how to promote Behaviour Change in the Workplace.

As promised we have uploaded the presentation for you to revisit again.

Click here for: Innovation & Investment Conference Slides

Haydn – GAIA Dec 2010

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Staff at Blaby District Council have taken on the challenge of cutting their energy use by 10 per cent over the next six months.

The project, called Time 4 Change, is aimed at getting council officers to constantly review their own energy usage to bring about a long term shift in behaviour which could save the authority more than £12,000 a year and drastically reduce its carbon footprint.

An energy efficiency team made up of staff from several departments will monitor electricity use across all the Council’s buildings and work with individuals to meet the 10 per cent target by February 2011.

Councillor Guy Jackson, portfolio holder for the natural environment said:

We have set ourselves an ambitious target but if we all work together I’m confident it can be achieved. Cutting energy use is more important than ever because, like everyone else in the public sector, we have a big budget gap to fill over the next few years and small changes in behaviour, like making sure appliances are turned off, can make a big difference.

The Council have already installed a combined heat and power system at Enderby Leisure Centre which will recycle the heat produced when generating electricity to maintain the temperature of the swimming pool.

The carbon trust has estimated that this new system could save a massive 352 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year with a potential financial saving of £42,000 annually.

(Blaby are using the GAIA three steps approach to achive energy reductions)

http://www.blaby.gov.uk/ccm/content/news-and-information/press-releases/2010/08/council-staff-vow-to-cut-carbon-and-save-cash.en

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One of the greatest challenges for businesses is engaging their staff within the energy saving program. When achieved the next challenge is to sustain these messages.

Our 5 top tips to create a sustainable energy saving message:

1) Create a team to lead the initiative from diverse parts of your business.

2) Identify good ‘connectors’ people who are good at selling messages within a business.

3) Ensure energy consumption is part of the regular management meeting agenda.

4) Use the energy data visually – print of weekly reports and display on a notice board.

5) Broaden the project within a wider Corporate Social Responsibility project or within ISO14001. This increases the likelihood of longevity.

GAIA

www.gaiaactive.com

See how you can save with GAIA: Get a FREE energy evaluation.

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One common misconception in energy efficiency is that a modern factory with modern machinery is energy efficient. Overall it will be much better then an old factory with old kit, but that does not mean it is as efficient as it could be.

Why is this? Well the key missing ingredient is staff behaviour.

Many companies run energy saving campaigns in small groups rarely interacting with the staff around them. If they do communicate their plans they often fail to achieve employee buy in.

It is important to get staff buy in as they are the ones interacting with your machinery on a daily basis. So if they leave machinery on idle or heating to early this all contributes to energy wastage.

GAIA

Posted in CRC Carbon Reduction Commitment, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Manufacturers, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Offices | No Comments »

Following on from the Isles of Scilly earlier this month it is now the turn of Leicestershire to take on the Big Switch Off.

The initiative, which lasts for one week, aims to reduce energy consumption by turning off lights and unused appliances.

Homes, businesses, schools and community groups are involved and the results will be monitored by the local energy network.

If you are taking part and need some advice on how to save energy call GAIA on 02476 236446. We have a range of FREE resources that may help.

Posted in Energy Saving Tips, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Manufacturers, Energy Saving and Efficiency at Work - Offices, FREE DOWNLOADS | 6 Comments »

One of the great challenges with energy efficiency is maintaining your savings.

If you insulate your home or office this type of saving is secured as long as you leave the walls alone, but most energy saving activities requires human involvement/engagement so when you have the team on side you need to maintain this behaviour. Staff turnover, new business initiatives all pull staff attention quickly away from energy efficiency.

The challenge for any business is to keep energy efficiency firmly on the business agenda. Energy efficiency must become a constant business process, if you see it as a quick fix the savings will be lost quicker than you achieve them.

GAIA 5 Tips to Maintaining Savings.

1) Create an Energy Saving Team – involving a wide range of members from within your business.

2) Set a Business Goal to save energy that the team can work to and ensure they read your energy consumption data frequently to feedback progress.

3) For users of the GAIA platform set an energy consumption alert to monitor your consumption peaks. This will ensure you are informed should you reach capacity limits.

4) Create and Energy charter/statement of intent connected to the company culture or brand.

5) For users of the GAIA platform set an energy consumption alert to monitor your weekend/out of hours.

GAIA

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