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Energy award for East Coast

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East Coast has won an award for reducing energy use at its stations, depots and offices.

The company has been awarded the Gold Carbon Saver Standard as part of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme by Carbon Saver, an independent organisation which works with firms to save energy and contribute towards Britain’s carbon reduction commitment (CRC).

A network of East Coast environment champions has been set up at stations and depots. The environment champions help identify areas where energy use could be reduced and savings delivered. One of the most successful locations has been East Coast’s Clayhills depot in Aberdeen, which has reduced its electricity use year- on-year by 22% thanks to the introduction of more energy- efficient gas boilers, better management of shore supplies – used to provide power to trains in depots – and the use of sensors to turn off lights when not in use.

Measures introduced at Durham station have achieved an impressive 30 per cent year-on- year saving in energy consumption. Electricity use fell by 7% over the same period after East Coast’s environment champions switched off water boilers when not in use. Low energy lighting reduced power consumption in the travel centre and waiting rooms, while better fault reporting of car park lighting sensors ensured lights were all switched off during daytime hours.

An 8% energy saving was also achieved at East Coast House, the company’s headquarters in York, by reducing use of air conditioning in the evenings, launching software to power down computers at night, and more efficient maintenance of heating and cooling systems.

Says East Coast Environment Manager, Jim Harbidge, ‘The award of Gold Standard by Carbon Saver followed visits to each of our managed locations by assessors
who looked for evidence of how we are saving energy and encouraging our people to get involved.

The Gold Standard recognises the great progress made at East Coast towards greater energy efficiency – but this is just the beginning. We’ve set ourselves a target to reduce energy use by a further 5% this year, supported by a network of environment champions based at each depot, station and office building managed by East Coast.’

Reducing energy use makes good economic sense too. East Coast currently uses energy worth around £1.75 million each year. As well as reducing its power bill, the company hopes to play its part in meeting Britain’s carbon reduction commitment.

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