Resource Management

Energy Use

The UK government has made it clear that it expects companies to monitor energy use and to make reductions wherever possible.  Figures for energy use are already collected by ABP as part of the returns we make to the Business in the Community Environment Index and include our electricity consumption, converted to give an idea of the amount of CO₂ emissions, generated by port operations.

Our 21 UK ports used 57.8 million kWh of electricity in 2003. Naturally, it is in the Company’s interests to review the use and management of energy resources and we have developed a two-stage approach to deal with this.  Recently, we have renegotiated our contracts with electricity providers to provide better value for money and over the next two years, the Company will be more actively addressing energy conservation and efficiency within the ports.  Although most of our energy use is dependent on the requirements of our tenants and the demands of local situations, we are confident that there are benefits to be gained from a reappraisal of our activities. 

As with CO₂ emissions, we have set a target for reducing like-for-like electricity consumption across our 21 ports by two per cent in 2004.  In addition, we have extended our monitoring to cover our entire transport operations and our USA ports and transport operations. Some ports have already started initiatives to support this objective.  For example, the Port of Teignmouth has fitted its quayside lights with energy-efficient, low-sodium bulbs and is intending to fit them in port workshops as well.  Our value-added services business involves the operation of state-of-the-art cold-storage facilities at the Ports of Hull and Cardiff.  These facilities are designed to minimise any emissions to the atmosphere.

Water use is another area that we have identified as being important to monitor.  Information on water use and efficiency was collected for the first time in 2003, for inclusion in CSR Reports.

To see the legislation that governs our management of resources in the ports and how we have translated this into environment policy objectives, refer to the Resources Management page in the Legislation section.