TNEI practises what it preaches

Jul 3 2008 by Chris Knox, The Journal

Even in the current economic turmoil businesses are looking to help the environment, some much more seriously than others. Peter McCusker reports on one of the region’s greenest companies.

WITH energy prices soaring and many businesses eager to create a lighter carbon footprint energy consultants TNEI Services is experiencing a period of rapid growth.

Already this year the Newcastle-based consultancy – with offices in Woking and Manchester – has increased its staff roster by almost 33% to 60, with turnover for 2008 projected to be £6m compared to £4.3m last year.

The highly successful firm handles energy conservation programmes for regional development agency One North East and has worked with some of the region’s main companies such as Stagecoach and South Tyneside based bedding manufacturer Snug.

And, as a champion of energy conservation and carbon reduction, earlier this year the company decided to take a long hard look at its own carbon footprint.

The 29-strong workforce at the company’s head office in the city centre took the first step in its efforts to become carbon neutral by conducting an energy audit of the business.

One fun step the company embarked upon was a carbon footprint exercise for staff to determine their personal and household carbon footprints.

A league table of how the staff performed will be published in the staff newsletter next week.

PR and communications manger Sara Ragan explained: “This is a bit of a light hearted fun thing. We work in the energy sector and we believe in practising what we preach.

“We are not hoping to get a green gong but we just want to encourage our staff to sign up to the green message of their own volition.”

However TNEI’s champion carbon guzzler will be “offered advice by the in-house energy management experts,” Ms Ragan said.

She explained that from its initial audit, staff identified transport as the major factor contributing to the company’s carbon footprint.

Helen Nisbet, one of the company’s Newcastle-based senior consultants, has opted to reduce her carbon footprint by commuting to work and meetings by using public transport.

Ms Ragan said: “Although mainly an office based consultancy, the team also conducts regular site visits across the region and nationally and has built a monitoring tool into its monthly expense sheet to identify the carbon miles travelled by its consultants either by public transport or in cars.

“To address the environmental impact of corporate travel, one of the first steps for the company was to install tele-conferencing facilities between its offices to improve communication and reduce unnecessary travel between sites. The aim is to develop an offsetting scheme to compensate for the carbon impact of corporate travel and to develop a volunteer scheme for staff to get involved in environmental projects on a day-release basis.”

The company’s renewed focus has already seen staff volunteer to help in tree planting schemes with Northumberland Wildlife Trust.

Another step the company has made is installing recycling boxes around the office and working with a company to shred and recycle the company’s confidential waste paper.

TNEI business development director Matthew Lumsden said: “Opinion polls show 64% of customers are more likely to buy products or services from companies that have a low carbon footprint, we recognise when we are working with clients to advise on sustainable and renewable energy – or advising on energy management –we need to demonstrate best practice.”

STAGECOACH AUDIT

TNEI undertook an audit of Stagecoach North East’s six depots to show the firm how to save money and be more environmentally friendly.

The audit, which included the depots in Slatyford, Walkergate and South Shields, was the first stage in a five-year plan by the company to improve its eco-footprint.

The main areas of energy use at the depots – heating, compressed air, and lighting – were examined to see where cost and carbon savings could be made.

John Conroy, managing director of Stagecoach North East, says: “Improving our environmental credentials is an essential part of our commitment to enhancing our service offering. From the vehicles we run across our fleet to the way we use energy in our engineering departments and our offices, we are determined to become more energy-efficient.

“Before we can begin to make changes, it is vital that we set clear objectives which will deliver tangible results and benefits.”