Energy and CO2

Reducing and conserving energy

We aim to manage energy use carefully, to cut consumption over time and to use more power from renewable sources.

In 2006 we continued to seek ways to reduce energy consumption and the greenhouse-gas emissions that come from running our networks, buildings and transport. Our performance targets address these areas.

But as our networks increase, we inevitably use more energy.

During 2005 we worked with the Carbon Trust and a commercial partner in the UK to help us understand the scale of our energy consumption and carbon emissions – our carbon footprint.

We completed three studies to:

• Identify potential energy efficiencies in our network.
• Assess potential energy efficiencies in our buildings.
• Identify more sources of green energy – such as biomass and wind energy.

In January 2006 the O2 Board agreed a visionary strategy, O2 Renew. Its goal is to reduce our carbon footprint.

O2 Renew takes a three-stage approach:

1. Reduce or conserve (or both) our energy use.
2. Buy energy from renewable sources.
3. Offset our CO2 emissions through capital investment in renewable energy or through other offsetting initiatives. This applies to the areas where we cannot reduce consumption or source enough renewable energy.

However, we believe that our greatest responsibility is to reduce energy use and related CO2 emissions. Though the most difficult option available to companies that seek to reduce their carbon footprint, it is the most enduring and cost effective.
 
All O2 businesses have in 2006 been working on the challenges in O2 Renew, though their approaches differ slightly. In the UK the emphasis is entirely on reducing, conserving and procuring green energy. In Germany, a mix of these initiatives, together with offsetting has already placed the business in a position where we hope to offset around 50 per cent of our reported carbon emissions by the end of 2007.

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