Environment
Support
Resource efficiency
Resource efficiency is about getting more for less. Efficiency gains are a win–win situation, both for business and for the environment – an important process that could save your organisation a lot of money. Research conducted for DEFRA in 2007 estimated the potential resource efficiency gains available to UK business, covering energy, material inputs, waste and water, to be as high as £6.4bn a year, with over 40% of this directly attributed to waste and material resource efficiency measures.
Workplace Law can help clients make financial savings from identifying ways to manage their raw material inputs, energy, water and waste more efficiently. The most obvious savings come from identifying ways to reduce consumption; however, there are many hidden costs associated with resources and waste that should be factored into calculations.
Energy
It seems inevitable that energy prices are set to increase over the coming months and years. Workplace Law helps clients reduce their energy consumption through implementing no-cost and low-cost measures as part of our Readily Achievable Resources Efficiencies (RARE) Support programme – a zero-cost initiative funded by shared efficiency gains. These energy efficiency measures could range from looking at behavioural use of energy in the building based on occupancy patterns, building service controls and housekeeping. Generally most of the efficiency improvements can be implemented quickly and at no or low upfront cost.
Payback periods on more capital-intensive energy efficiency projects can also be kept quite low where significant opportunities to improve performance exist. Where feasible we consider opportunities where investments in energy efficiency will lead to payback within the feasible terms of a capital investment.
Businesses are likely to receive a further boost as a result of the Energy Act 2011, which will see the introduction of the Green Deal – a market-led framework that will allow individuals and businesses to make energy efficiency improvements to their buildings at no upfront cost. Central to the Green Deal is a finance mechanism that will allow access to the finance needed for the improvements with repayment, in instalments, attached to the electricity bill. We’ll be keeping a close eye on developments here.
Water
Every business is dependent on the availability of water, either as a raw material in manufacturing, for building services plant and equipment such as cooling or sanitation, or simply as drinking water for employees. Water is in short supply – for the global economy to carry on expanding at the same pace without improvements in efficiency, worldwide annual water consumption would have to rise from 4,500 km3 today to 6,900 km3 in 2030 – 40% above current accessible, reliable supply. Workplace Law can help you manage it through the implementation of readily attainable water saving measures.
Material efficiency and waste
Most businesses can achieve significant reductions in costs through reducing the amount of materials they consume. A reduction in material inputs leads to a reduction in the amount of waste produced. This means that there are two main areas of savings – one on materials and one on waste disposal. Furthermore, by applying resource efficiency principles to the material flows in your business, new opportunities can be identified for material use.
Waste is by definition a by-product of inefficiency: the construction industry alone is responsible for some 120 million tonnes of construction, demolition and excavation waste every year – around one-third of all waste in the UK. Workplace Law provides clients with a comprehensive understanding of waste in their organisation, developing strategies to design out waste and assisting with the implementation and monitoring of a waste minimisation programme.
We also help clients comply with waste management regulations.
Why choose Workplace Law?
Workplace Law is a leading provider of sustainability and environmental management solutions for business.
Our environmental practice has years of experience working within public and private organisations to develop and implement initiatives to reduce energy consumption, cut carbon footprint and improve resource efficiency to deliver tangible cost savings and wider social and reputational benefits.
We have a strong reputation in the property and facilities management sectors, having assisted end-user clients and service providers, with expertise advising large public and private sector organisations to help them meet the requirements of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (formerly the Carbon Reduction Commitment).
Benefits
- Reduction in raw material inputs, energy and water use, and waste.
- Reduction in bottom line costs.
- Compliance with environmental legislation, such as carbon reduction and waste minimisation.
- Improved positioning within the supply chain.
- Increased competitiveness.
Case studies
In 2012 Workplace Law was asked to develop and deliver a property management-focused sustainability training course for BNP Paribas Real Estate UK. This is a branch of BNP Paribas bank, which provides a number of property services including development, management and investment of property portfolios across the UK.
Workplace Law was appointed in the final quarter of 2012 to assist Shelter with the implementation of an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS). Shelter wished to reduce its environmental impact, secure funding and make operational cost savings.
"In 2009 Chaps Ltd recognised that it needed to improve its health and safety systems. We changed our Health and Safety consultants to Workplace Law in order to give us a fresh approach towards our management of health and safety and to gain specialist construction advice.
"By using their expertise and experience Simon and Maria have guided us into developing a health and safety system that has achieved CHAS accreditation and given our customers and principle contractor’s confidence in our management of health and safety. They have always been available to offer advice when needed and to provide independent site inspections and audits which are often required by our customers.
"Both Simon and Maria continue to support Chaps Ltd and have become an important, integral part of our Health and Safety Management System."
Suzanne Jackson, HR Director, Emprise:
“Workplace Law has made a difference to the quality of the service we can provide to our staff. And because of the customised service from Workplace Law, the costs have come down.
“We’re now into the second year and we’re pleased with the level of service which is always turned around quickly with any queries being answered straight away.”
Testimonials
