We have spent the last week bringing together all of the data on our environmental progress during 2012 – 2013 into the “Fit for the Future Environmental management System Annual Report”. The purpose of this document is to highlight the progress and developments around reducing environmental impacts of the National Trust in Wales.
The National Trust (Wales) ongoing work programme – “Fit for the Future” which Wales embarked on 5 years ago continues to go from strength to strength, allowing the National Trust (Wales) to understand and reduce risk, manage resources responsibly and understand and continually reduce our environmental impacts.
The Fit for the Future programme involved showing what can be achieved with perceived “difficult to treat” heritage properties. This is directly benefiting the charity – our staff, volunteers, members, and our partners immensely by controlling costs, enhancing our reputation, sharing “lessons learnt” by providing solutions based approaches that can be replicated by others.
“Environmental management and sustainability is now hardwired in to the day to day job being fit for the future is business as usual and all too often sustainability is seen as a bolt on rather than integral to the business.” Justin Albert (Director for Wales).
The key features of the National trust (Wales) in-house environmental performance during 2012 – 2013 are summarised below –
- 33% reduction in fossil fuel energy consumption (Against 2009 baseline)
- A reduction of 2351573 kWh (Against 2009 baseline)
- CO2 production from our Wales operations has reduced by 56% when measured against the 2009 baseline.
![energy consumption 2012 - 2013]()
- Green Dragon Level 5 certification obtained and maintained for all directly controlled National Trust (Wales) properties
- BE EN ISO14001 accreditation obtained for all directly controlled National Trust (Wales) properties
- All national TrustGardens in Wales have been assessed and accredited to “Bronze Standard” of the National Trust Environmental Standard fro Gardens and Parks. The first country/region in the National trust to achieve the standard across all properties.
- In-hand water usage within Wales has reduced (Against 2009 baseline) by 37816m3
- Business mileage within Wales has increased by 133116 miles (Against 2009 baseline), although this does now incorporate volunteer mileage claims
- Wales has reduced the amount of waste it produces by 13 tonnes during the course of 2012 – 2013.
- Recycling and segregation of wastes has increased by 120 tonnes across Wales during the course of 2012 – 2013
- Full legal compliance maintained. Regular processes and checks on status continue
- All Wales small scale sewage discharge consents have been registered with the Environment Agency ensuring full compliance
- 26 electric vehicle charging points have been installed across National Trust (Wales) properties
- The last 12 months has seen the completion of the installation of 350 kW of photovoltaic panels across our Wales Estate.This amounts to 12% of National Trust (Wales) electricity need being met from PV.
![PV]()
- Work has also been completed to the Stackpole Centre biomass heating system. This is a 380kw chip system which has replaced 17 lpg boilers.
We recognise the giant leaps we have made in terms of discovery and aim to share our innovation with others. We have set up the “Fit for the Future” network which to share the solutions based approaches of our and others expertise in the field.
We continue to share our lessons, dispelling myths that older buildings and historically significant estates are “hard to treat”. Making available to other organisations and individuals our knowledge, skills and experience, under the premise that “If we can, you can too”.
We have also completed development of –
- Feasibilities for the installation of over 40 PV systems.
- There are 9 hydro sites now in pre feasibility and full feasibility stages with three (1Mw) of these systems now in the final design stages.
- Design and development is progressing well on what could be the UK’s first large scale marine source heat pump
- Build is underway of 650 kw hydro-scheme in Snowdonia with the Senior Project Manager working closely with property staff and local contractors to complete the project by the end of 2013.
- Working with the community of Abergwyngregyn on a joint venture 500kw hydro on the Anafon River.
- Working with the N.West region of the National Trust with a proposal for several hundred potential sub 100kw hydros.
The full National Trust Wales EMS Annual Report Statement 2012 to 2013 can be viewed by clicking this link.
