Striving to Become Carbon Neutral - Update September 2010
The company is undertaking a number of projects to reduce its impact on the environment. Firstly in 2005, on surplus land at our Lylestone quarry the company planted 56,000 trees as its initial statement in reducing its carbon footprint. These trees are now some 4 metres in height and are thriving. Due to this success earlier this year a further 40,000 trees were planted adjacent to Hullerhill Quarry. These will provide visual screening of the main quarry operation, sound and dust reduction and more importantly store Carbon Dioxide during their life cycle. After a period of 25 years they will be harvested and used directly in the local economy.
The project started in 2008, to examine the feasibility installing a number of wind turbines is at the early stages of planning and over the next 12 months will be part of a major study by Phd students at the University of Strathclyde. They will assist in the project design, and assist in selecting the best units for the task. The overall development is to reduce our electricity demand from the national grid during the day and to supply surplus "green"energy back to the national grid during the night and at weekends when the operation is closed. For a small company this is a major undertaking but we are keen to take advantage of our raised elevation near to the Ayrshire coast and of the plentiful supply of wind energy.
The fuel used in our sand drying process was substituted earlier this year for Bio Fuel which has proved to be very successful both environmentally and financially. Together with projects supported by advice from the Carbon Trust we feel we are making a significant contribution to reducing our carbon footprint.
Further updates will be posted as projects progress.