Latest News - Apollo Enviro

Energy Firm Fined a Record £2.8 Million for Inaccurate Carbon Dioxide Emissions Data

Posted on February 21, 2012 by admin

ExxonMobil, an American multinational oil and gas corporation, has been slapped with a landmark €3.3 million fine for failing to report carbon dioxide emissions from its chemical plant in Scotland.

It has emerged that the energy giant was issued a record penalty of millions of pounds for neglecting to report the correct emissions data from its Mosmorran chemical plant in Fife.

The civil fine is reportedly the biggest penalty ever imposed in British history for any environmental offence and ExxonMobil has said that it regrets the errors that were reported to the regulator as soon as they were identified. A spokesperson has said that since they have made significant investments at Fife to reduce NOx and CO2 emissions.

The charge dates back to 2010 but the details have only just been published by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). They said there had been no direct environmental impact but that the penalty was mandatory for breaching the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) for reporting greenhouse gas emissions.

The fine issued two years ago was a consequence of the energy company failing to account for 33,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from its Scottish ethylene plant in 2008.

Any firm that is found to have misreported their emissions can be fined £83 (€100) for every tonne they miss. The penalty money by ExxonMobil has gone towards helping environmental projects run by the Scottish government.

A Scottish government spokesperson said that ministers accepted that there was no intention to mislead and that it was a genuine mistake. The penalty was a civil fine and an investigation will not be carried out.

WWF Scotland’s director, Richard Dixon, said: “It is very embarrassing for a company as well resourced as ExxonMobil to have to admit that they can’t fill in forms properly, let alone to get fined nearly £3 million for their mistake.

He added: “You would assume that Exxon are now very careful to report the right data but this massive fine is a big message to others to get it right.”

The energy saving advisors at Apollo Enviro can help your firm become more energy efficient.

We can help you collate your emissions data for accurate reporting under emissions trading schemes like the EU ETS or the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. And we can offer top tips and advice to help you reduce your carbon footprint and carbon emissions.

Get in touch with the experts by clicking ‘here’…

The Public Sector is the Most Committed to Carbon Reduction

Posted on February 13, 2012 by admin

The public sector is the most committed to reducing carbon emissions, according to a new survey.

Findings by the Carbon Trust reveal that out of the public, private and third sectors, the public sector has showed the greatest dedication to carbon reduction.

Richard Rugg, Director of Carbon Trust Programmes, said: “We’ve worked with some truly pioneering public sector organisations to slash their costs and carbon. Even in the face of an economic downturn, the public sector clearly still recognises the benefit of managing down its carbon and sees the short-term as well as long-term benefits of doing so.”

The online poll, which was conducted on the Guardian Sustainable Business website between November and December 2011, found that 58% of public sector employees said their organisation planned to make ‘tangible investments’ in carbon reduction in 2012.

The study, which involved 1,256 respondents being surveyed, showed that despite the economic climate, 78% of public sector workers agreed carbon reduction was a key factor of their organisation’s objectives over the next 12 months. This is in stark contrast to only 46% of private sector workers who said their company will be making such investments this year.

What is more, 78% of the total respondents confessed that they see the public sector as the forefront leaders of cutting emissions and to set the example for others to follow.

Further findings showed that 50% of all sectors think carbon is a consideration in their organisation’s decision-making processes. However, under a third of all respondents said their organisation had engaged employees in cutting carbon.

The team here at Apollo Enviro can help your firm become more energy efficient and reduce your business carbon footprint.

We offer top tips and advice to help you reduce your carbon footprint and carbon emissions for example by training your employees. Often the most cost-effective method to simultaneously reduce the environmental impact of your business and your energy costs is through simple behaviour change which is why we run environmental awareness workshops.

An environmental audit is the first step towards sustainably developing your business; so if you are looking for ways to become ‘greener’, get in touch today by clicking here.

Government reveals new statistics on UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Posted on February 7, 2012 by admin

Figures published today by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) show that greenhouse gas emissions in the UK exceeded expectations and they increased by 3.1% between 2009 and 2010.

According to the Government statistics, the UK emissions emitted last year for homeowners and businesses were estimated to be 590 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent, which is higher than the 2009 figure of 573 million tonnes.

Britain has been releasing more greenhouse gases (GHG) than previously projected and the largest increases were experienced in the residential sector which increased 15.1%. The study found that emissions from all other sectors were relatively stable in comparison to 2009 levels; however the energy supply sector also rose by 2.8%.

Edward Davey, Energy and Climate Change Secretary, said that emissions were up in 2010 “because of the exceptionally cold weather and greater use of fossil fuels.”

However, he maintained that the country is on-track to meet its goals. He added: “One year won’t knock the UK off meeting its long term emission reduction targets, but it serves to underline the important of the Coalition’s policies for insulating homes to cut bills and emissions and moving to greener alternative forms of energy.”

Further findings revealed that carbon dioxide emissions, which are the main greenhouse gases, accounted for 84% of the total UK GHGs in 2010. The government has blamed the winter of 2010, which was the coldest in 15 years, which has forced businesses and homes to amplify their heating.

The team here at Apollo Enviro can help your business become more energy efficient by advising you how to reduce your carbon footprint and reduce carbon emissions, as well as train your employees.

If you are looking for ways of becoming more energy efficient in your business and top energy saving ideas, contact us today to find out what we can do for you.

China expected to introduce carbon tax by 2015

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

The Chinese government are planning on introducing a carbon tax in the next five years, according to reports from state media.

Proposals are currently being reviewed by the Ministry of Finance, and some of the plans include charging some of the biggest emissions producers 10 yuan (about £1) for every tonne of carbon that they produce. The rate would gradually increase depending on the emissions levels.

It has been estimated that a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions are produced by China, according to research from BP in 2010 and the country is now said to be undertaking measures to reduce these emissions.

In the last few years the government has been promoting energy efficiency, introducing carbon trading schemes in certain regions and is currently working on system to measure CO₂ emissions from the country’s biggest companies.

Here in the UK, many companies are working on cutting their carbon emissions due to the introduction of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme, and although only the biggest producers of CO₂ are covered by the scheme, it can also be beneficial for smaller businesses to find ways of reducing their emissions.

Here at Apollo Enviro, our team of environmental advisors are experts in helping companies reduce their business carbon footprint. There are many ways in which a business can reduce their emissions, from training staff about their part in becoming more energy efficient through environmental awareness workshops to installing a voltage optimisation unit to reduce the energy a business uses without compromising on performance, so contact us today to find out more information on what we can do for you.

Businesses need to engage employees to make carbon reductions

Posted on January 20, 2012 by admin

The Carbon Trust has launched a new initiative to get employees engaged in reducing carbon emissions at their workplace.

Up to two million tonnes of CO₂ emissions could be saved by making employees more aware of their part in reducing carbon emissions and encouraging them to change their behaviour, according to the Carbon Trust.

Some of the small changes that could be made include switching off lights, turning down heating systems by just 1°C and encouraging employees to turn their PC off when not in use. Changes to business practices including teleconferencing rather than travelling to meetings could also significantly reduce emissions.

Richard Rugg, Director of Carbon Trust Programmes said: “Employees are a critical ally in cutting energy waste. Get them onboard and reap the rewards in lower bills and reduced carbon emissions.”

Here at Apollo Enviro we can help you make your business more energy efficient. As well as training employees, as the Carbon Trust recommends, through Environmental Awareness Workshops there are a number of other ways Apollo Enviro can help you reduce your business carbon footprint.

When you approach Apollo Enviro for help, the team will first undertake an environmental sustainability audit to highlight areas where improvements could be made, and then a comprehensive plan of action will be provided for you.

Apollo Enviro can also help your business work towards ISO14001 accreditation as well as assisting with monitoring and reporting under the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, so contact the team today for more information.

East Midlands Airport strives for carbon neutrality

Posted on January 13, 2012 by admin

ISO14001 certification has been awarded to the East Midlands Airport for the third time as the management aim to make all of the airport’s ground operations carbon neutral by the end of 2012.

The airport was the first in the UK to receive ISO14001 certification in 2002, a scheme which recognises businesses that are minimising their impact on the environment through an Environmental Management System (EMS).

A number of measures have been put into place by the airport on its path to carbon neutrality including planting large amounts of trees, building low carbon buildings including the UK’s greenest hotel and testing emissions from vehicles.

Neil Robinson, the Director of Sustainability at the East Midlands Airport said: “Our commitment to being carbon neutral is almost now a reality and we are particularly proud of our achievements to date. We are looking forward to this year and the pleasure of announcing that we are carbon neutral.”

With efficiency becoming more and more important, businesses of all sizes can benefit from implementing an EMS so contact Apollo Enviro for more information on how your company can gain the ISO14001 certification.

There are many methods of reducing carbon emissions without impairing the day to day functions of your business, including installing voltage optimisation units to reduce the total energy usage at your place of work or re-training employees to make them more aware of their actions.

The experts at Apollo Enviro will first undertake an environmental audit to highlight areas where reductions can be made then suggest a plan of action suitable for your business, so contact them today for more information.

Chinese airlines refuse to pay under the ETS

Posted on January 6, 2012 by admin

The EU emissions trading scheme (ETS) has now come into force for the aviation industry, however the four main Chinese carriers have refused to participate.

From January 1, airlines using any airport in the European Union are liable to pay carbon charges as the EU aims to reduce emissions in the industry however many airlines based outside of Europe are opposed to the scheme.

Airlines will receive free credits for a certain amount of their emissions, but must buy or trade credits to cover the rest which could increase costs per passenger by between €2 and €12. Those airlines that refuse to comply will be liable for fines and could even be banned from using airports in Europe.

The Air Transport Association of America contested the rules before Christmas, but the European Court of Justice ruled that the scheme did not infringe on the sovereignty of non-EU countries and without any international rules put in place the EU was within its rights to implement the scheme.

American airlines have agreed to accept the rules whilst pursuing other legal options however the association that represents Chinese airlines has refused to comply.

A spokesperson for the China Air Transport Association (CATA) said: “China, of course, will not cooperate with the European Union on the ETS. The CATA, on behalf of Chinese airlines, is strongly against the EU’s improper practice of unilaterally forcing international airlines into its ETS.”

Although the scheme has come into force carbon fees do not have to be paid until March 2013, so it may be resolved before any fines or flight bans are put into force. The EU hopes that the scheme will encourage airlines to become efficient and reduce their business carbon footprint to combat climate change.

Smaller businesses can make a difference by reducing their carbon emissions, so contact the team at Apollo Enviro today to see what we could do for you. From assisting with reporting under the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme to installing voltage optimisation equipment, Apollo Enviro offer a wide range of services that can help your business.

Record increase in worldwide carbon emissions

Posted on December 23, 2011 by admin

Global carbon emissions increased by 5.9% in 2010 according to new research from an international group of scientists that track emissions.

The study, completed by the Global Carbon Project, found that after decreases in 2008 and 2009 there was a dramatic jump in the amount of carbon emissions produced across the world in 2010.

The largest producer of carbon emissions is China, and in 2010 emissions from the country grew by 10.4%. There was also a 9.4% increase in the emissions created in India, and other countries with notable increases include Japan (6.8%), Russia (5.8%) and the USA (4.1%). In the UK, emissions grew by 3.8%.

The scientists undertaking the study also compared emissions to the levels in 1990 and found that in the last 20 years emissions produced by fossil fuels across the world have increased by 49%.

The research was published in the journal Natural Climate Change and lead author Dr Glen Peters, from the Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research in Norway, said: “Many saw the global financial crisis as an opportunity to move the global economy away from persistent and high emissions growth, but the return to emissions growth in 2010 suggests the opportunity was not exploited.”

Reducing emissions is becoming more of a priority for many businesses, and especially after the introduction of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme many companies are looking for ways to reduce their business carbon footprint.

Here at Apollo Enviro we can help with all aspects of reducing your company’s carbon emissions, so explore our website or contact us to find out how we could help your business.

Over half of the high street pledge to become more energy efficient

Posted on December 16, 2011 by admin

New research from the British Retail Consortium has found that over half of the main players in the UK’s retail market are now signed up to the Carbon Trust Standard to pledge to reduce their carbon emissions.

The Carbon Trust estimates that 2% of the country’s carbon emissions come directly from the retail industry, but it is thought that the true amount of CO₂ produced by retail could be much higher due to the indirect emissions.

Darran Messem, managing director of certification at the Carbon Trust, said: “Heat, light, refrigeration and distribution for retail outlets drive energy consumption, carbon emissions and operating costs.”

“I am encouraged that more and more retailers in the UK are recognising the reputational and economic benefits of cutting their carbon emissions”, he continued.

A number of large retailers have cut their emissions in recent years after becoming part of the scheme. The John Lewis Partnership has managed to make significant carbon reductions by changing process and installing new equipment; as a whole the partnership has improved energy efficiency by 4.4% since 2007/8, and this has been mainly driven by the installation of more energy efficient refrigeration units.

There are many ways that companies in both retail and other industries could cut their business carbon footprint and at Apollo Enviro, we have experience of helping a variety of different businesses become more energy efficient.

From an initial environmental audit, our energy efficiency advisors can suggest different ways for you to reduce CO₂ emissions across your business. One of the simplest ways is to encourage employees to do their part by switching off lights, and if you want to make even larger reductions installing a voltage optimisation unit can help reduce the total electricity your business uses by up to 18%. Contact the experts at Apollo Enviro today to find out more information on reducing your carbon footprint.

McLaren becomes the first carbon-neutral F1 team

Posted on December 9, 2011 by admin

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes have become the first Formula One racing team to become carbon neutral, following a three year audit by the company.

Despite F1 being an industry which creates a considerable amount of CO₂, the team at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes have been working on reducing their emissions in recent years. The company was placed at 92^nd in the recently published Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Performance League Table, as not only the highest placed F1 team in the table but also the highest placed car manufacturer. McLaren also received the Carbon Trust Standard in December 2010.

Carbon efficiency was improved by 8.6% by introducing new practices and installing state-of-the-art equipment, and to become carbon neutral McLaren also invested in carbon-offsetting schemes in India and Brazil.

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team principal Martin Whitmarsh said: “It’s a considerable achievement: the result of a lot of hard work by a number of extremely dedicated individuals within our organisation, and a testament to our philosophy of continuous improvement within the workplace.”

Reducing your business carbon footprint can be easier than you think with the help of Apollo Enviro. The first step is to undertake an environmental audit that will highlight areas where you could become more efficient and then the environmental specialists at Apollo Enviro will then suggest the options most suited to your business.

There are a variety of different measures to reduce the amount of carbon emissions your business produces, from training employees in becoming more energy efficient to installing voltage optimisation equipment, so any business can reduce their carbon footprint with the help of Apollo Enviro.