Isra-Mart srl:DECC slashes carbon footprint 20 per cent

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The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) cut its carbon footprint by 20 per cent during 2010, far exceeding its commitment under the 10:10 campaign to reduce its emissions by 10 per cent.

The department released the latest figures yesterday, crediting the use of smarter heating systems, real-time energy displays and the rollout of laptop computers with delivering deep cuts in emissions.

"DECC has set the pace by achieving an amazing 20 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions in 2010," said energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne. "We have saved 547 tonnes throughout the year, the equivalent weight of five jumbo jets."

He added that the next step for the department was to help all Whitehall HQs cut their environmental impact as part of David Cameron's pledge to make the coalition the "greenest government ever".

"This is just the start. Having demonstrated that it can be done, we are working with other government departments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10 per cent across the entire government estate by May 2011," he added.

The cuts in emissions represent quite a turnaround for DECC, which was deemed the least energy-efficient government department two years ago – a fact it blamed on the 100-year-old listed building that houses the department.

Since then, it has cut carbon emissions by 20 per cent from April 2009 to March 2010, spending around £250,000 to reap annual savings on energy bills of £70,000.

This year DECC has stepped up its ambition, installing a £91,000 IT chiller, which means it no longer has to cool a whole floor to keep its computers running, saving around £17,300 each year.

Modifying heating and lighting using a building management system has also ensured the department no longer warms the building at night or at weekends, while implementing a different schedule for heating water at a nominal cost has reduced gas consumption by half.

Energy-efficient monitors that take four hours to use as much energy as a kettle takes to boil have helped further reduce energy use across the department's IT estate, while the department is now testing LED lighting in communal areas as well as wireless socket strips that can automatically turn off equipment such as printers and docking stations when not in use.