Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce energy costs in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

The Department for Transport has introduced a number of measures across its organisations to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs.　 These include:-

• An overarching Operations Sustainability Strategy which enables the identification, management and delivery of energy efficiency measures;

• The development and implementation of the Carbon Trust endorsed organisation specific Carbon Management Plans by the Central Department and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (former Driving Standards Agency estate);

• Rationalisation of offices to maximise the efficient and effective use of office space;

• Relocation of staff to more appropriate sites where functions have diminished or changed;

• Partial closing of buildings during low occupancy periods (i.e. Christmas, New Year);

• Optimising Building Management Systems to minimise the use of heating and cooling;

• Installation of boiler optimisation controls to improve boiler efficiency;

• Installation of voltage optimisation equipment at large administrative buildings to reduce electricity consumption;

• Lighting improvement programmes (including the installation of LED lights where appropriate and Passive Infrared (PIR) controls);

• Optimisation of IT servers;

• Improvements to building insulation;

• Updating desktop IT with more efficient models;

• Rationalisation of peripheral IT equipment such as printers and faxes with the introduction of Multi-Functional Devices (MFDs);

• Installation of renewable energy sources such as wind turbines, air source heat pumps and photovoltaic cells where appropriate and cost effective;

• Motorway lighting switch off scheme between Midnight and 5AM in pre-assessed areas of the motorway network.

The Department for Transport is committed to achieving all its sustainability targets and lowering energy costs through improving energy efficiency is seen as a key element in attaining that goal.