Ministry of Defence reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 11%

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions from 2009 by more than 11%, making significant progress towards the governments green operations and procurement targets.


Along with a reduction in gas emissions, 80% of the MOD’s construction projects scored top environmental ratings.

The MOD also reported that it has agreed a three-year programme that will see £105m invested in energy efficiency initiatives which should secure around £110m worth of energy savings by 2014 with an on-going saving of £70m each year.

According to the first report on meeting Greening Government Commitments (GGC), the MOD also reduced the amount of paper purchased by 11%, exceeding its target of 10%.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), the MOD’s property and services provider, compiled the first GGC annual report under its new responsibility for driving sustainable development across the department.

DIO chief executive Andrew Manley said: “DIO’s priority is to support our Armed Forces as they prepare for operations, but the MOD has a duty to balance delivery of this support with measures that help to achieve government targets that will help combat the threat of climate change.

“I am delighted that, in this first annual report, we are able to record that the MOD is making significant progress in ‘greening’ our operations and supporting these important environmental goals set by the government.”

Energy savings worth more than £14m have already been made for 2011-12, with the MOD investing in smart meters.

Future energy upgrades will include energy-efficient boilers and energy optimisation, making sure that heating, lighting, insulation and ventilation of MOD buildings work together to reduce energy use.

The GGC targets were introduced by the government in 2010 to help meet its vision of having the greenest-ever operations and procurement.

The targets require reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, travel, waste, water and paper procurement.

Last week, the MOD announced that it has been working with the Carbon Trust Wales to develop a carbon management reporting tool to analyse and report the performance of 160 of the MODs highest energy consuming sites across the UK.

Leigh Stringer

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