October 18, 2004—Almost all of BT’s UK electricity needs will be supplied by environmentally friendly energy, following the signing of three-year contracts, worth several hundred million pounds, with npower and British Gas.
The contracts will provide BT’s 6,500 telephone exchanges, satellite earth stations, offices and depots with green power, some of which will come from sustainable resources such as wind generation, solar, wave and hydroelectric schemes.
The initiative will save emissions equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide produced by almost 50,000 homes or more than 100,000 cars.
The deal is significant enough to draw comment from the Prime Minister, who called it “living proof that significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions need not come at the cost of economic growth.”
BT has already reduced its energy-related CO2 emissions by 80% since 1991. This was achieved through energy management and efficiency programs, investing in energy efficient plant and equipment, reducing waste and buying green energy.
—Elliott Chase
Reprinted with permission; copyright 2004 i-FM
