Tube maintenance firm Tube Lines has cut its CO2 emissions by just over 5,250 tonnes – a 6.75% reduction in the firm’s carbon footprint.
Tube lines says the reduction was achieved by changes to working practices which also had the effect of saving money.
One example of changed practices is the installation of the first ever wheel set on Tube premises to test the wheels for defects on the 86 Piccadilly line trains.
Previously wheels used to be ferried by road on a 400 mile round trip between London and Kilmarnock to have the tests done. By investing in this machine Tube Lines has been able to make an annual carbon saving of 32 tonnes of CO2 emissions and reduce its maintenance cost by £70,000.
A further 169 tonnes of CO2 were saved as a result of changes to the escalator maintenance regime.
Steve Judd, Head of Environment at Tube Lines said: “There are so many simple things a company can do to lower its carbon footprint and save money. And with the UK economy going through challenging times, it makes more sense than ever to go green. At Tube Lines we have made great efforts to do just that, from reducing paper and energy consumption to increasing the amount of waste and materials being reused and recycled.
“Lightening our footprint further in 2009 will be a challenge as we will need to find new and more innovative ways of driving down our carbon emissions. Thankfully we have some really resourceful people across the business who seem to instinctively come up with carbon saving ideas that deliver real business benefits.”
The company worked with the Carbon Trust to achieve the reduction in emissions. Commenting on Tube Lines’ success in delivering carbon savings the Trusts’ Hugh Jones said: “It is encouraging to see that by focusing on carbon reduction projects the company is also realising considerable cost saving benefits. This needs to act as a strong message to any business which does not see carbon reduction as a priority in these challenging economic times.”
