Mitsubishi Electric's Green Gateway Initiative

The Green Gateway Initiative from Mitsubishi Electric is not just about the company and its own operations. It is about challenging all of us as energy users.

It is about leading the construction industry by focusing attention on the need for energy reduction in the built environment AND highlighting the technology and changes in behaviour that can help make that difference.

It is about educating a wider audience of major influencers into how we can all make a difference.

It is about questioning our use of energy within our buildings whilst recognising the cultural need and legislative requirement to provide internal comfort all year round.

For Mitsubishi Electric and its partners, it is about a long-term vision of sustainable business growth based on providing modern levels of heating and cooling in the most environmentally sustainable ways possible.

This approach is being recognised beyond the air conditioning industry, most recently with Mitsubishi Electric being accepted as a Partner by the European Commission's Sustainable Energy Campaign in recognition of the impact of the Green Gateway Initiative.

The initiative was launched at Westminster as a bold and ambitious 10-point plan which points the way to helping the UK achieve a reduction of over 3 million tonnes of CO2 per year, by 2016.

Current good practice suggests that companies must examine their operations to see where reductions in carbon emissions can be made, encourage staff to make a difference and perhaps try to influence suppliers and customers to do the same.

Mitsubishi Electric is doing all of this but the Green Gateway Initiative is the company's way of reaching far beyond its normal sphere of operations to educate and influence everyone involved in the built environment, from the designers, architects and consultants, through the builders and construction companies, the installers of heating and cooling equipment, right through to individual companies and their facilities managers to the end consumer.

The 10-point plan includes technological developments and new thinking combined with simple changes in behaviour such as better maintenance or not using the thermostat as an on/off button. All are focused on creating a significant impact on CO2 reduction in the UK's buildings by reducing energy consumption and the energy bills of both consumers and businesses.

The plan does not only focus on advances in new equipment. Huge savings can also come from better maintenance practices for existing equipment such as dusting vents and cleaning filters more regularly so the compressors or heat exchangers aren't choked, and by utilizing more energy efficient equipment within our properties.