Sustainability Policy

Powis Hughes Ltd (PHL) is committed to promoting sustainability. Concern for the environment and promoting a broader sustainability agenda are integral to PHL’s professional activities and the management of the organisation. We aim to follow and to promote good sustainability practice, to reduce the environmental impacts of all our activities and to help our clients and partners to do the same.

Principles

Our Sustainability Policy is based upon the following principles:

  • To comply with and exceed, where practicable, all applicable legislation, regulations and codes of practice
  • To integrate sustainability considerations into all our business decisions
  • To ensure that all staff are fully aware of our Sustainability Policy and are committed to implementing and improving it
  • To minimise the impact on sustainability of all office and transportation activities
  • To make clients and suppliers aware of our Sustainability Policy and encourage them to adopt sound sustainable management practices
  • To review and to strive to improve our sustainability performance

Practical steps

In order to put these principles into practice we will:

Travel and meetings

  • Walk, cycle and/or use public transport to attend meetings, site visits etc, apart from in circumstances where the alternatives are impractical and/or cost prohibitive
  • Share transport if possible
  • Where the only practical alternative is to fly, we will purchase appropriate carbon offsets
  • Avoid or reduce physically travelling to meetings etc where alternatives are available and practical, such as using teleconferencing or video conferencing, and efficient timing of meetings to avoid multiple trips
  • Reduce annual car mileage and purchase appropriate offsets for all staff business mileage
  • Replace company cars with more efficient models as they become due for replacement

Purchase of equipment and consumption of resources

  • Minimise our use of paper and other office consumables, for example by reusing and duplexing all paper used, and identifying opportunities to reduce waste. Purchase office paper produced from sustainable sources
  • Issue documents electronically wherever possible
  • As far as possible arrange for the reuse or recycling of office waste, including paper, computer and printer supplies and redundant equipment
  • Reduce the energy consumption of office equipment by purchasing energy efficient equipment and by good housekeeping
  • Wherever possible use rechargeable batteries
  • Investigate the opportunity for energy generation from renewable resources (6kW wind turbine constructed March 2010 and 4kWp Photovoltaic system installed February 2012, GSHP installed March 2013)
  • Purchase electricity from a supplier committed to renewable energy. Seek to maximise the proportion from renewable energy sources, whilst also supporting investment in new renewable energy schemes
  • Ensure that timber furniture and any other timber products are recycled or are from well managed, sustainable sources and are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified
  • Purchase Fair Trade (or equivalent) and/or organic consumables wherever possible
  • Minimise office fuel and energy consumption
  • Use office cleaning products certified for good environmental performance
  • Maintain office equipment (including cars) in good working order

Working practices and advice to clients

  • Ensure that any associates we employ take account of sustainability issues in their advice to clients
  • Include a link to our Sustainability Policy in all our proposals to clients
  • Comply with relevant environmental legislation relating to PHL’s activities, products and services

Monitoring and reporting

Our Sustainability Policy will be monitored annually and reviewed (from January 2008) by the Director. The Director will seek to continually improve environmental performance.

Action and summary
Rainwater recycling We have investigated the potential for rainwater recycling and grey water. The costs were excessive and regretfully we have discounted this option.
LED lighting We are investigating the option of replacing the limited number of MR16 halogen downlighters with LED replacements. We have procured LED replacement strip lighting and will shortly be testing it (for adequacy of lighting levels, colour and efficiency). The quality of the light produced was not considered satisfactory (Oct 2011); review when technology develops. Revised costing undertaken 2014 (not viable). Review 2017.
Stationery We have moved to use of fully recyclable and recycled stationery products where available.
Photovoltaic 4kW photovoltaic system installed (February 2012).
Owl boxes Review existing Owl Boxes with Ornithological Consultant (contact made to arrange inspection of boxes).
Meadow Wildflower meadow sown as trial in April 2012. Review options for Bee Protection/Nesting. Sheep grazing for environmentally appropriate grass control (as an alternative to mowing).
Carbon emissions Investigate measuring Carbon Emission for future performance monitoring. Reviewed: currently impracticable at reasonable cost (review 2017).
Electricity Investigate options to reduce printer numbers and more efficient computing. Moved to laptops (more power efficient) and fully networked printing 2014. Investigating Skype, video conferencing and screen sharing technologies to reduce need for travel (2017).
Wind generation Review options for live readout. Not practical at reasonable cost (2018). Review 2019.
Ground Source Heat Pump June 2014 enrolled in DECC Monitoring Programme (Graham Energy), multiple parameters recorded. Electricity saving is identified through mode control of GSHP. Changed heat exchange fluid to glycol-based, August 2015.
Carbon offset To offset our carbon in 2016 we invested in shares in PEC Renewables Ltd (to build Plymouth’s largest solar array, generating enough clean energy to meet the annual needs of 1000 homes and long-term funds for local economic development, fuel poverty and climate change projects!) – 2017 Thrive Renewables Bond, 2018 to be decided. It is our intention to make further investments.
Intelligent Heating Control Installed Nest Learning Thermostat with intelligent control and remote access. Monitor performance and review.
Smart Meter  Installed Q3 2017. Obtain feedback for REC.
Hedge planting  In 2016 a mixture of native plants (hawthorn with blackthorn, dogwood, spindleberry and field maple) was planted around the perimeter of our office building to provide wind protection to the building with the added benefit of attracting birds, butterflies and insects to our environment.

OUR SUSTAINABILITY POLICY was reviewed on 3 December 2020. Next review due 3 December 2021.

Photograph of Wind Turbine