Improving our infrastructure

We continue to streamline processes, with a view to eliminating all forms of waste. We look to use more efficient systems that help protect our assets, as well as helping our business reduce its carbon footprint through robust, efficient, paperless, automated functions. In 2007 we saw the successful rollout of the SAP financial system and associated training. This has played a fundamental role in providing SAP users at all levels with the necessary tools and information to carry out their role as efficiently and effectively as possible. SAP brings numerous benefits, including built-in workflow process for the raising and authorisation of orders. From an internal control perspective, this established structure readily demonstrates our approach to the segregation of duties, which is an essential business practice and forms an important part of internal and external audit testing.

During 2007, 90% of the 21,424 orders that went out to suppliers were sent electronically to help us be more environmentally friendly. The total financial savings equate to just under £20,000. We actively and continuously seek to increase this with our suppliers, as part of business as usual. By placing our orders electronically, not only have we significantly cut down our actual paper usage, but have also saved money and seen an environmental benefit for every order processed.

We began work on measuring our non-operational carbon footprint in 2005 and since then we've managed to improve our data collection processes which now capture around 95% of our office and transport-related emissions. Whilst all major non-operational emissions are now captured we will continue working to improve data capture to ensure no significant emissions are excluded.

Our absolute emissions from office energy use increased by 4% due to increased employee numbers and activity, but we did however achieve a 15.5% reduction per employee, well ahead of target.

Our transport related emissions have continued to rise for a number of reasons despite our efforts to encourage greater use of virtual meeting technologies. Increased employee numbers and greater mobility of our workforce have driven our transport related emissions in the wrong direction. Aviation related emissions have risen considerably following restructure of some core functions of the E.ON Group which means that more travel between the UK and Germany has been required during a transitional phase. Each flight itself has associated road miles and often hotel stays and taxis, all of which contributes to a rise in emissions. On the roads, preparation for the closure of our Wherstead office, movement of work from one location to another and an increase in project related planning work have all contributed to a further increase in transport related emissions. Some of this increase has been offset by changes to our company car and hire car policies which now preferentially select lower emission vehicles and with a cap of 165 g/CO2 per km for company cars.

We are committed to better understanding our non-operational carbon footprint and the factors that drive it, and to reducing the intensity of emissions relating to our offices and business travel.

We've set ourselves the target of being 20% more fuel efficient in 2008 to show our commitment to Changing Energy.