• About us
• What we do
• Management team
• SEPA Board
• Stakeholders
• SEPA Performs
• News
• Weekly update
• Publications
• Service Charter
• Policies
• Consultations
• Charging schemes
• Greening SEPA
• Procurement
• External links
• Contacting SEPA
• Access to Information
• Vacancies
• Air
• Climate change
• Flooding
• Land
• Planning
• Radioactive substances
• Waste
• Water
• Science and research
• Customer information...

Greener SEPA has a promising outlook

Ext01 - A02

Scotland's environment watchdog continues to improve its green performance, achieving four out of six targets set to improve the agency's environmental footprint.

While there is still some work to be done to meet targets in reducing CO2 emissions, a series of initiatives has resulted in the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) reducing waste, paper and water consumption, the impact that goods and services have on the environment and improving biodiversity at its offices. The success is revealed in an independently validated report published today (28 January) and available online at www.sepa.org.uk/about_us/publications/greening_sepa.aspx.

The four targets that have been met, or are on course to be met, are:

• reducing all internal waste;
• reducing current water consumption per full time equivalent staff;
• reducing the impact of the goods and services procured;
• improving biodiversity at SEPA offices.

Success with a further two targets has been slower. The main carbon dioxide (CO2) target is to reduce emissions to 25% below the baseline year (2006 – 2007) by March 2012. Although the last year has actually seen a reduction, emissions are still 307 tonnes (10%) higher than the baseline year. The main reason was a rise in electricity consumption during 2007-2008, due to requirements for new office space and additional cooling to support IT server rooms.

The good news is that the rise in electricity slowed considerable in 2008-2009, and CO2 emissions from gas use were lower than the baseline year. SEPA is still confident the target can be achieved by March 2012 as actions start to take effect. The most significant of these will be the opening of Inverdee House in Aberdeen, which has been designed to the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) 'excellent' standard. Incorporating a number of sustainable technologies and details including solar electricity and thermal panels, wind turbines and rainwater harvesting, it will effectively replace three smaller SEPA buildings. The relocation of our staff is scheduled for completion by the end of 2009–2010.

Reducing CO2 emissions from business transport by 10% below the baseline has also not been met, although this target also runs until March 2012. While emissions from air, train and ferry travel fell by 18.5%, business car mileage increased by 1.3% and emissions from pool vehicles and small boats rose by 16.4%.   If we must have vehicular travel, we want pool vehicle mileage to rise at the expense of business car mileage as vehicles are typically more modern and efficient.  However we can't identify whether increases are at the expense of business car mileage.

SEPA's Dave Gorman, Head of Environmental Strategy, said:

"We have a mixed set of results to report this year, reflecting the constraints, opportunities and challenges that face us as we try to reduce our environmental footprint. I am very pleased that we have been so successful making good progress against our waste, water, procurement and biodiversity targets, thanks to the commitment of SEPA staff and a dedicated programme.

"We have not performed as well as we would have wished on reducing our CO2 emissions, which was in part due to the fact that we required more office accommodation. Transport is one of the most challenging issues we face. Being an effective regulator means we have to travel across Scotland to inspect sites, investigate pollution incidents and monitor the environment. Our experts also engage with policy and law makers at the UK and European level in order to make sure the Scottish voice is heard, making travel essential to our work in the wider political world as well. This is a challenge and it is one we continue to seek ways of meeting.

"As part of its day to day activities, SEPA provides organisations and individuals with advice and direction on good environmental practice. So it's vital that we demonstrate our own commitment and ability to improving environmental performance and reducing the environmental impact of our activities."

Ends

Notes to Editors

• SEPA employs Factorten, a third party validation body, to provide independent opinion on progress against targets as well as any other claim made in this publication.  A statement summarising the full verification report is included within this annual report.

• During 2008-2009, SEPA entered its fourth year of certification to the environmental management system standard ISO14001. 

• Senior managers in each SEPA directorate must develop and implement a 'greener' directorate plan for their staff to follow, to help SEPA achieve its environmental performance targets.