Stagecoach annual Green Week to focus on energy reduction

Stagecoach South West is focusing on energy reduction as part of the transport group’s fifth annual Group-wide Green Week programme next week.

To mark the campaign, the local bus company is planning a series of events between 3 and 7 June.

During the week-long programme of activities, Stagecoach South West will encourage employees and customers to continue driving forward the green agenda.

This year’s Green Week incorporates World Environment Day on Wednesday 5 June – a widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action when people from all walks of life can come together to ensure a cleaner, greener outlook for future generations.

Stagecoach Group’s 35,000 employees in the UK and North America have significant environmental achievements to celebrate during Green Week.

The Group has delivered its current five-year targets 12 months ahead of schedule, achieving an overall absolute reduction of 8% in carbon emissions from buildings and a cut of 3% in annual carbon emissions per vehicle mile from fleet transport. Compared to the size of its global operations, Stagecoach has cut the carbon impact (kg CO2 per £ of turnover) of its business in the UK and North America by more than 20% in the past four years.

Earlier this year, figures compiled as part of the Government’s Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme showed that Stagecoach Group is among the top 10% of large companies in the UK for its performance in reducing the carbon emissions from its business.

The Group’s strategy has been supported by an £11 million green investment programme. Employee initiatives and eco teams set up by staff have also helped drive dramatic improvements in energy and carbon efficiency. Last year, Stagecoach Group also retained the prestigious Carbon Trust Standard for its action on carbon reduction.

To maintain the momentum of the Group’s programme, work is now underway to develop a new five-year strategy. This will include identifying further cost-effective energy-saving opportunities, continuing investment to make the business greener, and setting new targets around carbon reduction and water consumption.

Green Week aims to raise awareness of environmental issues among staff and passengers through a series of events. At Stagecoach South West, the following activities will be held for staff and customers:

The Hop bunny will be on hand at Paignton Bus Station to give out green giveaways to travellers at Paignton Bus Station on the morning of Thursday 6 June. This year’s giveaways are a ‘bag for life’ and wind-up torch.
A local cycle company, Bike Shed, will be visiting the Exeter, Torquay and Barnstaple depots to talk to staff about purchasing bikes to commute to work.
In addition, over the last 12 months the operating company has invested close to £10 million in the latest high specification vehicles for its fleet, including 23 buses for Torbay, 8 buses for the 52 route operating between Exeter and Sidmouth and 22 buses which are just coming into service for the North Devon Wave service 21 route operating in North Devon.

Stagecoach South West Managing Director Michelle Hargreaves said: “We have achieved a great deal over several years in reducing the environmental impact of our operations and that is all down to the hard work of our staff.

“There is a lot more we still want to achieve and Green Week helps us to continue the momentum. We will also continue to work hard all year round to attract more people to public transport as well as taking further steps to become a more sustainable business ourselves.”

Stagecoach Group initiatives underway include:

Investing in a hi-tech eco-driving system, which is expected to reduce fuel consumption at the Group’s bus division by 4%. The scheme also offers employees the chance to earn “green points” that are converted into financial benefits from a potential £900,000 annual bonus pot.
Becoming the UK bus industry’s leading investor in new hybrid electric buses, which deliver a 30% reduction in carbon emissions compared to standard vehicles.
Increasing the number of vehicles running on biofuel, as well as testing other sustainable recycled biofuels.
Investing almost £450 million over the past six years in new buses and coaches for the UK with greener engines.
Installing a new ‘intelligent’ lighting system, which uses movement sensors to determine the amount of light required, at a number of bus depots and railway stations across the UK and in North America.
Improving energy management systems at offices and depots to reduce carbon emissions from buildings.
Investing £2.2 million at South West Trains in a major regenerative braking project to save energy on more than 200 trains.
Reducing the CO2 emissions from the Stagecoach bus fleet in the UK by more than 188,000 tonnes over the past eight years through use of a hi-tech fuel additive.
Cutting gas and energy consumption at South West Trains’ 20 largest stations by 9%, saving 110 tonnes of carbon.

Every year, Stagecoach reports on its carbon emissions through its corporate website, www.stagecoach.com. It also provides information on its global carbon footprint to the Carbon Disclosure Project, the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emissions database.