[August 03, 2011] : M & S Green Tariff Tweet Aug 03, 2011 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- Marks & Spencer (M&S) yesterday became the Manx Electricity Authority's (MEA) first commercial Green Tariff customer. The Green Tariff allows M&S to match 100% of its power needs of its Douglas store with energy generated from renewable sources, particularly from the Authority's Hydro-Station in Sulby. In addition to the long-term benefits of introducing more sustainable power sources, the Green Tariff premium will help support the work currently being undertaken by the MEA's Home Energy Officer to promote energy efficiency in the Island. This advice service is available to domestic customers through home visits and at the Energy Efficiency Advice Centre at the MEA's Douglas retail showroom. Manx Electricity Authority Chairman, Quintin Gill MHK, said: "We're delighted Marks & Spencer is our first Green Tariff customer. Its management has been extremely enthusiastic from the very start of our discussions and were supportive of our intentions to create this tariff, which is aligned with its own corporate targets to source 100% of electricity from renewable sources. We hope M&S will be the first of many companies on the Island to sign up to the Green Tariff. " In addition to the energy generated at the MEA's Hydro-Station at Sulby, the MEA also has access to renewable energy from two other local sources. As well as the Island's Energy from Waste Plant, renewable energy may also be sourced from the UK via the sub-sea power Interconnector cable running from Bispham in Blackpool to Douglas. Mr Gill continued: "Along with our energy efficiency programmes, we're helping to meet the Island's environmental and sustainability aspirations by switching to less carbon intensive and more efficient technologies." As part of Plan A, M&S' ethical and environmental programme, the retailer is committed to procuring 100% 'green' electricity by 2012 and improving the percentage of small scale energy sources that it uses. Currently M&S sources 54% of its electricity across the UK and Ireland from 'green' tariff renewable supplies, compared to just 2% in 2007. The Authority's Green Tariff is an important landmark for M&S, as it was the one remaining Green Tariff needed in order for M&S to achieve its 100% target by 2012. Mervyn Bowden, Head of Energy Management at M&S, said: "This Green Tariff is a significant milestone for our Plan A energy commitments. It means as well as sourcing energy from renewable sources in the Isle of Man, we can also achieve our wider commitment to use 100% 'green' electricity across the UK and Republic of Ireland by 2012. "We're hugely supportive of the objectives of the MEA and are delighted that, by sourcing energy from local sources such as the Sulby Hydro-Station, we can help benefit the whole Island with energy conservation and efficiency projects." Over recent months M&S has achieved an energy saving of over 30% at its Douglas store by installing proven energy efficient technologies, which benefit both customers and employees at the store. Investment into new lighting and the latest heating and cooling controls provide a brighter store environment and ideal shopping and working temperature, as well as helping to save energy. Representatives from the Manx Electricity Authority and Marks & Spencer will gather at the Sulby Hydro-Station today to mark the start of the agreement. For further information, please contact: Gemma Cubbon Executive Support Assistant Manx Electricity Authority Tel: 687798 Email :[email protected] About Marks & Spencer's Plan A o Plan A is Marks & Spencer's environmental and ethical programme which aims to make M&S the world's most sustainable major retailer by 2015. Launched in 2007 and extended in March 2010, it takes a holistic approach to sustainability focusing on involving customers, involving all areas of the business and tackling issues such as climate change, waste, raw materials, health and being a fair trade partner. o As part of Plan A, M&S is committed to making all of its UK and Republic of Ireland operations (stores, offices, warehouses, business travel and logistics) carbon neutral by 2012. o M&S is committed to reducing store, office and warehouse energy usage by 25% by 2012 and 35% by 2015. Since 2007, M&S has improved its energy efficiency by 23%. Picture A canvas displaying Sulby Hydro-Station was presented to Marks and Spencer in recognition of becoming the MEA's first commercial green tariff customer. From Left to right Gio Patellaro, Energy Contracts Manager M&S Mervyn Bowden, Head of Energy Management M&SQuintin Gill MHK, MEA ChairmanBrian Cairns, Energy Efficiency Manager M&SDr Richard Bujko, Energy Services Manager MEA Manx Electricity Authority Address: P.O. Box 177 Douglas Isle of Man Post Code: IM99 1PS Telephone: 01624 687687 Fax: 01624 687612 Email Address: [email protected] ((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to [email protected]. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]