Green Issues
THE THREE R'S REDUCE! REFUSE! RECYCLE!
This is a brief insight into how The Howard Centre helps the environment, our Operations Manager, Mick Jones is very passionate about this and is always looking for ways to improve how we can reduce our carbon footprint. We hope you find it interesting reading.
In 2008 the Howard Centre installed motion detectors in some service corridors so that lighting was only on when the area was actually in use. Following the sucessful introduction of these sensors more were installed in 2009. Our Technical Services Manager, Kevin Wilkins, closely monitors all utility bills and has just agreed with the tenants which staff toilet systems are stuitable for the installation of "Hippo Blocks" which reduce the amount of water consumed when flushing.
Compared with the period 2007 to March 2008 we have begun to make in roads into the amount of general waste that was previously sent to landfill.
During the period April 2007 to March 2008 we produced a total of 272.49 tonnes of waste. Of this only 75.73 tonnes, 27.79% was sent for recycling.
During the period April 2008 to March 2009 we produced a total of 257.20 tonnes of waste. Of this 94.66 tonnes, 36.80% was sent for recycling. A big improvement on the previous year.
During the period April 2009 to March 2010 we produced a total of 261.20 tonnes of waste. Of this 125.63 tonnes, 48.10% was sent for recycling. 66% up on two years ago!
During the period April 2010 to March 2011 we produced a total of 259.45 tonnes of waste. Of this 138.57 tonnes, 53.4% was sent for recycling. This was achieved through our tenants being more active in segregating recyclable waste, such as plastic, cardboard and paper. We have also been able to send considerably more wooden pallets away for reuse than previously.
In the coming year we are committed to further reducing our carbon footprint and increasing our recycling figure. Already this year we have replaced our mall bins, which now allow visitors to seperate their waste into recyclable streams. Every little helps.
We have gone even "Greener"
A 350kVA "powerPerfector" unit was installed and bought on-line in early April 2012 on the supply to the Landlord's common area switchboard and is already showing significant savings in electricity costs.
Utilising "Voltage Power Optimisation", a unique and proven technology only found in "powerPerfector", the unit optimises the supply voltage receive (242V), so connected plant and equipment only receives the optimisted voltage (220V). This "Voltage Power Optimisation" is estimated to reduce energy use in the instance by approximately 12%, subsequently reducing carbon emissions by 99.9 tonnes per year.
The optimised supply will also prolong the operational life and reliability of connected plant and equipment including lighting, lifts, escaltors and ventilation plant. "Voltage Power Optimisation" also creates a more efficient, robust and reliable electrical supply for the site. An increasingf number of electrical phenomena, including spikes, adversely affect and degrade equipment, causing costly damage.
The "powerPerfector" unit protects supplied equipment from such phenomena, which are on the increase and becoming more common ast the UK moves onto more renewable energy sources.
