THURROCK Council and its partner Europa are celebrating after picking up two Green Apple environment awards.
The two Bronze awards were presented to Europa in a ceremony at the House of Commons.
They were recognition for environmental initiatives implemented by Europa as part of its contract with Thurrock Council.
The judges were impressed by initiatives that delivered an upgrade to the gas heating system at the council’s Curzon Drive depot which reduced gas composition by 23 per cent and will save 55,468 k/w hours, ten tonnes of CO2 and £1,054 a year.
Europa’s in-house Street Lighting team also came up with innovative solutions to reduce energy consumption in tandem with reducing maintenance costs and improving road safety through the introduction of LED equipment to 1,300 illuminated bollards and 153 illuminated Zebra crossings across Thurrock.
Thurrock Council’s responsible cabinet member, Cllr Andy Smith, said: “Environmental initiatives like these are important in so many ways – not only cutting emissions, but costs too and leading the local community in showing what can be achieved.
“Going green is something we want to encourage in every way which is why the council and its partners have worked so hard on these programmes. Congratulations to the staff of Europa and the council who led the way.”
And Kim Durling, Europa’s safety, quality and environment director, added: “The Green Apple Environment Awards are well established as one of the major environmental recognition schemes both in the UK and internationally and to win a further two awards for 2012 demonstrates the exceptional environmental initiatives being delivered by Europa.”
The Green Apple Environment Awards were launched in 1994 by The Green Organisation and are one of the most popular environmental campaigns in the world.
