To mark the recent Earth Day, Lovell has revealed how CO₂e emissions savings during 2021 came from a switch to a renewable fuel source across its developments nationwide.
During last year, the partnership and open market housing specialist has, where possible, replaced the use of heavily polluting red diesel on its sites with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel. In total, over 400,000 litres of the renewable fuel source have been used, reducing CO₂e by approximately 1,000 tonnes.
Gemma Tovey, Sustainability Lead, Lovell comments “We are really pleased with the CO₂e savings that our switch to HVO fuel achieved during 2021. This is just one of the many initiatives we have implemented to help us to meet our objective of net zero carbon by 2030 and has made an instant and significant impact.”
Cleaner under combustion and capable of reducing carbon emissions by 90%, Lovell announced its intention to power construction machinery and generators with HVO fuel in April 2021 following a number of trials that took place during the previous year.
Gemma continued, “In addition to the switch to HVO fuel, we have also trialled electric machinery, improved the energy efficiency of our offices, reduced waste and increased materials recycling across the country to reduce the impact our business has on the environment. This is an ongoing process and we are continually striving to find new ways to reduce our CO₂ emissions. In our Southern and South West regions for example, we are currently trialling solar generators and battery storage and the effectiveness these technologies have in contributing to reducing our carbon emissions.
“We’re looking forward to revealing the combined savings achieved from all of these initiatives next month, when we receive the year’s audited results from Certified Emissions Measurement and Reduction Scheme (CEMARS).”
