Our energy use

Details of the RPA's energy use in all its buildings and its work to reduce waste.

Environmental policy

The RPA recognises and acknowledges that its operations have an impact on the global and local environment. We are working to continually improve our environmental performance and reduce pollution. Our environmental policy sets out our aims, which are supported by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in accordance with the cross-government initiative on sustainable development.

The Rural Payments Agency is committed to working along with Defra Estates to continually improve its environmental performance and to prevent pollution in the management of its estate. Our activities will comply with all applicable legal requirements, official codes of practice (including cross government sustainability targets) and, so far as practicable, accepted best practice in environmental management.

Emphasis is placed on:

  • aiming to create a carbon neutral estate through implementation of energy saving technologies and renewable energy initiatives;
  • using utilities in a responsible and economic way to minimise negative impacts on the environment;
  • managing waste according to our duty of care, and minimising volumes going to landfill, by careful procurement, re-use and recycling wherever possible;
  • managing fuels and hazardous substances to minimise risks;
  • purchasing supplies which are recycled and recyclable, and whose production and use minimises the consumption of natural resources;
  • conserving resources by ensuring that buildings and fittings are properly maintained;
  • adopting strategies to minimise the environmental impacts of business travel;
  • preserving and enhancing biodiversity whenever possible; and
  • communicating this policy to everyone working on behalf of the organisation.

Each year, objectives and targets for our environmental performance will be set and reviewed in accordance with the procedures established under the Agency’s ISO 14001 environmental management system. Departmental performance will be reported in the annual Sustainable Development in Government report.

Jonathan Dodworth
Finance Director
July 2010

For further information of Sustainable Development in RPA please contact: RPA.SustainableDevelopment@rpa.gov.uk

Energy use for buildings

To improve our energy efficiency, we have:

  • brought our people together into fewer buildings across the country
  • replaced most of our lighting with energy efficient T5 tubes
  • replaced chillers and air conditioning units with more energy efficient systems
  • maintained a winter temperature of 19 degrees

This approach has led to a reduction in our carbon consumption of around 55% since 2010.

Waste Management

RPA has made significant steps in reducing the resources it uses and waste produced through more online services to our customers and the use of electronic rather than paper records. We have cut our overall waste by 55% since 2010.

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