px takes environmental issues at their head office in Stockton-on-Tees just as seriously as they do at the plants they operate and maintain.

A number of measures have already been implemented to reduce energy consumption - from simply encouraging employees to print double sided to the installation of lights on motion detectors. In order to maintain reductions in energy consumption and to meet the overall aim of a 5% reduction on 2009’s usage, 2010 will see a focus on four key areas. Heating Lighting Computers Waste

Communication material provided by the Carbon Trust is being used to help remind staff to reduce power usage in specific target areas for example:

• Switching computers/ printers/fax machines and lights off at night
• Reducing the power consumption of lights
• Turning the temperature down on the air-conditioning

In June 2010 the office  introduced a co-mingled recycling scheme which allows staff to recycle plastics, cardboard, cans and paper in the same bins, and wherever possible batteries and printer cartridges.

This will contribute to the UK’s and EU’s recycling targets and reduce waste that is sent to environmentally damaging facilities such as landfill or incineration.  If successful the recycling scheme will be rolled out to other px offices to help reduce their waste.

The px group is always looking for simple schemes to help the environmental agenda. It believes that by introducing energy saving into the workplace it helps people to become more energy efficient in their everyday lives.