The Light has just been notified that it is among the major winners in the Green Apple Environment Awards – one of the few accredited feeders into the international campaign.
The centre will be presented with their Green Apple Award on Board The Royal Yacht Britannia in February, when top winners have the chance to represent their country in the Brussels event.
The Light’s winning entry was awarded for its environmental initiative implemented last year called ‘Give Recycling the green light’. The aim of the initiative was to improve the centres green business practices, not only in attempt to reduce it’s carbon emissions and therefore reduce energy costs, but to meet the rising needs of ethical consumerism by improving and demonstrating corporate responsibility.
The initiative involved undertaking a full energy efficiency survey, with the objective of developing an effective energy management programme that will help The Light to reduce its carbon footprint by 1338.7 tonnes of CO2 per annum over a two year period.
The programme has so far achieved commendable improvements to internal waste management, with 88% of all waste being recycled, which accounted for a total of 641 tones of recycled waste in 2008.
The environmental initiative also helped to raise funds for local charity, Meanwood Urban Valley Farm. This was achieved by selling a special recycled shopping bag throughout the centre, with all profits going to the charity, as well as a charity gift wrapping service throughout December 2008. Other green measures introduced by The Light include using only 100% recycled material for all marketing collateral through to encouraging staff and visitors to be more energy aware.
General Manager, Brian Oakley said “Everyone at the centre has been working extremely hard to improve energy efficiency and we are thrilled to have won a Green Apple Award for our efforts. This year we are looking at measures to improve The Light’s lighting systems, space heating systems, cold water systems and catering and Electric motor drives”.