18/05/10
Energy Saving Trust drives Bron Afon to cut carbon for Sustainability Week
Staff at Bron Afon Housing Association are aiming to reduce car usage by 20% for Wales' first ever Sustainability Week with the help of the Energy Saving Trust.
Bron Afon, based in Torfaen, are holding a series of events during the Welsh Assembly Government's awareness week (17 to 23 May 2010), teaming up with the independent advice organisation to help them reach their greener transport target.
Energy Saving Trust experts are advising staff that leaving the car at home and making better use of other modes of transport, such as public transport, cycling or walking can make a big difference to the climate and the wallet.
Chris Gaylard from the Energy Saving Trust with Bron Afon Chief Executive Duncan Forbes and Environmental Manager Simon Morgan in the eco-driving seat.
In order to meet the reduction target, the rear car park has been transformed into a car-share only car park for the week. Each person reducing their car use qualifies to take the wheel for the Smarter Driving Challenge on the Energy Saving Trust's driving simulator.
The simulator assesses the driver's ability to drive efficiently, saving fuel consumption. Prizes are on offer for the week's 'smartest driver'.
Esther Tallent, centre manager at the Energy Saving Trust's Advice Centre Wales, said:
"It's a pleasure to team up with Bron Afon and lend our support to their challenge for Wales' first ever Sustainability Week.
"The staff have been learning that car sharing is a great way to reduce their transport footprint and that it can extend the running-life of vehicles, significantly reducing wear and tear and making extra cost-savings.
"It's surprising just how easy it can be to be an ‘eco-driver'. Greener transport measures don't just benefit the environment, they're cost-saving too. Planning journeys to avoid traffic and staying on top of tyre pressure can save on expensive fuel. Drivers who make small changes to their habits could see savings of up to £250 each year."
Throughout the week, Bron Afon are also holding a swap shop, encouraging people to reuse items that would otherwise be thrown out. Green fingered staff are holding allotment master classes and the cafeteria, Bron Appetite, has sourced locally-produced food.
Everybody who walks or cycles into work is being treated to a 50 per cent reduction on juice at the cafeteria.
Simon Morgan, Environmental Manager at Bron Afon said:
"It's pleasing to see so many of our staff making the effort to be a little greener. We have over 250 members of staff, so if each of them adopted some of these measures we can make a big collective difference and save some money too.
"The Energy Saving Trust's help in identifying greener travel tips and using the driving simulator is invaluable. I'm confident that we can achieve our target of reducing car usage throughout the company by 20 per cent."
In the last two years Bron Afon has spent £16 million on internal improvements to tenants' homes with the aim of bringing every home up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard by the end of 2012.
This has included: fitting double glazed windows in over 5000 tenants' homes, fitting 3,900 new secure front doors in tenants' homes and securing more than £1.8 million of additional investment in Torfaen, by gaining external funding for various projects including loft and cavity wall insulation, external insulation for hard to heat homes and solar hot water panels.
For further information on green driving or for other energy saving tips visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
Further information on Wales Sustainability Week is available here: http://wales.gov.uk/topics/sustainabledevelopment/sdevents0910/sustainabilityweek/?lang=en
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For further information please contact Ellen Broadley (ellen.broadley@workingwordpr.com) or Daniel Tyte (daniel.tyte@workingwordpr.com) at Working Word PR on 02920 646840
Energy Saving Trusts' ‘Eco-driving' tips:
1. Drive Off From Cold. Modern cars are designed to move straight away. Warming up the engine just wastes fuel - and actually causes engine wear
2. Check Your Revs. Change up before 2,500rpm (petrol) or 2,000rpm (diesel)
3. Drive Smoothly. Anticipate road conditions so that you drive smoothly and avoid sharp acceleration and heavy braking. This saves fuel and reduces accident rates.
4. Step Off The Accelerator. When slowing down or driving downhill, remain in gear but take your foot off the accelerator early. This reduces fuel flow to the engine to virtually zero.
5. Slow Down. Driving within the speed limit is safer as well as being the law, and reduces fuel consumption.
6. Switch It Off. Modern cars use virtually no extra fuel when they are re-started without pressing the accelerator. Turn off the engine if you're going to be stationary for more than a minute or two.
7. Plan Ahead. Plan your journeys to avoid congestion and road works, and to make sure you don't waste fuel or time getting lost!
8. Keep It Long. Use other forms of transport for short journeys, if you can. A cold engine uses almost twice as much fuel and catalytic converters can take five miles to become effective.
9. Reduce Drag. Accessories such as roof racks, bike carriers and roof boxes significantly affect your car's aerodynamics and reduce fuel efficiency, so remove them when not in use.
10. Check Tyre Pressure. Under-inflated tyres are dangerous and increase fuel consumption.
