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Issue
No. 31 Contents
11 January 2008
. Q&A - Interview with a low carbon leader:
-
Joe Kwasnik, National Grid
. Network case studies - best practice and lessons learned:
-
Food and Drink Federation
- London Borough of Southwark
Council
. Networking and best practice sharing opportunities:
- Low Carbon Innovation Exchange event in
Bristol boasts impressive line-up of low carbon practitioners presenting
best practice sharing and training sessions on a range of practical topics.
Joe Kwasnik is Group Head of Climate Change for National Grid. Prior to this appointment, he was the Vice President of Environment for the US businesses of National Grid. In his current capacity, he develops corporate policy, strategy and implementation of initiatives to achieve a low carbon and more energy efficient business. Joe has been employed at National Grid for over 27 years and has a Bachelor's Degree in Geology and a Masters Degree in Environmental Engineering.
Tell us about what are you working on right now.
"We are implementing a Climate Change Initiative (CCI) within National Grid business. The CCI will have as its objective to imbed a carbon signal within the business. Our overall objective is to reduce our climate change emissions by 60% by the year 2050 - in keeping with the UK Government's goal of reducing the UK's emissions of CO2 by 60% by 2050."
What key measures is the National Grid taking to mitigate the effects of climate change?
"The key measure will be the implementation of a carbon budget within each of the main lines of business. Beginning with our new fiscal year on 1 April 2008, we will establish shadow budgets for each of the lines of business and we will track the emissions performance of each through the year.
"Beginning in April 2009, we will have real budgets assigned to each of the lines of business, distributed through each of the sub lines of business. During this year, executive and management remuneration will be partially based on achieving the carbon budgets. The businesses will be provided with tools, coaching and guidance to effect the carbon emissions [target] in a meaningful way and have a good chance of achieving their budgets. Each year the budgets will be reduced along a trajectory that will allow us to achieve the 60% reduction by 2050 [goal]."
What are your proudest 'green' achievements?
"While running the US environmental group for National Grid, I provided leadership for the clean-up and development of a number of former hazardous waste sites, improving the communities in which the sites were located."
What is the biggest challenge National Grid faces?
"Likely the biggest challenge we will face in the coming years is providing a reliable supply of environmentally benign and low carbon energy for our customers."
What is the biggest challenge you face in your role and how do you deal with this?
"The biggest challenge I face is providing the right incentives and direction to the lines of businesses, such that they will make the right decisions in managing our assets to bring about a low carbon emissions future for the company."
Could you name the key ingredients for a successful low carbon initiative in any sector?
"The key ingredients are: a management team that desires a low carbon emissions future; the ability to provide the correct incentives for the business to make the right decisions to move towards a low carbon emissions future and sustainable business; and a motivated, interested and knowledgeable workforce to implement the necessary changes."
Are current UK Government climate change targets realistic?
"Yes, I do believe they are achievable but it will take a concerted effort from all business sectors, the public and government to make it happen."
What emerging energy usage trends do you predict?
"Likely more renewables in the electric generation mix, more CHP and microgeneration units and greater penetration of energy efficiency within the UK population."
Further into the future, what will be the consequences of National Grid carbon reduction plans?
"We are focused on setting the company course to the 60% reduction by 2050 goal which I believe will unleash actions within our company that will transform our business in to a more efficient, profitable and environmentally benign business."
Please send any
questions you have for future "Q&A" interviewees to: Mel Poluck, Editor
at: mel@carbon-innovation.com
.
Food and Drink Federation
Sustainability has long been a priority for membership organisation the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), which first developed a sustainability framework in the run up to the World Summit on Sustainability in Johannesburg in 2002.
Read the full story on the Forum
here
London Borough of Southwark Council
The revitalisation of the Elephant and Castle, a deprived inner city area in the London Borough of Southwark is finally underway. Now plans have begun in earnest to develop housing and the commercial centre, without adding to existing carbon emissions, it looks set to be an exemplar low carbon community.
Read the full story on the Forum here
Bristol Marriott Hotel ~ 11 March 2008
The next staging of the Low Carbon Innovation Exchange in Bristol is attracting participants from across the South West. With two months to go, this event already offers a very extensive programme of regional case studies, training seminars and share sessions, including:
Minimising Carbon in the Food & Drink Supply Chain
Joe Keohane, Director, Sharp's Brewery
Wood fuel options for businesses
Anna Halcro-Johnston, South West Bioheat Programme Manager, Regen SW
Award winning environmental management and sustainability in action
Mark Bartlett, Environmental Manager, Ginsters
Experiences of a Low Cost Airline
Steve Parrott, Director of Health, Safety and Environment, Flybe
Taking the lead and challenging the norm
Dave Gill, Environmental Manager, Communisis BBF
Biomass Solutions
Paul Isbell, Energy Manager, Bristol City Council
Sustainable Bristol
Sarah Hills, Principal Sustainability Advisor, Forum For The Future
Tackling waste and recycling issues in the Construction industry
David McDermott, Technical Service Director, Midas Group Ltd
Best Practice in green new build construction projects
John Brenton, Energy Manager, Bristol University
Delivering Power Requirements and Energy Savings with CHP
Gary Crisp, Energy Manager, Airbus
Local Authorities leading by example to address climate change
Kevin Smith, Energy Surveyor, Bournemouth Borough Council
The challenge of achieving carbon reduction by reducing business mileage
David McDermott, Technical Service Director, Midas Group Ltd
Energy efficiency initiatives in action
David Rose, Energy & Environmental Analyst, South West Water
Quick Wins on Energy Efficiency & Carbon Management
John Mullholland, NIFES Consulting Group
Best Practice for Energy Managers ~ in a carbon conscious world
Trainer: George Norrie, GRN Associates
Best Practice for Environmental Champions
Ian McKay, TEAM
Green & Lean Supply Chain Management ~ squeezing out carbon from
'cradle to grave'
Bernard Auton, Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport
Green & Lean Marketing ~ how to delight low carbon consumers
Gareth Kane, Terra Infirma
Green & Lean Information Management ~ how to save costs and cut
carbon emissions
Simon Graham, Consultant
Share Session: Minimising carbon emissions by reducing energy costs
Share Session: Formulating a low carbon strategy
Share Session: How good is the business case for micro-generation projects?
Share Session: Sustainable procurement policies
Share Session: Empowering staff to take action
Others running case-study sessions, based on their experience of cutting carbon emissions within their own organisations, include:
Edward Shaw, Chairman, Barts Spices
Hamish Raeburn, Environmental Engineer, Building Design Partnership
Alan Dyer, Associate Director, Centre for Sustainable Futures
Stephen Clarke, Partner, Clarke Willmott
Jo Ramble, Sustainability Officer, Dartmoor National Park Authority
Sarah Nutt, Chief Inspector, Devon & Cornwall Constabulary
Philip Webb, Performance Review Manager, Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service
John Mayhew, Head of Climate Change, Hyder Consulting
Graham Melhuish, H&S and Environmental Manager, Lloyd Maunder
David McDermott, Technical Service Director, Midas Group
John O'Conner, Risk Manager, Somerfield Stores
Anna Halcro-Johnston, South West Bioheat Programme Manager, Regen SW
Caroline Digby, Director, The Eden Project
Keith Tipler, Managing Director, Upton Packaging
Keith Jones, Operational Manager Highways, Vale of Glamorgan Council
Edward Shaw, Chairman, Barts Spices
To book your place at the Bristol event (or any other of the regional Best
Practice Exchange events) click on the following link:
www.carbon-innovation.com/exchange.php
If you have been involved with carbon reduction initiatives within your own organisation and would like to share your experience, please call Martyn James on 01883 344 799 or send an email to martyn@carbon-inovation.com
The Low Carbon Innovation Network is hosting a new series of one-day regional seminars on a range of important topics, aimed at those involved in carbon reduction initiatives. Click on the seminars below for details of content, dates and locations:
Quick Wins on Energy Efficiency & Carbon Management
Best Practice for Environmental Champions
Best Practice for Energy Managers ~ in a carbon conscious world
Green & Lean Information Management ~ how to save costs and cut carbon emissions
Green & Lean Marketing ~ how to delight low carbon consumers
Green & Lean Supply Chain Management ~ squeezing out carbon from 'cradle to grave'
Best Practice Tips
Please visit the Forum here and share a tip that you have for organisations to reduce their carbon emissions. Often the very simplest ideas can have the greatest effect:
-
"It is important to be transparent by committing to publish progress reports."
- Callton Young, Director of Sustainability and Competitiveness Food and Drink Federation -
"Make the political commitment and embed delivery through the planning and land transaction process, so that connection [to renewable energy sources] by new buildings becomes an absolute compulsion."
- Tony Moseley, Sustainable Development and Infrastructure Manager, London Borough of Southwark.
Do you have colleagues that might be interested in receiving the Bulletin?
As the size of the Network grows, the opportunities to share best practice just get better!
So please encourage others to enrol on this free-to-join Network, for example other climate change champions and those with energy, sustainability, environment, fleet management, information technology, infrastructure development or corporate responsibility remits.
Please forward a copy of this Bulletin to all you think might be interested.
We are always grateful to receive any comments or feedback that you have with regards to the Bulletin, the Forum, the Exchange or the Network in general.
We would also like to hear from you if you have a case study for the Bulletin or have a topic that you would like to discuss at a future Best Practice Exchange.
Please email any comments or suggestions to mel@carbon-innovation.com
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