{"id":239518,"date":"2021-09-23T09:44:17","date_gmt":"2021-09-23T08:44:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/locators.co.uk\/?p=239518"},"modified":"2026-02-19T14:12:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T14:12:41","slug":"locators-energy-carbon-saving-initiatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/locators-energy-carbon-saving-initiatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Locators\u2019 Energy & Carbon Saving Initiatives"},"content":{"rendered":"

Locators\u2019 Energy & Carbon Saving Initiatives<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

As a business \u2013 and as individuals \u2013 we are committed to minimising our environmental impact.<\/h3>\n

Over the last 10+ years, we are proud to have implemented numerous eco-friendly initiatives.<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Among the most significant of these was the installation of 200 solar panels<\/strong> on the roof of our headquarters in 2013. With the help of a 40% grant from Low Carbon Dorset<\/a>, we later added another 150 panels<\/strong> in early 2020 and doubled our generating capacity<\/p>\n

So far we have generated over 600,000 kWh of clean, renewable energy.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Further initiatives include achieving ISO 14001 environmental accreditation in 2014. We have also since replaced every engine-powered car in our fleet with full battery EVs. This endeavour ran alongside a number of smaller but significant changes to our energy consumption, including . . .<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udfea | Implementing energy-efficient light sensors
\ud83d\udfea | Installing workshop & office destratification fans
\ud83d\udfea | Moved to a 100% renewable electricity supply contract
\ud83d\udfea | Switching lighting to LED throughout our offices and workshops
\ud83d\udfea | Switching to half-hourly metering, to provide enhanced consumption data<\/p>\n

These investments not only reduce our impact on the environment but have enhanced our bottom line by reducing our costs. Over the past decade, Tony Stevens has responsibly researched and implemented these initiatives.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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10+ YEARS OF LIFTING GREEN STANDARDS AT LOCATORS<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Locators are the South\u2019s leading supplier of materials handling equipment and storage systems.<\/h4>\n

We work with some of the largest companies in our area as well as many of the smallest too. Our experts help businesses grow their sales by supplying forklift hire services and more. With strong succession planning in place, we aim to be around for many years to come. But we can only achieve this if we turn the tide on climate change.<\/p>\n

Read on to see the full timeline of our past and planned green initiatives:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

March 2011 - Low Energy Lighting<\/h5>

We replaced our T8 florescent office lighting for lower power usage T5. (LED lighting not cost-effective at the time)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

February 2012 - Hot Drinking Water Boilers<\/h5>

We installed these in place of kettles, reducing energy consumption<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

March 2013 - Solar Panels (Phase 1)<\/h5>

We installed a 46 kWp solar PV array (171 panels), with a payback in less than 7 years (verified post-installation)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

November 2013 - Workshop Destratification Fans<\/h5>

We installed these with an expected 30% reduction in our gas usage (confirmed post-installation)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

September 2013 - Dyson Hand Blowers<\/h5>

We fitted energy-efficient units to significantly reduce our paper towel usage and carbon footprint<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

December 2013 - Workshop Lighting<\/h5>

We replaced the existing sodium lighting with low energy usage halogen lamps<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

February 2014 - Paint Shop Destratification Fans<\/h5>

We installed these with a similar reduction in our energy usage achieved in our main workshop<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

November 2014 - Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)<\/h5>

We purchased our 1st PHEV car to evaluate for future purchases<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

December 2015 - Occupancy Sensors<\/h5>

We fitted these so that non-office areas such as corridors only are lit when in use<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

March 2016 - Half-hourly Electricity Metering Contract<\/h5>

To better understand our usage when making future energy decisions<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

April 2017 - LED Office Lighting<\/h5>

We replaced the T5 low-power usage florescent office lighting with ultra-low consumption LED units<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

April 2017 - Office Window Films<\/h5>

On all external office windows, to minimise heat loss during the winter\/solar heat gain in the summer<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

April 2017 - Office Destratification Fans<\/h5>

Following a successful trial, additional units fitted into high occupancy office areas<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

June 2018 - PHEV Cars<\/h5>

We purchased another 5 PHEV cars<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

December 2019 - Workshop & Stores Lighting<\/h5>

We replaced all workshop, prep building & parts store lighting, with ultra-low consumption LED units<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

March 2020 - Solar Panels (Phase 2)<\/h5>

We expanded our existing 46 kWp solar PV array to 86 kWp, with an expected payback period of 7-8 years<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

May 2020 - Full EV Car<\/h5>

Purchased our 1st EV<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

June 2020 - Full EV Car<\/h5>

Purchased another 2 EVs<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

July 2020 - Office Phone System<\/h5>

Replaced with a modern VoIP system to facilitate home working, thereby reducing energy emissions<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

September 2020 - Laptops<\/h5>

Replaced all desktop PC infrastructure with laptops to facilitate home working, thereby reducing energy emissions<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

November 2020 - Lorry Tractor Unit<\/h5>

Replaced with one which has much lower fuel consumption & emissions<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

January 2021 - Electrical Energy Purchase Agreement<\/h5>

Renewed using a 100% renewable sources tariff<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

October 2021 - Invested in Electric-Powered Cars<\/h5>

Every engine-powered car in our fleet has since been replaced with full battery EVs<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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LOOKING TO THE FUTURE<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Despite significant efforts from fellow companies, governments and individuals from around the world, our planet\u2019s temperature continues to rise.<\/h4>\n

Our team is committed to combating climate change. We want to help make the UK a cleaner place \u2013 but we know that this simply won\u2019t happen overnight. To contribute to this ongoing process, we are formulating initiatives to pursue this goal.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

At present, we have the following under consideration . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udfe9 | Implemented a formal carbon footprint measurement system
\ud83d\udfe9 | Decrease fuel usage by reducing moving parts stock on engineers\u2019 vans
\ud83d\udfe9 | Replace the workshop\u2019s gas space heater with an air source heat pump
\ud83d\udfe9 | Upgrade the air conditioning plant pack to utilise an air source heat pump
\ud83d\udfe9 | Seek accreditation for ISO 50001 energy reduction standard<\/strong><\/p>\n

At Locators, we employ over 75 members of staff including 21 engineers. Our team are keen to do their bit for the environment, so we\u2019ve trained them on how to be more environmentally friendly at work and at home. COVID-19 brought about a slew of setbacks but also provided glimmers of opportunity \u2013 which our staff have readily capitalised on in 2021.<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

We\u2019re committed to ongoing improvements in the energy efficiency of our operations. Every day, we are working hard to be part of the solution and aggressively pursue our energy and carbon savings initiatives. As we pursue these goals, their value to both our business and society becomes clearer each and every day. Finding more renewable and low-carbon energy alternatives reduces energy intensity and many of our initiatives have helped to lower operating costs and drive sales. More importantly, however, our customers and business partners appreciate our emission reduction efforts.<\/p>\n

As we pursue these goals, we encourage similar businesses to join our efforts and do the same.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a business \u2014 and as individuals \u2014 we’re committed to minimising our environmental impact. Read on to discover what we’ve accomplished over the last 10 years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":254083,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[192],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-239518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239518","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=239518"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239518\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":373205,"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239518\/revisions\/373205"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/254083"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=239518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=239518"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=239518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}