National Grid 2009 Annual Report Download - page 17

15National Grid plc Annual Review 2008/09
01 Business Overview
Climate change –
our responsibility to take action
We believe in leading by example. As part of our commitment to
safeguarding our global environment for future generations, we
are dedicated to reducing our own greenhouse gas emissions.
We have completed a thorough review of our greenhouse gas
emissions inventory for the 2007/08 fiscal year, including the former
KeySpan operations as if we had owned them for an entire year.
This has provided a detailed assessment of the carbon footprint
for each line of business and has helped identify the most effective
and economical ways to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
Carbon budgets and emission reduction targets, measured in
tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, were adopted by each line
of business in April 2009.
We have been exploring ways that the UK can meet the European
Union’s renewable target. This target focuses on achieving 15% of
energy demand from renewable sources by 2020. Transmission
UK have developed the Gone Green scenario that anticipates
a sizeable increase in the volume of onshore and offshore wind
generation. We have worked with the Electricity Networks
As part of our new brand strategy, an interactive
website was created using a virtual polar bear named
Floe designed to inspire people to make a difference
in the way they use energy by helping them to
understand the impact of their energy choices on
climate change. To date, visitors to the US website
have pledged to save more than 64 million pounds
(29,000 tonnes) of carbon – the equivalent of
removing more than 5,200 cars each doing
12,000 miles a year from US roads. Since the US
brand campaign launch, National Grid’s brand
recognition among residential customers has risen
to 90%. Similarly, unaided awareness increased
22% in one year.
64m lbs
Positively shaping the energy and climate change
agenda with our external stakeholders in both regions
Strategy Group to examine proposed investments to deliver
the necessary transmission infrastructure.
It is estimated that there are some five million homes in
the UK affected by fuel poverty; we intend to invest around
£10 million ($14.4 million) in new gas connections to some
5,000 homes. With others, we have secured commitment
for around £13 million ($18.7 million) in third party funding for
new gas heating. We estimate that this investment will help
reduce emissions by 20,000 tonnes per year.
In the US, we have added around 60 new compressed natural
gas cars to our nearly 700 strong fleet of vehicles this year,
furthering our effort to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce
greenhouse gases. Our generation stations make up a sizeable
proportion of our carbon emissions. Ongoing projects to
modernise and improve the efficiency of these plants, such as
the project at Northport on Long Island, will play a major role
in helping us reach our 80% target greenhouse gas emission
reduction by 2050.