20 Dec 2006 | Ref. 386/2006
Brough, United Kingdom. – BAE Systems at Brough has launched a green initiative that will reduce the amount of energy the site uses, reducing its impact on the environment and saving money.
The company has developed the idea of 'Green Weekends'. These see the site close on a Thursday evening, turn all none essential equipment off, and not reopen until Monday morning, significantly reducing the amount of energy the site uses.
Green weekends have been made possible through a combination of co-ordinating staff flexitime and four-day working terms and conditions on the site. Employees on flexi-time are asked to use some of their "time" on particular Fridays, when the vast majority of the manual workforce is not at work, and so far, the scheme is performing well. There have been four green weekends this year, and the energy savings are considerable.
Operations and site director Tony Arksey said: "Green weekends are an important part of our energy management scheme. They are good for the company and good for the environment and each green weekend delivers real cost benefit."
A site like BAE Systems at Brough faces major cost challenges in terms of utility costs. Green weekends are one reasonably-sized piece in the energy management scheme, but a host of other improvements are being rolled out across the site to help control utility use. Employees are being encouraged to switch off unwanted equipment like lights and computer monitors when they're not needed. Timers have also been installed, not just on lights, but on treatments equipment such as the degreasing bath, which means it's only operating when needed.
Employees have also been playing their part with energy saving suggestions, from wave power to wind farms, and the company is trying to investigate them as far as possible.
BAE Systems' objective at Brough is to reduce its overall energy use by 5 per cent. At the moment the site is around 5 to 6 per cent down on gas use, and 3 to 4 per cent down on usage of electricity. Water consumption is dramatically down – 20-per-cent over the past year because of changes made in the treatment processes used on site.
Tony added: "We're using Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) plans and the environmental management system to drive the energy issue. We have briefed environmental co-ordinators and communicated to all plan managers our targets and objectives for each of the businesses. We have had a poster campaign and identified and implemented some quick wins, and we're really encouraged by the local initiatives, particularly on water savings and treatments. Our people have put in some fantastic – very simple but nonetheless very effective – ideas. The willingness around the place seems to be for us all to work together to meet our targets."
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is the premier transatlantic defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 88,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded 12 billion pounds (US22 billion dollars) in 2005, excluding the Group's former interest in Airbus.
For further information contact:
Rebecca Brothers, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1482 664067 Fax: +44 (0) 1482 664669
rebecca.brothers@baesystems.com
Lisa Hillary-Tee, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0)1252-38 4934 Mob: +44 (0) 7801 718 994
lisa.hillary-tee@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384710 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
www.baesystems.com
