GreenBkk Formula 1 | McLaren achieve Carbon Trust Standard

McLaren achieve Carbon Trust Standard

McLaren have become the first Formula One team to be awarded the Carbon Trust Standard.

The standard is bestowed on companies who continually measure and work to reduce their carbon omissions.

In a three-year period, the McLaren group has Group achieved savings of more than 1500 tonnes of CO2 emissions on an annual basis.

The team released the following statement outlining the improvements they have made and the measures implemented to achieve this:

"The following initiatives alone produce a total saving of 1365 tonnes of CO2 per year and, relative to turnover, contribute to an improvement in our carbon efficiency of 8.6 per cent.

- Optimisation of the McLaren Technology Centre's air-conditioning system to run only when staff occupy specific areas. A monitoring system also ensures the correct amount of fresh air is delivered within the building. This project saves 812 tonnes of CO2 each year.

- Installation of energy-efficient lighting and controls across the whole premises, including pioneering work from a McLaren engineer to develop and manufacture bespoke low-energy lamps to illuminate car parks and access roads. These initiatives save 400 tonnes of CO2 every year.

- Rationalisation of compressed-air supply throughout the factory in order to improve overall efficiency. This saves 153 tonnes of CO2 per year."

The achievement is a point of great pride for team principal Martin Whitmarsh.

"We're delighted to have achieved the Carbon Trust Standard. As an environmentally conscious company, we first commissioned an independent study of our carbon emissions as long ago as 2007, so we've spent three years working towards this certification," he said.

"It's not only satisfying to become one of the first 500 companies in the UK to achieve the Standard, but it's also particularly pleasing to be the first-ever Formula 1 team to do so.

"More important, however, it further underlines Formula 1's continuous quest to develop leaner, longer-lasting and more efficient energy solutions - whether in the workplace or at the racetrack.

"In fact, we're probably the only sport in the world with the resources, know-how and commitment to drive forward pioneering new technologies that have the potential for huge mass-market crossover," the Briton added.

Credit: PlanetF1.com (www.planetf1.com)