ech2o Environmental Statement
We work in an industry that has a direct effect on over 40% of the UK’s CO2 emissions. Our commitment is to ensure that the buildings we design, refurbish or audit, have the lowest possible carbon footprint at the end of the process, and that we effectively deliver that message to the design professionals that we train and to the users of the buildings that we work with. We are committed to specifying robust solutions and to understand the installation, commissioning and maintenance requirements before we specify, to ensure that systems function efficiently throughout their life.
We realise that running our business also has environmental implications and aim to leave as small an ecological footprint as possible in all that we do. Much of work is office based. We share office space with three other companies to limit our emissions from the building we work from, but it is rented office space on a short lease and uses electric space heating. We have installed secondary glazing and other measures to reduce heat loss and heat the office to 18 degrees C maximum. We have efficient lights, use recycled paper for all our printing needs and have low emission computer screens.
We have clients across the UK and travel quite extensively for site meetings, site audits and to deliver training. We take public transport to all site meetings, conferences and training; we only go by private vehicle if we have to take a large number of tools to site. We do not fly on ech2o business whether in Europe or the UK. Everyone who works for ech2o (temporary or permanent staff) either cycle or travel by public transport to the office.
We understand that it is incumbent on all people in the rich industrialised world to use less and that “offsetting” carbon emissions is no substitute for reducing emissions in the first place. We believe in the 4Rs, the most important of which is our responsibility to the planet and its inhabitants.
We are committed to continual improvement and are part of the 10:10 campaign to reduce our emissions by 10% in 2010.
January 2010