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Care4Air Awards 2010
People across South Yorkshire enjoyed an exiting night out at the third annual Care4Air Awards. Over 100 guests were treated to a drinks reception and music from a classical string quartet, followed by a three-course formal dinner at Mercure St Paul�s Hotel, Sheffield.
41 nominees made the shortlist this year, across five award categories: Individual; Community; Education; Business; and Outstanding Contribution to Improving Air Quality. The event was attended by ITV weatherman, Jon Mitchell, who made a guest appearance to compere the event and present the awards to the winners.
If you know of someone, a school, a business or a community organisation that you would like to put forward for a Care4Air Award in 2011, email [email protected] for details on how to nominate.
Community Award
Winner: Yorkshire Housing
Yorkshire Housing for the Newhill Road Housing Scheme, which consists of 58 properties, each equipped with state-of-the-art eco-friendly measures, such as solar panels, low energy lighting and increased insulation, designed to save money for residents. The 58 homes built by Bramall Construction in Newhill Road were the first in the borough to receive an �excellent� four stars on the EcoHomes rating. With only a handful of new housing developments in Yorkshire have been awarded �excellent� status, with around 100 schemes achieving the mark nationally this year.
Runner-Up: Family Fuel Busters at Heeley City Farm
Family Fuel Busters at Heeley City farm for enhancing knowledge amongst children and families on the links between energy efficiency, reducing carbon and saving money. They have strived to alleviate fuel poverty and fuel related dept, advised people to be more efficient with their energy consumption and increased awareness of the possibilities of an improved low carbon way of life. They offer practical information and assistance to children and families about ways a low carbon life can be achieved. They have also promoted a number of re-cycling schemes to their visitors advising people on ways to reduce consumption of material, re-use what can be re-used and re-cycle what is left over.
Highly Commended: The Trans Pennine Trail
The Trans Pennine Trail for their exiting route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders linking the North and Irish seas, passing through the Pennines, alongside rivers and canals and through some of the most historic towns and cities in the North of England. The trail is mapped and signed all the way, mainly traffic free and is surprisingly level considering the dramatic scenery along the way. Easy gradients and surfaced paths make many sections suitable for families, gentle exercise and people using wheelchairs and pushchairs. So whether on foot, horse or cycle the trail can offer something for everyone, meaning less use of the private car and massive inherent air quality benefits.
Business Award
Winner: Aviva, Sheffield
Aviva Sheffield for introducing a car sharing scheme, installing energy efficient lighting and heating in their offices and increasing recycling rates of their general waste to 78%. Aviva offsets any carbon emissions they have not been able to reduce by purchasing offsetting credits and has a long-term reduction goal - to reduce carbon emissions by a further 30% by 2020. Aviva are the first UK Insurer to be awarded the Carbon Trust Standard, which recognises good practice in carbon measurement, management and reduction.
Runner-Up: Emtac Ltd
Emtac Ltd for working with Doncaster PCT to help them achieve their Carbon reduction target of at least 26% by 2020. They have already achieved the 15% reduction on Gas by implementing several initiatives including staff awareness training, heat control management, draft proofing and boiler inspections. The Electric target has also nearly been achieved and even some of the smaller things make the biggest difference such as implementing lighting sensors and by putting IT equipment procedures in place. In total to date they have achieved 166 tones of Carbon saving which to Doncaster PCT is �33,500 of savings.
Highly Commended: Chesterfield BioGas
Chesterfield BioGas for teaming up with Sheffield City Council to trial the use of natural gas vehicles. Natural gas can be produced from organic waste and has a much lower impact on the environment in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution when used as a fuel compared to conventional diesel engines. This company has supplied a temporary filling station to fuel 7 VW Caddy vans and 3 Mercedes Benz Sprinters being trailed by the Council. These will be used by Park Rangers and Community Transport. The trial is expected to show how changing from diesel to natural gas fuelled vehicles can significantly improve air quality and reduce carbon throughout the city.
Education Award - Rotherham
Winner: Oakwood Technology College
Oakwood Technology College for showing exceptional commitment to helping the environment and improving air quality. Two years ago staff and students at Oakwood Technology College kicked off an ambitious project to improve the sustainability of the college. Now two 21KW turbines are now generating electricity direct into the school, photovoltaic panels are in operation on the Maths block and their output readout is displayed in the main foyer. There are ten electric car hook up points in the new car park, plans for a poly tunnel at the heart of the school and a proposal for green roofs and brown water systems.
Education Award - Sheffield
Winner: Wisewood Secondary School
Wisewood Secondary School for their Eco-School project which has gone from strength to strength over the last 2 years, kicking off a number of successful initiatives including Wisewood Eco-Hour, when staff and students work together by switching off as many PCs, lights and electrical equipment as possible over one lesson. Not only does this reduce CO2 emissions, it helps students to understand their impact on the planet and has helped save an amazing �15,600 on fuel bills in only 12 months.
Education Award - Doncaster
Winner: Rossington St Michael�s CofE Primary School
Rossington St Michael�s CofE Primary School for showing exceptional commitment to helping the environment and improving air quality. Staff and students at Rossington St Michael�s CofE Primary School hosted an eco week to highlight the need to recycle. The children put on a fashion show, with clothes made from recycled materials, staged musical performances using instruments made from rubbish and students in year 6 children put on special assemblies to promote safe cycling to school. The school provides cycling proficiency training classes and is planning a new school garden to help the children learn about growing their own food and where the food they eat comes from.
Education Award - Barnsley
Winner: Barnsley Academy
Barnsley Academy for showing exceptional commitment to helping the environment and improving air quality. Barnsley Academy was built with a biomass boiler to reduce CO2 emissions. In June 2009 the school implemented an automated solution to turn off all PCs and laptops after 4.40pm, leading to a 50% reduction in electricity costs. Other energy saving measures include light sensors in all locations and all building controls set on timers to ensure nothing is left on after school working hours. Classrooms and offices have paper-recycling bins and ink cartridges are recycled. The Academy also has a travel plan in place that encourages students to walk, car-share or cycle.
Individual Award
Winner: Amyan Macfadyen
Amyan Macfadyen for the development of his eco-friendly home. Amyan has spent 3 years transforming his 140-year-old Victorian semi. He generates his own electricity and heats his own hot water using photovoltaic panels, collects rainwater via a green roof and uses a wood burning biomass-heating system. Amyan regularly opens his environmentally friendly home to visitors and has cut his carbon footprint by half.
Jonathan Alexander
Jonathan Alexander for developing the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Cycle Response Unit in Sheffield. Jonathan successfully completed a 12 month pilot study and the scheme is now a permanent resource for Sheffield City Centre. Having a cycle response unit in the city centre negates the need for a car or ambulance as a first response waiting there. In the first four months of the pilot more than a quarter of incidents were addressed and the ambulance en route to it stood down as it was not required.
Highly Commended: Paul Higgins
Paul Higgins for leading cycle rides within the local community and promoting the Trans Pennine Trail to local users who didn't know it was there on their doorstep. Paul has encouraged people to walk, cycle and horse ride the Trail and other local routes throughout Barnsley.
Outstanding Award
Winner: Sheffield City College
Sheffield City College for their new building which demonstrates a solid pledge to Sheffield�s sustainability plans through numerous environmental features including wind turbines, solar panels, rainwater recycling, grass roofs, composting, linking into a low carbon district heating network, the creation of green space and encouragement of wildlife. The building is equipped with outstanding vocational facilities, and aims to raise aspirations and achievement among young people.
Congratulations to all winners and nominees for all your hard work to improve air quality. To view photos from the 2010 Awards, visit our gallery.
This year's sponsors
The University of Sheffield
Students love Sheffield - every year we welcome thousands of new students to the city from across the world.
The University of Sheffield's decision to support the Care4Air awards is in part, to illustrate our commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability, to address both our own competitive interests and the interests of wider society.
Stagecoach Yorkshire
Stagecoach Yorkshire is a subsidiary of Stagecoach Group plc, an international provider of bus, coach, tram and rail services in the UK, USA and Canada.
Stagecoach Yorkshire operates an extensive network of local bus services in Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster and Chesterfield and also operates express coaches on behalf of megabusplus.com.
Stagecoach Yorkshire employs over 1,200 staff Sheffield, Chesterfield, Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster and the Dearne Valley and operates a fleet of almost 400 buses.
Stagecoach Yorkshire was the first public transport company to become part of the Care4Air ECO Stars Fleet Recognition programme in South Yorkshire.
In 2009, Stagecoach Yorkshire was proud to became the first public transport company in the UK to join the Care4Air ECO Stars Fleet Recognition programme in South Yorkshire, and play our part in making a positive contribution towards improving local air quality.
The Care4Air awards ceremony is a great way to recognise other businesses, schools, community groups and individuals that are also making a significant difference in improving air quality, environmental efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.
Improving air quality is vital for our own health and the health of the environment. Public transport has a crucial role to play in reducing carbon emissions. As well as looking to save time and money, more and more people want healthier and more environmentally friendly ways to get around. Taking the bus, coach, train or tram instead of commuting by car is one of the most effective ways for people to reduce their carbon footprint.
By promoting our own low-carbon travel options, we are not only playing a part in improving air quality, but setting an example to other local organisations about the ways in which they can enjoy greener lives � not just for one week, but day in, day out
Clipper Logistics Group
The Clipper Logistics Group is a fast growing company that specialises in retail and high value logistics. With 28 distribution centres, circa 3.5m sq ft of warehousing space, 600 vehicles and a workforce of 2500, Clipper has the size and ability to tackle any project. As an independently owned company, this is matched with the agility to respond quickly to customers' changing requirements. Clipper was recently listed in the Sunday Times Top Track 250 of the fastest growing UK businesses.
Keep It Cool
Care4Air Awards 2009
Find out about the Care4Air Awards in 2009 and the winners.