Reducing Transport
A large amount of carbon output comes from transport. Addressing your use of transport, and that of your staff and customers, will make a significant impact on your footprint.
Cut journeys and plan more effectively
Wherever possible cut the journeys that you make, especially short trips (engines are less efficient when they are cold and some catalytic converters can take five miles to become effective). Try to plan more effectively so that you achieve more on each journey, for example by collecting supplies at the same time as doing banking, or visiting your accountant. Good journey management is good time management too.
Go by foot, bicycle and public transport where you can or share lifts and encourage your staff to do the same.
Consider placing orders by phone or online rather than shopping in person and think twice before setting up a meeting - could this be done by phone or online instead?
Drive more efficiently
If you are using vehicles, then drive as ecologically as possible:
- Don't allow the revs to climb to high before changing gear
- Avoid breaking or accelerating sharply - this increases fuel consumption
- Drive at the most efficient speed for your car - usually 35 - 45mph. Faster driving uses more fuel.
- Check your tyre pressures regularly - soft tyres cause higher fuel consumption.
- Take off roof boxes, cycle racks, roof racks etc when not in use - they make the car less aerodynamic and increase fuel consumption
- Use the air-conditioning sparingly - it increases fuel consumption
Choose and maintain vehicles and carefully
Wherever possible, choose energy efficient vehicles, with smaller engines and lower emissions. 100% first year capital allowances are available for the purchase of low emission cars - see http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/capital_allowances/cars.htm.
Keeping cars well maintained will help to ensure the car is running at optimum efficiency. Have cars regularly serviced and ensure tyres are correctly inflated.
Manage your fleet and freight effectively
If you run a fleet or your business involves freight get specialist advice on saving fuel and managing operations more efficiently. If you employ less than fifty vehicles the Energy Saving Trust provides free tailored advice, by telephone on:
- Fuel economy
- Managing fuel / driver reimbursement
- Driver training
- Mileage reduction
- Health and safety
- Low carbon fuels
- Vehicle choice
Ring 0845 602 1425 or visit the Energy Saving Trust fleet pages.
For freight visit the Freight Best Practice website.
Encourage customers to reduce their transport emissions
As well as looking at your own transport needs, give some thought to your customers'. Publish the public transport routes to your business on your website and literature, and consider adding a paragraph at the end of confirmation letters too.
Lots of visitors to the region are keen to get away from driving - especially if they've had a long journey here. Encourage customers to explore the region by pubic transport, by bike and by foot. Add a "Car free days out" section to your website, detailing the things to see and do that are within walking, cycling or public transport distance.
If there are walking and cycling routes from your business publish these as well, and try to provide facilities for walkers and cyclists - secure places to lock bikes and store or wash muddy equipment for example. As well as promoting greener transport, catering for walkers and cyclists can bring additional business as these are a strong niche for our region.
Greener purchasing
Every time you buy items - especially items not made locally - you are significantly adding to your personal carbon footprint in a way that isn't immediately apparent.
Economic miles are a much less apparent part of your carbon footprint, but every time you buy something that is made, elsewhere, or made from raw materials that come from elsewhere, you are adding in to your personal footprint not just the carbon output and energy usage in the manufacturing, but also in all the road, air and sea miles involved in moving the goods or their ingredients to the point of manufacture, and then to you.
The way you spend your money can therefore have a major effect on energy consumption and carbon output - yet it's something most of us have never even stopped to consider.
Purchase simply and locally
The more local purchasing you can do, especially from ethical suppliers that use sustainable, local raw materials and themselves watch their energy usage, the more drastically you are cutting your carbon output. You are also supporting your local economy and providing local jobs.
Consider bulk purchasing
You should also consider bulk purchasing: if you have the space and cashflow to purchase larger quantities you save on delivery journeys (and sometimes packaging), and you should make purchase cost savings too.
Check suppliers' delivery approach
Also check to see if your suppliers' take an ethical approach to delivery - for example through better logistics or carbon offsetting - and try to place orders well in advance so that the supplier can take the best logistical approach by matching your delivery with nearby ones.
Quick Links
- Go to the Green Tourism Business Scheme website
- Use Business Link's environmental compliance tool
- Find business advice on the Envirowise website
- Find environmental regulations for tourism businesses on the NetRegs website
- Find out more about local food at the Local Food Works website
- Visit Northumbria Larder for regional food ideas
- Biodiversity Case Study – East Briscoe Farm Cottages
- 138 Kb
Biodiversity Case Study – East Briscoe Farm Cottages have won a Gold Award for their biodiversity. These self-catering cottages have a strong focus on managing their woodland and surrounding grounds with a sensitivity towards the flora and fauna.
- Insulation Case Study – Boot and Shoe Cottage
- 151 Kb
Insulation Case Study – Boot and Shoe Cottage have a Silver Award through a range of good environmental practices which include sheeps wool loft insulation.
- Green Building Case Study – The Hytte
- 163 Kb
Green Building Case Study – The Hytte has won a Gold Award. It is a luxury norwegian inspired log construction with a turf roof and ground source heat pump.
- Greener Purchasing Case Study – West Coates BB
- 400 Kb
Greener Purchasing Case Study – West Coates Bed and Breakfast is a GOLD winner for their overall excellent environmental practices. Not only is local sourcing a key part of their green strategy but local producers are promoted on their breakfasts menus and the proprietor gives cookery lessons to promote local ingredients and local dishes.
- Combined Heat & Power Case Study – Gisborough Hall
- 111 Kb
Combined Heat & Power Case Study – Gisborough Hall have a range of energy conservation measures and a Combined Heat and Power System which is up to 85% efficient which together have earned them a Silver Award.
- Hotel Case Study – Dustanburgh Castle Hotel
- 179 Kb
Hotel Case Study – Dustanburgh Castle Hotel is a GOLD award winner for their overall excellent green measures.
- North East Farmers' Markets
- 81 Kb
A PDF factsheet of the dates of Farmers' Markets throughout North East England
- Wildlife Case Study – Old School B&B
- 141 Kb
Wildlife Case Study – Old School B&B has won awards in the Winner of the North East B&B of the year as well as a Gold Award winner in the Green Tourism Business Scheme - for its Hedgehog Hospital.
- Guest Information Case Study - Pasture Cottage
- 134 Kb
Guest Information Case Study - Pasture Cottage is a Silver Award winner for overall very good measures. It scored well across the whole GTBS scheme and provides particularly good wildlife information for guests.
- Self-catering Case Study – Springhill Farm Cottages
- 166 Kb
Self-catering Case Study – Springhill Farm Cottages has won a Silver Award through a range of green methods - including a reed bed waster water system.
- Solar Hot Water Case Study – 8 St Aidens Park
- 140 Kb
Solar Hot Water Case Study – 8 St Aidens Park has installed solar thermal to generate hot water for their 4 diamond bed and breakfast.
- Light Pollution Case Study – Border Forest Caravan Park
- 157 Kb
Light Pollution Case Study – Border Forest Caravan Park is on the edge of the Kielder Forest. As a large rural park they were very aware of the effect their external lighting was having on the local night sky. Their efforts to shade lights and reduce light pollution has won them a Silver Award.
- Renewable Energy Case Study – Whitelee Cottages
- 173 Kb
Renewable Energy Case Study – Whitelee Cottages have won a Silver award for their outstanding use of renewable energy. They have a 2.5kw wind turbine, solar water heating, solar photovoltaic panels and two ground source heat pumps.
- B&B Case Study - Saughy Rigg
- 165 Kb
B&B Case Study - Saughy Rigg. How one B&B earned a Silver Award through extensive use of renewables (solar, ground source and biomass) and good use of local produce.
- Green Business Case Study - Firwood
- 176 Kb
Green Business Case Study - Firwood has achieved a Green Tourism Business Scheme Silver award through general good practice in most areas, with particular focus on energy, water and waste.
- Marketing Case Study - Wansbeck Caravan Park
- 153 Kb
Marketing Case Study - Wansbeck Caravan Park has attained a bronze award through a range of basic environmental measures and particularly through good communication with customers.
- Greener Purchasing Case Study – Polemonium
- 216 Kb
Greener Purchasing Case Study – Polemonium Plantery is a GOLD winner. This case study focuses on their outstanding commitment to local sourcing, particularly of local organic milk delivered in re-usable glass bottles
- Self-catering Case Study - Durham Cottages
- 161 Kb
Self-catering Case Study - Durham Cottage has won a Bronze Award for their overall green approach which includes recycling, green housekeeping and maintenance and excellent guest information on walking and cycling.
- Re-use Case Study – Ninebanks Youth Hostel
- 144 Kb
Re-use Case Study – Ninebanks Youth Hostel has gained a Gold Award for their excellent environmental practices. They are particularly strong on re-use: their extension was built from reclaimed stone, one set of their tables and chairs came from the national gallery and even their curtain have been reclaimed.
- Composting Case Study – Simonburn Tearooms
- 177 Kb
Composting Case Study – Simonburn Tearooms have earned a Silver Award having reduced their general waste by 90% following the introduction of a three bin recycling system.
- Habitat Case Study – Low Cornriggs
- 171 Kb
Habitat Case Study – Low Cornriggs self catering is a Silver Award winner. The farm is managed in a traditional way and there are parts which are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. These are species rich upland hay meadows and the business is involved with the AONB Hay Time project. They are working closely with the AONB to ensure the preservation and enhancement of this rare habitat.
- Pub Case Study - Twice Brewed Inn
- 157 Kb
Pub Case Study - Twice Brewed Inn has won a Silver Award for a range of measure which include local produce, recycling, environmental cleaning, a display case for local artists and planting hundreds of trees in a ten acre plot.
- Energy Saving Lighting Case Study – Haggerston Castle
- 129 Kb
Energy Saving Lighting Case Study – Haggerston Castle have earned a Silver Award having replaced the light bulbs in their main entertainment complex with energy saving units which will save around £600 of electricity per year.
- Special Diets Case Study - The Byre Vegetarian B+B
- 147 Kb
Special Diets Case Study - The Byre Vegetarian B+B is an all round green B&B, serving only vegetarian food. There is a sound environmental principle behind vegetarianism - meat production requires significantly more land area per product.
- Eco-Products Case Study – Low Urpeth
- 146 Kb
Eco-Products Case Study – Low Urpeth have earned a Silver Award having introduced a range of eco-cleaning materials and water saving systems.
- Composting Case Study – Newt Cottage
- 144 Kb
Composting Case Study – Newt Cottage have earned a Gold Award for features including the use of sheeps wool insulation, use of eco paints, a heat pump, solar panels, use of green energy tariffs and low energy lighting. The owners supply homegrown organic produce, use fair trade items, recycled products recycling facilities such as composting systems as well as provide excellent walking and wildlife information. One of the most novel features in the development is the option to use a COMPOST TOILET.
- Ground Source Heat Pump Case Study – Deneholme
- 143 Kb
Ground Source Heat Pump Case Study – Deneholme use solar water heating, solar panels and a 37kw ground source heat pump to heat the Edwardian mansion. Other measures include a rainwater harversting system for flushing the toilets.
- Green Gardening Case Study - Birkheads Secret Garden
- 135 Kb
Green Gardening Case Study - Birkheads Secret Garden hold a Silver Award. The owner is a qualified garden designer and many different techniques have been employed in the garden to minimise the impact the operations are having on the environment.
- Green Business Case Study - Northumberland Cottages
- 178 Kb
Green Business Case Study - Northumberland Cottages are a letting agency who are aiming to become a Green Business. The business may join the GTBS through a stepping stone approach known as Going Green “Committed to the GTBS”
- Local Produce Case Study - Grindon Cartshed
- 153 Kb
Local Produce Case Study - Grindon Cartshed have a passionate commitment to the environment and are particularly strong on supplying local produce, cutting out food miles and the middle man, supporting the local economy and introducing guests to a real taste of the North East
- Biomass Case Study – Strathmore Barns Woodchip
- 168 Kb
Biomass Case Study – Strathmore Barns have won a Silver Award for good practice including a 100kw woodchip boiler powering 51 radiators and 9 bathrooms which runs on waste from a local kitchen manufacturer.
- Car Free Case Study – Argument Cottage
- 127 Kb
Car Free Case Study – Argument Cottage have won a Silver Award. The owners have excelled in providing the resources to allow their guests to give the car a holiday. They have produced an 8 day itinerary of suggestions that provide details of interesting places to visit in the local area.
- Appliances Case Study – West Longridge Cottages
- 137 Kb
Appliances Case Study – West Longridge Cottages
- Greener Purchasing Case Study – Killhope
- 175 Kb
Greener Purchasing Case Study – Killhope Lead Mining Museum is a GOLD award winner. They have an excellent overall range of measures but the case study focusses particularly on their green purchasing strategy for the museum shop which includes a wide range of ethically sourced and recycled products.
- Green Building Case Study – County Durham Tourism Partnership
- 131 Kb
Green Building Case Study – County Durham Tourism Partnership have won a Gold Award for the construction of their new offices. Features include rammed earth construction, wood pellet fed biomass boilers and rainwater collection for toilet flushing and irrigating the buildings sedum roof.
Green & Local
- Less Water With Your Food and Drink (22/2/2008)
- Durham University leads UK research project into cheaper Solar Energy (14/1/2008)
- Top Award for Lean & Green Consett Company (11/12/2007)
- Seafood Hub Hauls Anchor (21/11/2007)
- New Farming & Food Manager out and about (13/11/2007)
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