The Guardian

The Challenge

What do you do when one of your divisions demonstrates a proven strategy for saving energy and reducing costs? You take the lessons learned nationwide.

Guardian News and Media (GNM) produces print and online editions of The Guardian and The Observer. Like all other large public and private sector organisations, it’s bound by the provisions of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme. Yet GNM sees its sustainability and energy efficiency as more than processes to be managed. They’re proof of its journalistic integrity, of ‘walking the talk’.

The mandatory CRC scheme aims to encourage organisations to implement better energy management strategies. Those who make the greatest strides in meeting their obligations benefit through reduced operational costs, trading carbon savings for profit, and avoiding punitive charges.

GNM has long been committed to reducing its energy usage and contributing to a sustainable future. Its Manchester print facility began working with us in 2004 and since then we’ve managed the Climate Change Agreement (CCA) that currently allows the facility to claim a climate change levy rebate of almost £20,000 a year. Having this agreement in place means the site also avoids CRC charges of around £30,000 per annum.

GNM briefed us to:

• Replicate the CRC benefits enjoyed in Manchester at its London facility.

The Solution

We began with a TM44 mandatory air conditioning inspection of the London premises, and took over the management of the site’s CCA. It had been some years since the London facility had enjoyed the benefits of applying the Agreement, but fortunately we were successful in its reapplication—a move worth around £25,000 a year in reduced levy payments and over £34,000 per annum in avoided CRC charges. 

In addition, the technical changes implemented as part of the reapplication process resulted in the business reducing its energy consumption further, saving even more money.

The Benefits

In total, GNM has now reduced its Climate Change Levy payments by £45,000 a year across its facilities, and avoided total CRC charges of over £64,000 at its London and Manchester printworks.

Trident Utilities has now been named as GNM’s preferred energy broker.