Carbon Trust Certification
We achieved Carbon Trust Standard certification in 2008 and recertified in 2011. The Standard represents the world’s first carbon certificate for organisations measuring, managing and reducing their carbon emissions year-on-year and we were one of the first 14 bodies in Scotland to earn the award.
The certification recognises significant carbon reductions and a commitment to continued progress.
To achieve the Standard, organisations must:
- prove that good carbon management practices are in place
- demonstrate a genuine reduction in emissions over a three year period.
Once the Standard is met, an organisation must show an on-going commitment to continued reductions in order to recertify. This is an equally robust process demanding greater focus on energy use as systems become increasingly effective.
Some of our reduction has been achieved by investing in new energy efficient services or attaching energy saving devices to older systems. Recent investments include:
- fluorescent and LED lighting
- energy saving inverter drive electric motors
- high efficiency heating boilers.
New controls have also been put in place including:
- lighting that automatically switches off in corridors and court rooms
- programmed systems that control heating and ventilation
- investment in more fuel efficient vehicles
- plans to increase video conferencing.
Our progress is measured by automatic meter readings (AMR) in all sites for both electricity and gas across the estate. These meters take readings every 30 minutes and allow detailed analysis of consumption, equipment investment and business change in each court building.