Leading energy and services Group, ENGIE, has been announced as the preferred bidder for two new significant contracts with Milton Keynes Council. ENGIE has been appointed by the Council to deliver a range of innovative energy improvements and carbon reduction initiatives to the Council’s land and built assets through the
A recent government report supporting the use of advanced asphalt technology on UK roads has been backed by a major industry player. The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Highways released a report calling for the widespread adoption of warm mix asphalt (WMA), which despite its environmental, safety and performance benefits
Leading energy and services Group, ENGIE, has been announced as the preferred bidder for two new significant contracts with Milton Keynes Council. ENGIE has been appointed by the Council to deliver a range of innovative energy improvements and carbon reduction initiatives to the Council’s land and built assets through the national Re:fit Energy Performance Contract framework. The Re:fit framework, co-owned and managed by Local Partnerships and the Greater London Authority (GLA) allows public sector bodies to achieve guaranteed financial benefits through energy efficiency and generation projects. ENGIE will initially assess a number of Council buildings and thereafter deliver energy-saving projects under an Energy Performance Guarantee. The first phase of the Re:fit project is expected to attract an initial capital investment, addressing authority owned sheltered housing and other buildings. It is expected that further phases of the project could attract further investment in excess of £50m, likely involving large scale renewable energy and storage projects, directly linked to the delivery of the Council’s strategic development plans. ENGIE has also been appointed to provide facilities management services in a 7+3 year contract. Procured through the ESPO public sector owned professional buying framework, ENGIE will deliver a portfolio of building maintenance, cleaning, security and helpdesk services. Sam Hockman, Divisional Chief Operating Officer at ENGIE said: “As a business, we are deeply committed to making the journey to zero carbon happen. It is great to partner with a customer like Milton Keynes Council, who share the vision of a post-carbon society. We cannot wait to provide our energy and asset management expertise in support of the Council’s ambitions.” Milton Keynes Council has previously announced ambitions to be carbon neutral by 2030 and carbon negative by 2050, which the contracts with ENGIE will help to achieve. Council Leader Pete Marland is clear on the commitments, saying “We want MK to be the world’s first post-carbon city, and how we manage our own assets is an important step towards this goal. ENGIE demonstrated a clear understanding of our ambitious targets for carbon reduction and the same commitment to delivering a significant impact through their work.” ENGIE has long term experience in successfully providing both facilities management and energy efficiency services to a wide range of public sector establishments and is due to begin works on both Milton Keynes contracts later this year.
A recent government report supporting the use of advanced asphalt technology on UK roads has been backed by a major industry player. The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Highways released a report calling for the widespread adoption of warm mix asphalt (WMA), which despite its environmental, safety and performance benefits accounts for just 4% of asphalt production in Britain. The figure is significantly lower than other developed nations including the US, where 40% of asphalt is warm mix, and France, where it stands at 15%. As it is laid at lower temperatures than traditional asphalt, WMA uses less energy and cools to usable temperatures faster – reducing the length of time roadworks are in operation and cutting CO2 emissions by up to 15%. As a result, this not only improves productivity for contractors but tackles congestion by ensuring traffic flows more smoothly. Throwing its support behind the recommendation, Aggregate Industries has also called on decision makers to take a more holistic approach to sustainability. Bob Allen, Head of Research & Development and Technical Services at Aggregate Industries, said: “Under the Construction Sector Deal, the UK has ambitious targets to halve emissions in the built environment by 2025, and the pressure on the road construction industry to become more environmentally friendly is now greater than ever before. “As such, local authorities, highways agencies and other contractors must take action now, firstly by taking heed of the APPG’s report. It estimates that if all asphalt production in Britain were switched to warm mix, it would save at least 61,000 tonnes of CO2 each year – the equivalent of almost 300 million car journeys. “However, with the report citing red tape and a reluctance to try new ideas as key barriers to WMA adoption, it’s more than just about materials. Clearly then, as an industry we still have a huge job to do in incorporating sustainability into all aspects of road construction including investment in cleaner automated road surfacing machinery and greener waste management practices.” He added: “The good news is that when it comes to finding a more eco-friendly alternative – in many cases, there’s no need to wait for a ‘silver bullet’ solution as many of the products, practices and technology are already available. It’s just a case of making the most of the latest innovations. After all, with the government’s recent pledge to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, if we are to successfully transition to a low carbon society, we will all need to do ‘our bit’.”
