MOD reports progress on combating climate change

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is making significant progress on hitting Government targets to green its operations and procurement - helping combat climate change, according to a new report published today.

In the first report on meeting Greening Government Commitments (GGC), it is revealed that the MOD has scored a number of successes in 2011-12, including:

• 80% of Defence construction projects scoring top environmental ratings;

• Reducing MOD greenhouse gas emissions by over 11% against the baseline set in 2009-10.

• Investing now to save some £70 million worth of energy every year in the long-term – keeping the MOD on track to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by March 2015; and

• Reducing the amount of paper purchased by 11%, exceeding the target of 10%.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation, the MOD’s property and services provider, has compiled the first GGC annual report under its new responsibility, acquired in April, for driving sustainable development across the Department.

DIO Chief Executive Andrew Manley said:

“DIO’s priority is to support our Armed Forces as they prepare for operations, but the MOD has a duty to balance delivery of this support with measures that help to achieve Government targets that will help combat the threat of climate change.

“I am delighted that, in this first annual report, we are able to record that the MOD is making significant progress in ‘greening’ our operations and supporting these important environmental goals set by the Government.”

The MOD has developed its own method of assessing the environmental credentials of construction projects – the Defence Related Environmental Assessment Method (DREAM) – equivalent to the industry standard.

This demonstrates that, during 2011/12, 80 percent of new builds met the target rating of ‘Excellent’ with the remainder classed as ‘Very Good’. All major refurbishment projects met the target rating of at least ‘Very Good’.

The MOD has agreed a three-year programme that will see £105 million invested in energy efficiency initiatives which should secure some £110 million worth of energy savings by 2014 with an ongoing saving of £70 million each year afterwards.

In-year energy savings worth more than £14 million have already been made for 2011-12, with the MOD investing in smart meters. Future energy upgrades will include energy-efficient boilers and energy optimisation – making sure that heating, lighting, insulation and ventilation of MOD buildings work together to reduce energy use.

The GGC targets were introduced by the Government in 2010 to help meet its vision of having the greenest-ever operations and procurement. The targets require reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, travel, waste, water and paper procurement.  MOD has now exceeded the required 10% reduction in paper purchased during 2011-12.

Ends

Further information:

Press enquiries to:  Tony Moran, DIO Senior Communications Officer: 0121 311 3879 or tony.moran572@mod.uk

Notes to editors

1.  The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is responsible for managing and maintaining land and properties to meet the current and future needs of the MOD and personnel at home and abroad, and to support current operations.

2.  Our work includes providing, supporting and improving: operational units; single living and service family accommodation; training areas and historic military sites. DIO actively manages these to ensure the needs of Defence are met, value for money is achieved, our heritage is protected and to achieve our environmental goals.

3.  The MOD developed the Defence Related Environmental Assessment Method (DREAM) with industry professionals to address the particular environmental performance aspects of MOD construction projects. 

4.  DREAM specifically addresses the unique nature of MOD buildings and sites and provides an equivalent to the industry standard Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM). It is designed to assess construction projects impact on a wide range of environmental aspects including Biodiversity, External Environmental Quality, Energy, Internal Environmental Quality, Procurement, Travel, Water and Waste. 

5.  More information can be found in the Greening Government Commitments Annual Report 2011-12 http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/DefenceEstateandEnvironmentPublications/SustainableDevelopment/ModGreeningGovernmentCommitmentsggc.htm

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