Transport operator Go-Ahead Group has achieved the highest transport operator ranking in a new league table which lists more than 2000 UK businesses according to how they manage their energy use.
The new Carbon Reduction Commitment energy efficiency scheme performance league table was published for the first time this week by the Environment Agency.
The league table includes major supermarkets, retailers, restaurant chains, government departments and councils as well as UK transport operators.
The table measures what businesses have done to measure energy use in preparation for taking part in the carbon reduction commitment scheme to comply with Carbon Trust standards of energy management.
Go-Ahead is ranked at 93 in the table, the same level as Tesco PLC and is the highest ranked transport operator in the UK.
David Brown, Group Chief Executive for Go-Ahead said:
“I am delighted that Go-Ahead’s efforts to manage our energy use across our rail and bus businesses have been recognised in this way.
“Over the past four years, we have worked together as a team to measure our carbon emissions carefully in all our operations and taken action to reduce our energy use at our premises through installing smart meters and intelligent lighting at our bus and rail depots and train stations.”
Go-Ahead is now aiming to deliver further energy efficiencies through the introduction of exterior intelligent lighting at its bus garages and station car parks and LED lighting on station platforms.
Voltage optimisers are also planned and will give Go-Ahead the ability to control and optimise electricity supply locally.
David Brown added: “In addition to our site energy reduction initiatives we have led the way in introducing regenerative braking on our trains, and have trained all our 10000 bus drivers in fuel-efficient driving.
“Together, these initiatives have seen us reduce our CO2 emissions by 12 per cent per passenger journey against our target to achieve a 20 per cent reduction by 2015.”
Three years ago, Go-Ahead became the first UK transport operator to receive Carbon Trust Standard accreditation and earlier this year successfully achieved reaccreditation.
Go-Ahead’s Driving Energy Further programme to reduce its carbon footprint has been rolled out across its rail and bus businesses, with each operating company appointing an energy champion responsible for co-ordinating energy reduction initiatives in their business.
A Group-wide energy forum monitors progress against targets and ensures best practice is shared across the group.
