Best Foot Forward

In 2010 we hope that you will be joining BFF, and thousands of other organisations and individuals, who are aiming to reduce their carbon emissions by 10% during the year as part of the UK's 10:10 campaign. Here is a little gift that should help; free, unlimited access to a special 10:10 version of BFF's popular footprinter™ enterprise carbon accounting solution for business. You get your own secure account and all the calculation and reporting facilities you need to meet the 10:10 campaign targets.

BFF has been commissioned by RSSB to undertake a whole lifecycle carbon footprint analysis of the national rail network. BFF will be developing an emissions profile that includes traction energy, offices, rolling stock and infrastructure such as track, stations, depots and signalling equipment. The rail industry is undoubtedly complex, but is also a data-rich environment which is essential for carbon footprint analyses. BFF will be liaising with key members of the industry, including Network Rail and train operating companies to provide an industry-wide emissions profile. Our project will provide insight for RSSB, DfT and other stakeholders to enable effective planning for emissions reductions in line with the objectives of the industry white paper, “Delivering a Sustainable Railway”. Our project will be completed in the first half of 2010, with results made publicly available in due course. 

BFF are warning aviation operators that they only have until 31 December 2009 to submit a monitoring plan if they want to be eligible for free allowances under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. The allowances will be allocated anyway – so overall emissions are not affected – but the initial cost to aviation companies will be higher. BFF have been working closely with aviation experts ETS Aviation to provide carbon management and reduction services to the sector. A version of footprinter, Aviation Footprinter, is already helping companies to meet their requirements under the EU ETS and is being extended to provide broader support for carbon reductions.

SEEDA have published an innovative interactive Guide aimed at providing local authorities within the South East the tools, information, ideas and inspiration they need to reduce their footprint and the footprint of their administrative area. Developed by BFF, in collaboration with Roger Levett (of levett-therivel) and Colin Tingle (of theNRgroup), the appropriately named ‘No Nonsense Guide’  gives straightforward practical advice, and is peppered with real life success stories, to illustrate how to make change happen.

BFF has been commissioned to look at the carbon footprint of satellite communications, such as television and internet services. Having previously footprinted various types of passenger and freight aircraft, helicopters and hot air balloons, the prospect of investigating the rocket-powered transport of satellites held no fear for our analysts... but it did yield its fair share of surprises.

Today is a big day at Best Foot Forward. We are launching our latest Footprinter™ carbon accounting software and supporting website. Footprinter™ has been in development for over three years now and has been used by many of our clients including Hertfordshire County Council and the Forestry Commission. We have also produced dedicated, standalone editions for clients including FIRA, Amec, and Chicago2016. Visit Footprinter.com for product insight, demonstrations and instant access to free versions of Footprinter™.

Personal travel and particularly flying are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions, as we know. Winter ski trips are hugely popular, but from the UK the most common mode of travel is still by plane even when many European resorts can be readily reached by train.

BFF is delighted to be providing all visitors and delegates to The Carbon Show 2009 with access to Footprinter™, BFF’s sophisticated online software for carbon accounting. Delegates to the first international show dedicated to all things carbon can use the free Footprinter™ to calculate their carbon footprint in accordance with recognized standards and guidance. This access to our software pre-empts our imminent, international release of our upgraded Footprinter™ and its supporting website. The Carbon Show takes place on 29 - 30 September at ExCeL, London.

BFF client Sheppard Robson has been awarded the "Most Sustainable Practice" award from Architecture Journal. The award is sponsored by another BFF client InterfaceFlor. In 2008 Sheppard Robson commissioned BFF to assess the carbon and ecological footprints of their annual office activities in London and Manchester. The results from the study have enabled them to develop a strategy to monitor and reduce their footprint in the future.

Having completed a carbon and ecological footprint study of a Worksop school for Balfour Beatty's Transform Schools initiative, BFF were recently invited to present the results to the student council and facilitate a student workshop on how to best reduce the school's footprint. After some fantastic discussions and ideas the Portland School students came up with a wide range of possible actions including introducing a vegetarian day in the canteen, emailing newsletters rather than printing, encouraging staff to car share one day per week and switching from bus travel to walking or cycling. We look forward to catching up with the students of Portland School in the future to see how their actions are making a change.