Case study 30 October 2020

A major sustainability and carbon reduction program for a national leisure and holiday resorts operator

Background

The Development stage of Mitie’s Plan Zero process sees experts creating funding proposals for each of the recommended solutions. Not only does the implementation have to be practical, but where possible, we attempt to deliver zero carbon for zero cost through related savings.

Every plan must be bespoke for each customer and reflect the sustainability targets of the organisation at hand. This process proved particularly robust during a collaboration with our customer, a large national leisure and holiday resorts company.

The undertaking

Mitie experts conducted a site visit to assess possible issues and solutions with the following strategic aims:

  • Eliminate all Scope 1 emissions from fossil fuels
  • Adopt natural renewable sources for Scope 2 emissions (electricity – solar, wind, hydro)
  • Measure, report and influence Scope 3 emissions throughout the value chain

Six Mitie colleagues with expertise in energy management, BMS controls, sustainability and energy infrastructure, spent three days surveying the site and evaluating if achieving net zero carbon would be possible. Electricity, gas, liquefied petroleum gas, water and waste were all taken into account.

Recommendations

The team’s subsequent recommendations included a full suite of optimisation measures for the existing central plant and a behaviour change and awareness programme, which combined would save an estimated 1,898 tonnes of CO2. Awareness programmes will be essential to reaching net zero carbon for any business: Government Committee on Climate Change advisors estimate behaviour change will achieve as much as two thirds of the cuts in emissions required between now and 2050.

Further recommendations from the site visit included:

  • Optimisation of BMS sensors and controls
  • On-site renewable energy generation and storage solutions – estimated to save £1.63million
  • Implementation of ground source heat pumps, EV charging and electricity infrastructure upgrades – estimated to save £1.89million

The subsequent report was well received by senior members of the client’s executive team and talks are ongoing regarding future plans. The Development stage of Plan Zero is of course just as important as the preceding and subsequent stages. Producing a practical, organisation-specific Plan Zero strategy is a vital step towards its execution.

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