Climate change
Introduction
Climate change is widely acknowledged as the biggest environmental challenge facing the world today. Average global temperatures are rising and we are seeing more extreme weather events such as heat waves, storms, droughts and flooding. These changes are believed to be as a result of rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, which in turn are caused by the burning of fossil fuels for energy and transport.
The Carbon Trust estimates the UK's carbon emissions to be 560 million tonnes, with the hospitality sector accounting for 5% of this total, or 11 million tonnes. Whitbread's carbon emissions constitute circa 2.5% of the hospitality sector.
We can help to combat climate change by using our energy efficiently and purchasing clean renewable energy where possible i.e. energy that is generated using natural resources such as the wind, waves, and the sun.
Our approach
Our approach to climate change incorporates three key strands:
- Accurately measuring our total energy consumption;
- Rolling out low-energy initiatives; and
- Purchasing energy from renewable sources via power generation that is Climate Change Levy exempt.
Carbon emissions
As a growing business, Whitbread's absolute carbon emissions have grown by 6% in 2008/09. However, relative to sales, our carbon footprint has reduced by 3%.
Initiatives
To follow are some of the initiatives employed within the group.
Measuring and monitoring
All buildings that have an electricity supply with a demand exceeding 100kW will have half-hourly metering equipment, which means that they have the capability to record energy usage every half an hour. This technology allows us to accurately measure and monitor our energy consumption and the effects of any energy saving initiatives employed.
However, many of our outlets have an electricity supply with a demand of less than 100kW and do not have such metering equipment installed. This would normally mean that we would be reliant on monthly electricity bills to measure the consumption at these outlets.
To overcome this issue and improve our energy consumption data, we have been installing electricity data logging meters at our non-half hourly sites. To date, they have been installed at 49 hotels and 83 restaurants and will continue to be rolled out where possible.
None of the gas meters in the estate have historically had the capability to capture data in the same way as outlined above. Therefore the Company has also started to install gas data logging meters, to allow accurate measurement and monitoring of its gas consumption. To date these have been installed at 99 Premier Inn hotels.
Accounting and reporting
A consumption-based electricity accounting and reporting system is operating within Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants. This system delivers the following benefits:
- Each site is immediately charged for the electricity it has consumed each month via our installed data logging meters without having to wait for a supplier's bill to be received;
- Both good and bad practices are instantly and accurately reflected in the site's electricity charges. This incentivises and focuses Whitbread's management teams and promotes "good housekeeping" practices; and
- Accurate consumption performance reports are produced, by site, allowing management to eliminate poor practice and reduce wastage.
Low energy lighting
The Company is phasing out its use of non-energy efficient incandescent bulbs within the estate, in favour of low energy alternatives such as compact fluorescent bulbs and LEDs. These are now the only type of bulbs made available to the estate.
The new low energy bulbs last twice as long as the bulbs used previously, and they use on average 30-50% less electricity, depending on type.
Energy efficient water heaters
New-build hotels are fitted with energy-efficient condensing water heaters, which are specially designed for the production of large volume hot water in commercial properties. Using innovative condensing technology, these water heaters allow high performance, low energy consumption and low running costs, in addition to low CO2 and NOx emissions. In the last two years, 70 of these heaters have been installed in our estate.
Washing machines and dryers
Most of our laundry is outsourced to specialist companies, but we do carry out a small amount onsite. The washing machines we provide are 'AAA' energy rated and they are also built to last a minimum of 8000 washes. Should the machine break down, it has been designed so that the individual parts are easy to replace. It is more cost effective to repair the machine than to replace it, as has sometimes been the case with other makes and models purchased in the past.
Car fleet
Whitbread's car fleet contains 475 cars, which are leased from a fleet management company.
Diesel vehicles are more fuel-efficient than petrol vehicles and therefore will produce less carbon dioxide per Kilometre travelled. Diesel vehicles emit lower levels of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons than petrol vehicles, but higher levels of particulates.
 |
1999/2000 | 2008/09 |
| Diesel | 18% | 93.7% |
| Petrol | 82% | 6.3% |
The split between petrol and diesel in the car fleet has moved from 82% petrol and 18% diesel in 1999/2000, to 6.3% petrol, 93.7% diesel in 2008/09.
The average distance travelled per vehicle per annum did not change significantly in the last year.
Whitbread's car policy allows drivers to select a vehicle from a band appropriate to their role and grade. The CO2 emissions of the cars in bands 1 to 6 are capped at 160g/km, whilst the cars in bands 7 and 8 CO2 emissions are capped at 200g/km.
|
2007/08 | 2008/09 |
| Number of cars | 487 | 475 |
| Miles travelled | 11,137,203 | 10,755,876 |
| Miles travelled per car | 22,869 | 22,644 |
According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, in the UK, the average CO2 emissions for new cars has fallen from 189.8g/km in 1997 to 158g/km in 2008. In Whitbread's car fleet, 72% of cars have emissions that are lower than 158g/km.
Company car drivers are also encouraged to drive in a responsible manner in accordance with guidelines issued by the Company, which include advice that will improve fuel consumption, for example:
- Advice on driving style and behaviour;
- Avoiding carrying excessive loads in the boot of the car; and
- Checking tyre pressure.
Purchasing clean renewable energy
The availability of renewable energy in the UK is still not enough to satisfy current demand. However, in 2008/09 Whitbread succeeded in doubling its supply of renewable energy from 5% to 10% for half hourly meter contracts and 20% for non-half hourly meter contracts.
This has reduced the Company's dependency on fossil fuel-generated electricity and therefore reduced the carbon emissions associated with the Company's electricity consumption.
Carbon management
The company has implemented a carbon management programme to create a long-term carbon strategy for the business. The process began with the calculation of the company's carbon footprint, then by identifying a list of potential carbon-saving initiatives and technologies that could be implemented. These initiatives and technologies were then evaluated using a Marginal Abatement Cost Curve, which is the method favoured by the Carbon Trust to prioritise carbon reduction opportunities according to the cost per tonne of CO2 saved. This results in an implementation plan that will deliver highest carbon savings for every pound spent.
Trials
To follow are some of the trials that have been undertaken within the group.
PIR controls
In 2008, a trial was conducted at a Premier Inn hotel to test the viability of using PIR (passive infra red) occupancy lighting controls in the corridors of our hotels. These controls reduce energy consumption by switching lights off when people are no longer in the corridor. Following the success of this trial, PIR controls are now installed at all new hotels.
Dishwasher trials
Winterhalter, Whitbread's supplier of ware wash equipment conducted a dishwasher trial at one Beefeater restaurant and one Premier Inn standalone hotel. The energy consumption of the new energy-efficient GS500 model was compared to the standard model. The new model has an innovative design that uses the steam generated by the washing process to heat the incoming cold water supply. They are also fitted with
a wastewater heat recovery system. These design features heat the incoming cold water to a temperature of 50°C at no additional cost to the operator.
The trial demonstrated that the new dishwasher achieved a saving of 10,000kWh per annum when compared to the previous model. The new dishwasher has been rolled out to 13 hotels and restaurants to date.
Low energy coffee machines
Costa has been trialling new energy-efficient coffee machines, which use less energy when compared to traditional machines. Instead of having a single boiler for coffee, steam and hot water, this innovative design has one boiler to produce steam and 3 water reservoirs dedicated exclusively to coffee. Each reservoir can be maintained at a different temperature according to the type of coffee bean that is being brewed and its optimal brewing temperature. This design keeps the temperatures stable and therefore uses less energy. The machine also has a learning function, whereby it remembers usage patterns and distributes power accordingly, switching the machine onto standby when not required, producing energy savings of up to 34%.
LED lighting
LED lighting is currently being trialled in two Costa stores. The light fittings currently being used by Costa include 50W spotlights and ceiling lights, which are being replaced by 7W alternatives.
Head office energy saving initiatives
To follow are some of the initiatives employed at our head offices.
Lights off policy
Whitbread's head offices have a 'lights off' policy overnight. Lights are linked to the building management system that automatically switches off all non-essential the lights at times when the building is unoccupied, typically 11pm to 6am.
Time switches on vending machines
Hot drink vending machines have been fitted with time switches, which automatically turn off the machines overnight and at weekends.
Voltage optimisation
A voltage optimisation unit was installed at our head office in Dunstable in December 2008.
Operating electrical equipment at high voltages leads to significantly higher energy consumption, for example lighting and motors both use more power at higher voltages. By optimising the supply voltage, such equipment will only use the energy it requires to operate efficiently.
The benefits of this technology include reduced energy consumption and reduced maintenance burden through the more efficient operation of equipment. Voltage optimisation units also reduce the maximum demand for the site, therefore can potentially reduce standing charges. Early indications suggest that the voltage optimisation unit is demonstrating electricity savings of circa 11%.
