The UK’s first employee carbon rationing scheme has been deemed a success.
WSP Environment & Energy’s personal carbon tracking scheme (PACT) scheme saw 80 members of the consultancy’s workforce take part on a voluntary basis.
Members of staff were each given an allowance of 5.5t of carbon dioxide and a tracker to calculate their energy consumption at home and through travel.
Staff with some allowance left at the end of the year were awarded at the rate of 5p per kilo up to a maximum of £100, said David Symons, the scheme’s co-ordinator. Those who went over their allowances were fined at the same rate. At the end of the first year, between 80 and 85% of staff were below their allowances and were rewarded.
‘The key thing is that everyone who took part in this scheme has benefited through a better understanding of their carbon footprints and by being prompted into making efforts to reduce these,’ Symons said. ‘Personal carbon trading works well on a voluntary community basis. Its more innovative than just turning the lights and PCs off at the end of the working day.’
Symons added he had had received lots of interest from public sector organisations who expressed interest in the PACT scheme.
‘Its very exciting and has captured our workforce’s enthusiasm, which is imperative for something like this to work. For most people it is a little extra bonus in their wage packet in reward for keeping their carbon footprints down,’ he told Surveyor.
Register now for full access
Register just once to get unrestricted, real-time coverage of the issues and challenges facing UK transport and highways engineers.
Full website content includes the latest news, exclusive commentary from leading industry figures and detailed topical analysis of the highways, transportation, environment and place-shaping sectors.
Use the link below to register your details for full, free access.
Already a registered? Login
